the rise and fall of the international. 157 
It decided that the first duty of parents being to instruct their 
children, the State should only pay for them when they cannot 
pay for themselves. The most orthodox economist, even the 
most opposed to State intervention, could not ask for anything 
better. 
Contrary to the opinions expressed at Geneva, the Congress 
of Lausanne showed much distrust in respect of co-operative 
societies, “ because they tend to create a fourth estate with a 
fifth estate below them more miserable still.” The objection 
appears a strange one. If the working men co-operators are 
in a better situation than the others, is that a reason for pro 
scribing the Association ? Is it not rather the reverse ? Must 
we condemn all reform which is only partial, and can we in 
practice obtain any other ? The congress, however, wished 
to persuade the proletariat, “that the social transformation 
could not be effected in a radical and permanent way, except 
by means acting on society as a whole and conformable to 
reciprocity and Justice.” It was agreed that “in order to 
prevent the associations from contributing to the maintenance 
of inequality, it was necessary to abolish, as far as possible, the 
levy made by capital on labour, that is to say, to introduce the 
idea of mutuality and federation.” This appears to mean that 
interest should be abolished; but then, the co-operators 
getting no advantage by increasing their deposits, would give 
up saving, and all increase in the means of production would 
be arrested. So long as the formation of capital remains the 
result of a voluntary act, inasmuch as that act constitutes a 
sacrifice, it will not take place without reward. On the field 
of battle men will die for their country. In the workshop 
they will not deny themselves that others may enjoy. Heroism 
and self-abnegation are sublime virtues ; but they will never be 
the moving forces of the economic world. 
An important question arose : Ought the International to 
confine itself exclusively to economic ground, or was it its 
interest to make common cause with that party of the bour 
geoisie who aim at political reforms and the establishment of 
a republic, if need be by means of revolution? Karl Marx 
would have wished to limit the activity of the association to