Karl Marx to Friedrich Engels

Paris

August 17, 1849

 

… I don't know whether in Switzerland you have an opportunity of following the English movement. It has started up again at exactly the point where it was interrupted by the February Revolution. As you know, the peace party is nothing but the Free Trade party in a new guise. But the industrial bourgeoisie now acts in an even more revolutionary way than during the Anti-Corn Law League agitation. For two reasons:

1. Having weakened the basis of the aristocracy at home by the repeal of the Corn Laws and Navigation Acts, the bourgeoisie now intends also to ruin the aristocracy in the sphere of foreign policy by attacking its European ramifications. It reverses Pitt's policy and turns against Russia, Austria, and Prussia, in short it supports Italy and Hungary. Cobden has openly threatened to proscribe any banker who should lend money to Russia and has begun a veritable campaign against Russian finances.

2. Agitation for universal suffrage in order to achieve the complete political separation of the tenants from the landed aristocracy, to give the towns an absolute majority in parliament and to nullify the power of the House of Lords. Financial reform in order to cut off the church and deprive the aristocracy of their political advantages.

Chartists and Free Traders have joined hands in these two propaganda campaigns. Harney and Palmerston have apparently become friends. O'Connor was in agreement with Colonel Thompson at the last meeting held in London.

There is no telling what consequences this economic campaign against Feudalism and the Holy Alliance will have …