…
“Brothers of Germany!… our divisions would only bring about the complete triumph of despotism on both sides of the Rhine.
…
“Working-men of all countries! whatever may be the result of our common efforts, we, members of the International Association of Working-Men, who know no frontiers, we send you, as a pledge of indissoluble solidarity, the good wishes and the salutations of the working-men of France.”[235]
To this appeal, so full of truth, touching to the quick the pretence of balance of power and questions of dynasty as excuses for war, and then rising to “a cry of reprobation against war,” the Berlin branch of the International Association replied:—
“We join with heart and hand in your protestation.… Solemnly we promise you that neither the noise of drums nor the thunder of cannon, neither victory nor defeat, shall turn us aside from our work for the union of the proletaries of all countries.”[236]
Then came a meeting of delegates at Chemnitz, in Saxony, representing fifty thousand Saxon working-men, which put forth the following hardy words:—
“We are happy to grasp the fraternal hand stretched out to us by the working-men of France.… Mindful of the watchword of the International Working-Men’s Association, Proletarians of all countries, unite! we shall never forget that the working-men of all countries are our friends, and the despots of all countries our enemies.”[237]
Next followed, at Brunswick, in Germany, on the 16th of July,—the very day after the reading of the war document at the French tribune, and the “light heart” of the Prime-Minister,—a mass meeting of the working-men there, which declared its full concurrence with the manifesto of the Paris branch, spurned the idea of national antagonism to France, and wound up with these solid words:—