Page:Marx and Engels on Revolution in America - Heinz Neumann.djvu/7

 and Engels defeated the Autonomists behind Michael Bakunin at the Congress of the International at The Hague in September, 1872, yet it became clear that only radical measures could save it from complete dissolution. In fact, neither Marx nor Engels had any hopes that it would be saved. But they wanted to secure it an honorable death. With the General Council in London it was certain that the Blanquists would dominate it. To establish the headquarters in any other European capital was impossible under the existing conditions of general reaction. So Marx insisted on the removal of the General Council to New York.

The center of the General Council in New York became its local leader, F. A. Sorge.

F. A. Sorge had taken an active part in the revolution of 1848 in Germany. For some time thereafter he lived in exile in Switzerland. In 1851 he went to London where he became acquainted with the Communist Club and with Karl Marx. When later he emigrated to America he settled in New York where, in 1857, he founded the Communist Club which later became the American Section of the First International. Sorge died in Hoboken, in 1906. His whole life he had devoted to the revolutionary movement of the proletariat and the American movement, especially, is indebted to him for its first Marxian education.

The removal of the General Council of the International to New York did not terminate the leadership of Marx and Engels. Both kept in close touch with affairs and numerous letters full of advice, instructions, and suggestions, written by both Marx