London, 15 February 1865 

My dear Lubez, 

The very success of our association warns us to be cautious. In 
my opinion, M. Beales joining our council would spoil the whole 
affair.* I believe him an honest and sincere man; at the same time, 
he is nothing and can be nothing save a Bourgeois politician. He is 
weak, mediocre and ambitious. He wants to stand for Marylebone 
at the next Parliamentary election. By that single fact he ought to 
be excluded from entering our committee. We cannot become le 
piedestal for small parliamentary ambitions. 

You may be sure that if Beales is admitted le ton cordial, sincere et 
franc’ that distinguishes now our Debates, will be gone, and make 
place to word-mongering. In the wake of Beales will follow Taylor, 
this unbearable nuisance and tufthunter. 

In the eyes of the world, Beales’ admission will change the 
whole character of our society, we will diminish into one of the 
numerous societies which he favours with patronage. Where he 
has driven in the wedge, others of his class will follow, and our 

4 See this volume, pp. 109-10. -'> the cordial, sincere and frank atmosphere 

efforts, till now successful at freeing the English working class 
movement from all middle class or aristocratic patronage, will have 
been in vain. 

I know beforehand that if Beales be admitted, there will arise 
questions mainly of a social sort, which will force him to tender his 
demission. We will have to issue manifestos on the land question, 
etc., which he cannot sign. Is it not better not to let him instead of 
giving him afterwards an opportunity of denying us.* 

I know that after the foolish step taken by Mr Dell,” there will 
be certain difficulties in ensuring this candidature. 

I would think that by means of quiet talks with the chief English 
members, the whole question could be {settled]‘ before it is put 
before the committee again. 

Yours fraternally 
K. Marx 

Apropos. For all his enthusiasm for Poland, Mr Beales has as yet 
done nothing other than follow the Duke ...“ in throwing all the 
demonstrations for Poland into confusion. Yesterday, he at- 
tempted the same trick again, under similar instigation.