CLOSING SPEECH AT THE INTERNATIONAL 
SOCIALIST WORKERS’ CONGRESS IN ZURICH 
AUGUST 12, 1893]2” 


Citizens and Citizenesses, 


Allow me to translate my address (which the speaker had just 
delivered in English and French) into my beloved German. I could 
not but experience deep emotion at the unexpectedly splendid 
reception which you have given me, accepting it not for myself 
personally but as a collaborator of the great man whose portrait 
hangs up there (Marx). Just fifty years have passed since Marx 
and I entered the movement by publishing our first socialist 
articles in the Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher.* Since then socialism 
has developed from small sects to a mighty party which makes the 
whole official world quail. Marx is dead, but were he still alive 
there would be not one man in Europe or America who could 
look back with such justified pride over his life’s work. There is 
another anniversary to commemorate. The last congress of the 
International was in 1872.°"' Two things happened there. First the 
absolute breach with the anarchists. Was this a superfluous 
decision or not? The Paris, the Brussels, the present Congress 
would have had to do the same.*” Second, the ending of the 
activities of the International in its old form. This was the time 
when the fury of the reactionaries, intoxicated by the blood of the 
glorious Commune, had reached its zenith. The perpetuation of 
the old International would have led to sacrifices out of 
proportion with the results; it transferred its seat to America, i.e., 
it withdrew from the scene. The proletariat in the various 
countries was left to organise itself in its own forms. This 
happened, and the International is now much stronger than 


a See this volume, pp. 335, 341.— Ed. 


Closing Speech at the International Socialist Workers’ Congress 405 


before. In accordance with this we must continue to work on 
common ground. We must permit discussion in order not to 
become a sect, but the common standpoint must be retained. The 
loose association, the voluntary bond which is furthered by 
congresses, is sufficient to win us the victory which no power in 
the world can snatch from us again. IJ am particularly glad that the 
English are represented here in large numbers, for they were our 
teachers in the organisation of the workers; but however much we 
learned from them, they will have seen various new things here 
from which they too can still learn. 

I travelled through Germany, and heard regret in some respects 
that the Anti-Socialist Law had been repealed. The fight with the 
police had been much more amusing. No police force, no 
government in the whole world can suppress such fighters. 

At the request of the Bureau, I declare the Congress closed. 
Long live the international proletariat! 

(The meeting breaks out in stormy cheers. The acclamation lasts 
for quite some time. Those present rise and sing the Marseillaise.) 


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