From The Nation, 13 April, 1872.

The last number of the New York Irish Citizen contains the following from our great and true-hearted countryman, John Mitchel: –

Some time ago it was known that the Internationale Society (a most senseless and noxious sort of association) had established a branch in the city of Cork. The Irish, wherever they may be settled, whether in England, in America, or at home in their own land, have steadily held aloof from this absurd concern. They are generally industrious people, earning their bread by their patient industry, quite as deeply interested as any other workmen in securing and establishing sound and just principles for the government of employers and employed; quite as prompt also to join with their fellow working-men in any effort to enforce fair-play against some too intolerable oppression. They generally belong to trades’ unions and associations, and are no slower than others to take their part in a strike; but somehow they have shown an instinctive abhorrence against this “Internationale.” Now and then certain creatures with Irish names are mentioned as taking part in London Internationale proceedings, so as to produce a sort of impression that this, the most industrious of all nations, forms a part of their force. But it is all in vain. They are not theorists, our good Irish, and do not believe in Karl Marx.