The Young Karl Marx Page #6

the realm of Christ on Earth?

I ask you, Weitling, given the fuss

you cause with your preaching,

what true theoretical basis

justifies your activities,

and what will their future basis be?

My goal...

My intention...

is not to create new theories,

economic or otherwise.

I rise up

against the cult of novelty at any cost.

I said it again yesterday.

I had a whole hall on its feet.

All power to the workers

to establish universal harmony...

Just 100,000 armed proletarians,

backed up by 40,000 criminals,

could bring down bourgeois tyranny.

I say that stirring up the workers

without offering them

a constructive doctrine

is a dishonest, pretentious game

with an inspired prophet on one side

and gaping idiots on the other!

My audience...

Idiots?

Scandalous!

- Outrageous!

We have a Russian among us. Pavel...

You might have a role

in his country, Weitling.

It's the only place

for vague alliances between

vague prophets and disciples...

But in our countries,

in Germany, France or England,

nothing can be done

without a positive theory.

A man who leads hundreds to justice

cannot be treated like this!

A hypocrite like

you should keep silent.

What did you call me?

I've received thousands of letters

proving to me that my modest work

does more for the cause than talk

cut off from the people's suffering.

Ignorance never helped anyone!

Never!

Karl, take that back!

I want an apology.

- What's wrong with you?

I won't stand for this.

- Please, be reasonable. Please!

I'll be the first to be guillotined.

Then the others, then your friends.

And, finally, you'll behead yourself.

Criticism

devours everything that exists.

And when there is nothing left...

it devours itself.

Gentlemen, ladies...

Thank you.

What happened?

What happened?

Weren't you supposed to find

a common doctrine?

With idiots like them?

Thank you.

Look at me. Did you do it on purpose

or were you just in a bad mood?

Either way, we're finished... Kaputt.

Grun will report back to Proudhon.

Always Proudhon!

Can we stop bowing down to Proudhon?

Grun would have slandered us.

That's why he came!

Maybe,

but Proudhon was our joker.

The trump card in our strategy.

Can't you see I advanced it?

- How so?

Can somebody tell me

what the f***ing hell just happened?

I don't know what stops me

from crushing you like bugs.

You insulted one of our movement's

most respected men,

you pretentious brats.

Weitling is devastated.

No one ever spoke to him like that,

not even his worst enemy.

Perhaps the picture he painted

was too black...

What? Can you say that again?

You dragged him through the mud.

A man, a fighter, a leader...

May I...

- Despite his experience and maturity!

Two qualities you are sorely lacking!

Your youth does not excuse everything.

The League has reached a decision

concerning you.

I'm here to inform you of it.

It is a collective decision

and you will comply with it.

"After careful consideration... "

I repeat, "After careful consideration,

the London committee asks you:

firstly,

to formally join the League.

Secondly...

to work on its reorganization.

And thirdly,

to work on the drafting

of a new programme

that will then be discussed

by all members.

Have you understood?

Obviously, as new members,

you're invited to our autumn Congress.

We hope to convince Joseph Proudhon

to attend it.

We're counting on your help

as friends of his.

Anything to add?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Gentlemen.

I can't return to Port-au-Prince

without the contract.

Of course.

Brussels, Bellevue Hotel, May 1846

Above all...

- I know what to say...

Property will conquer the Republic

or the Republic will conquer property.

Here he is!

Get rid of that cigar.

Proudhon!

My clear doctor...

You remember my friend Engels.

- Of course.

Sorry, I have to change.

I didn't understand your letter.

What was it about?

Yes, later, Grun.

It was about the League of the Just.

It's a powerful movement,

with branches in the New World.

What are you asking me?

To be its correspondent in France.

The League's correspondent?

- Master, we must go.

Stop calling me "Master"!

Let me breathe a little.

A charming boy,

but he sticks to me like glue.

You know he claims that he taught you

all about German philosophy?

Well, he has a wife

and two children to feed.

He has to impress people somehow.

What were you asking me?

To be the League's correspondent.

I'll be frank with you.

I have too much work and I'm too lazy

to take on additional obligations.

You're younger than I am.

You don't have to answer now.

We'll gladly send you documents.

- No, my mind's made up. However...

I'd like to pursue our discussions

by mail or otherwise.

But, for God's sake, my clear Marx,

let's not assassinate each other.

Let's avoid all insults.

Do not be like Luther who,

after destroying Catholic dogma,

founded an equally intolerant religion.

Is that your last word?

Certainly not, my friend.

Certainly not.

Do we not have all history before us?

Just a second.

My latest work.

Thank you.

I'm eager to hear what you think.

All my best to your family.

The Philosophy of Poverty.

This Congress...

We must get it on our side.

YES.

That's for sure.

But how?

- Let me handle it.

And Proudhon?

I presume I have to handle him.

The Poverty of Philosophy.

The Poverty of Philosophy.

Have you read

Joseph Proudhon's Philosophy of Poverty?

Here is Marx's answer,

The Poverty of Philosophy!

London, Red Lions Hotel, November 1847

Congress of the League of the Just

and emissaries

from Uppsala and Stockholm are here.

Soon we should have news from...

- Hello.

Karl, may I introduce a few comrades?

Wilhelm, Hans, Walter.

Very nice. Hermann.

- No news from Weitling.

Hear that for Weitling?

So, Gentlemen...

How are you?

- Fine. You have to talk to him.

Everything okay?

- Mr Engels?

Yes, that's me.

I'm Donald Murray.

It's nice to meet you.

I'm sorry but you can't speak today.

You're not on the list

of official delegates.

What do you mean, official?

We're League members.

We're de facto delegates.

- There can only be one delegate

and he must be accredited.

- Accredited?

But I am accredited.

- You're invited, not accredited.

You can watch, but you can't...

- No, no, no.

We didn't come all this way

just to watch.

I demand a vote.

- You will lose.

You have too many adversaries.

- I have to be delegate, and that's that.

For the Brussels delegation,

I've been requested...

I call for a vote.

Why?

- Is that necessary?

Who is against the accreditation

of citizen Friedrich Engels

as the sole delegate

for the Brussels region?

We're in favour!

- We're not in favour!

I'm against it!

Who votes "no"? Raise your hands.

And who's in favour?

By a simple majority, Friedrich Engels

is accepted as Brussels representative.

Go, Frederic, go!

Thank you.

On behalf of my friends in France,

Germany, Switzerland and Belgium,

I have come here to set out the principles

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