George E. Harris
Record of Karl Marx's speech on the necessity
of expressing sympathy with the Irish people
at the meeting of the General Council,

November 23, 1869

The National Reformer.
Nr. 23, 5. Dezember 1869

... Citizen Marx said he could not alter the wording of the resolution without
consent of Citizen Harris who had seconded it. Citizen Harris said, from what he
had heard fall from Mr. Mottershead he could see no reason to alter the verbal
construction of the resolution. Citizen Marx then replied, and said his resolution
was not intended to release the Irish prisoners. It was that the council should 5
review the conduct ofthe Government; to express sympathy with the Irish, seeing
that they had given up their appeals by a peaceable and honourable amnesty
movement, and to repel the vicious influence of the Times and other portions of
the press which led the people astray upon all vital movements. The people could
strengthen Mr. Gladstone in his power to overcome difficulties, or they could aid 10
him in the perpetuation of political crime. The question was far higher than
making it acceptable to the personal taste of Mr. Gladstone, it was one in which
the happiness of the Irish people was concerned. ...

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