232 
THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
in large factories, the Alliance made rapid conquests there. 
At one time, as the result of successful insurrections, it had 
several large towns in its hands, but it soon succumbed in the 
midst of the disorder and anarchy it had created. Up to 
about 1867, the labour movement, directed by the newspaper 
the Obrero, was in no way revolutionary; it aimed at the 
establishment of societies for mutual aid, for savings, and for 
production. After the overthrow of the throne of Isabella the 
International sent delegates to Spain, who were well received. 
On the 2ist of October, 1868, the general council addressed 
a manifesto to the Spanish working men, urging them to 
demand social reforms. “ Without economic equality,” it said, 
“the political liberty offered you is a snare. Without the 
overthrow of existing civil institutions, even the republic will 
profit you nothing. What you must aim at is the social 
revolution.” At the congress of the International, which met 
at Brussels, a Spanish delegate. Sarro Magadan, of Barcelona, 
was present. On the 2nd of March, 1867, in this great indus 
trial town, the first section was founded, and a newspaper, the 
Federación, published. Soon a central section was established 
at Madrid. The principal leaders were Morago and Francesco 
Mora, who also edited a newspaper. La Solidaridad. The 
police commenced prosecutions ; but nevertheless, the number 
of the sections rapidly increased, and at the close of 1869 
there were 195 of them, with more than twenty thousand 
members.* Curiously enough, a very active section was 
established at Palma, in the island of Majorca, with its organ. 
La yusticia Sociale. The agricultural labourers took part in 
the movement, and formed groups, especially in Andalusia, 
where the latifundia exclude the cultivators from the posses 
sion of the land, and reduce them to an insufficient wage. 
In February, 1872, the minister Sagasta, frightened at the 
* yisiting Spain in 1869, I was present at several sittings of these 
Socialistic clubs. They were usually held in churches erected for religious 
worship, r rom the pulpit, the orators attacked all that had been previously 
venerated there: God, religion, the priests, the rich. The speeches were at 
white heat, but the listeners remained calm. Many women were seated on 
the floor, working, suckling their babes, and listening attentively, as to a 
sermon. It was the very picture of ’93.