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4o
VIOLENCE AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT
tactics employed by the anarchists in Spain. Frederick
Engels severely criticised the position of the Bakouninists
He
in two articles which he published in the Volksstaat.
reviewed the events that had taken place during the summer
of 1873, and he condemned the folly of the anarchists,
who had refused to cooperate with the other revolutionary
forces in Spain. In his opinion, the workers
were simply wasting their energy and lives in pursuit
of a distant and unattainable end. "Spain is a country
so backward industrially," he wrote, "that it cannot be a
question there of the immediate complete emancipation
of the workers. Before arriving at that stage, Spain will
still have to pass through diverse phases of development
and struggle against a whole series of obstacles. The republic
furnished the means of passing through these
phases most rapidly and of removing these obstacles
most quickly. But, to accomplish that, the Spanish
proletariat would have had to launch boldly into active
politics. The mass of the working people realized this,
and everywhere demanded that they should take part in
what was happening, that they should profit by the opportunities
to act, instead of leaving, as formerly, the
field free to the action and intrigues of the possessing
classes. The government ordered elections for the Cortes
members. What position should the International
take The leaders of the Bakouninists were in the greatest
dilemma. A continued political inactivity appeared
more ridiculous and more impossible from day to day.
The workers wanted to 'see deeds.' On the other hand,
the alliancistes (Bakouninists) had preached for years
that one ought not to take part in any revolution that
had not for its
end the immediate and entire emancipation
of the workers, that participation in any political
action constituted an acceptance of the principle of the