17 June 1871My dear Sir
I am much obliged to you
for the address of
the International. I look on it as a most
valuable history of the last 12 months. The facts are admirably grouped &
stated in forcible & eloquent language. I presume versions of it will appear
in foreign languages & therefore I think that as far as English
workmen are concerned it would have been an advantage if some expressions &
allusions had been somewhat less foreign in style. But on the other hand it is
undoubtedly much to be desired that our workmen should be familiarised with
continental terminology & ideas.
There is only one place
where your manifesto becomes in my opinion
indistinct
& unsatisfactory. I mean the middle sentence on p. 22. I think it is not
superfluous
but on the contrary imperative upon you to state clearly not only what immediate
economic measures you proposed to take, but also what
ulterior
course you wish to follow. As a matter of policy you can lose nothing by
it with public opinion, since you are already credited with the most extreme
revolutionary designs in respect of property.
Your projects, even the
mildest of them, are of course certain to be criticized by the middle class from
the point of view of absolute rights & justice to individuals. I suppose you
know enough of Positivism to be aware that no such metaphysical objections will
come from us. Let it once be
shewn
that any measure is for the good of society as a whole, & we call upon
individuals to be silent.
We
are also quite ready to distinguish between the normal condition which concerns
the thinker & the temporary or revolutionary expedients which must be left
to the judgment of the practical leaders.
I dare say some sale for
your manifesto will
be found at 6d just at present. Still it is among the
workmen that it ought to be distributed, so I hope you will be able to
reduce the price soon. I wish it could be in the hands of every thoughtful
workman in London. I think if you had the little page of your address struck off
on thin paper, adding “Price 6d or 4s/. a dozen” Truelove might distribute it as an advertising bill & I
& other friends could do the same & a demand would be caused. People
don’t know where to go for it.
[I
enclose a copy of a letter]Die Beilage ist nicht überliefert. I
sent lately to G. Potter. I always thought
the Eastern Post was a country
paper. If it has a good circulation among East End workmen I would rather write
in it than the Beehive. Please
return the letter to Potter [whenever
you happen to be writing to me]Ein Brief von Beesly an Marx ist nicht
überliefert.
The turn
of Lyons appears to be coming. M. Valentin according to the Times is a dangerous Red. Perhaps he will now have
an opportunity of trying what a reactionary bullet through the legs feels
like.
A friend of ours is going to
Paris this week so we need not trespass on your kindness for the conveyance of
messages.
Yours sincerely
E S Beesly