Friedrich Engels 
On the progress ofthe International Working Men's Association 


in Italy and Spain 


The Eastern Post. Nr. 160, 
21. Oktober 1871 


The news from Italy was of a most cheering character, the spread of the 
Association being really wonderful in that country. Three months ago 
Mazzini stated that there was only one town in Italy, where the International 
counted numerous adherents. Now, from one end of the country to the 
other, it is fully established. It is represented in the press by one, if not two, 
daily papers in Rome; a daily paper in Milan; a semi-weekly one in Turin; 
weekly papers in Ravenna, Lodi, Pavia, Girgenti, and Catania, besides 
a number of other papers published in smaller localities. These papers are 
subject to incessant Government prosecutions; one of them The Proletario 


Italiano of Turin had six consecutive numbers seized by the Police, and 
one or more actions at law brought against it for each number seized; 
nevertheless, these papers continue undaunted in their crusade against 
the Priests, the capitalists, and Mazzini, who has been attacking the Inter- 
national because it was not religious. The Government has dissolved two 
International sections in Florence and Naples, but the result has only been 
the immediate formation of new sections all over the country. In Girgenti, 
the new section has just published its rules, preceded by the translation 
of the Statutes, published by the General Council, in Ravenna six Repub- 
lican and Workings Men's Societies, have organised themselves into 
sections of the International, with acommon Council. 

Garibaldi's letters, in which he gives his adhesion to the Association are 
everywhere reprinted and commented on, and have evidently helped 
a great many waverers to make up their minds in favour of the International. 
The power of Mazzini over the workmen of Italy is thoroughly broken. 

In Spain the progress of the Association has been as rapid as in Italy. 
The Spanish trades' unions, having been created almost exclusively by the 
International form an essential part of its organisation. The trades' unions 
of each locality have a local trades' council, corresponding directly with 
the Spanish Federal Council at Madrid, on general matters relating to the 


International; while each trade all over the country again is under the 


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direction of a Central Board, corresponding with the Spanish Federal 
Council on all matters relating to its trade. 

This organisation, as finally settled by the Conference of Valencia, held 
from the 10th to the 18th of September, 1871, is now being carried out all 
over Spain. There is scarcely a single large town in Spain without its local 
"Trades' Council," and a great many small towns are organized upon the 
same principle. New sections are forming everywhere, and individual 
adhesions are coming in by hundreds. The Republican party, which only 
a short time ago attacked the International as a party of "Jesuits," has 
been made to feel its power acutely. The rising of the Commune in Paris 
had already split the Republican party in two camps. The middle class 
section took the side of Versailles, while the younger elements and the 
Republican working men, supported the Commune. This latter section has 
been drawn, naturally, nearer and nearer to the International, and will soon 
enter its ranks, thus strengthening it by the adhesion of numerous and 
valuable new elements. The Republican papers belonging to this section 
begin to advocate the nationalization of the land, and other socialistic 
tenets; to these belong La Associacion, of Leon; El Comunero, of Madrid; 
La Justicia, of Malaga; El Trabajo, of Ferrol, and others. At a great Repub- 
lican meeting, held in Madrid October 15th, the proposal for joint action 
with the International was cheered enthusiastically. 


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