THE RISE AND FALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL. 155 
extreme left” The English kept to what was possible under 
existing circumstances. Should all religions be condemned as 
hostile to the emancipation of the labourer? The congress 
refused to pronounce upon the question, the subject not 
entering into the circle of their inquiries. Ought only working 
men to be admitted? The French wished to exclude inexor 
ably “ the brain-workers,” the lawyers and the Journalists, “ all 
those fine talkers” who make a trade of agitation. The 
English and the Germans opposed this. It would, in fact, have 
been to expel all those who had created and were directing the 
International. 
The congress also refused to adopt any particular plan of 
social reorganization, and limited itself to formulating general 
principles. It thought that, by means of free co-operation, 
power and capital would at length pass into the hands of 
working men. However, it urged trades unions not to content, 
themselves with seeking higher wages, but to unite in order to 
obtain “ the complete emancipation of the labourer.” A wish 
was expressed in favour of the independence of Poland ; but a 
motion “ to stigmatize Russian despotism ” was not admitted. 
It was also decided to aim at the general reduction of the 
normal working day to eight hours. Children’s labour could 
not be entirely prohibited, but it must not exceed a few hours 
a day, the rest of the time being devoted to education, which 
the employers were bound to provide. A portion, however, of 
the children’s wages might be deducted to pay their teachers 
Finally, resolutions were voted in favour of direct taxation and 
the suppression of standing armies. This was a reminiscence 
of the Peace Congress. 
In 1867 the International began to make its power felt 
Its victories date from this epoch. The Parisian workers in 
bronze had formed a union since the year 1864, immediately 
after the abolition of the law forbidding coalitions. In 
February, 1867, they struck work, and the employers resolved 
on a “ lock out,” which threw five thousand workmen out of 
employment. Three of their delegates went to London to ask 
aid of the International. The assistance they obtained was 
scanty enough ; but the employers, thinking that money was