The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ... VII. INTERNATIONAL AND COMMUNE. 423. DEGREESINTRODUCTORY Remarks. -- There exists an association of working--or rather, talking--men, pretending to have for its object the uniting in one fraternal bond the workers of all countries, and the advocating of the interests of labour, and those only. Though it protests against being a secret society, it yet indulges in such underhand dealings, insidiously endeavouring to work mischief between employers and employed, and aiming at the subversion of the existing order of things, that it deserves to be denounced with all the societies professedly secret. In this country its influence is scarcely felt, because the English workmen that join it are numerically few--according to the statement of the Secretary of the International himself, the society counts only about 8,000 English members--and these, with here and there an exception, belong to the most worthless portion of the working classes. It is chiefly the idle and dissipated or unskilled artizan that thinks his position is to be improved by others and not by himself. To hear the interested demagogues and paid agitators of the " International," the working classes would seem to be exceptionally oppressed, and to labour under disadvantages greater than any that weigh upon other sections of the community. Yet no other class is so much protected by the legislature, and none, except the paupers, pay less towards the general expenses of the country in direct or indirect taxation. The wages a skilled artizan can earn are higher than the remuneration obtainable by thousands of men who have enjoyed an university education, or sunk money in some professional apprenticeship; whilst he is free from the burden incident to maintaining a certain social status. His...