the laborer to found liberty and
equality on fraternal solidarity. The participation of woman gave
to this work of enfranchisement an eminently pacific character,
and the laborer recognizes the right of woman, his companion in
labor.

The delegates of a hundred and four associations, united, without
distinction of sex, elected two women, with several of their
brethren, to participate equally with them in the administration
of the interests of labor, and in the organization of the work of
solidarity.

Fraternal associations were formed with the object of
enfranchising the laborer from the yoke of spoilage and
patronage, but, isolated in the midst of the Old World, their
efforts could only produce a feeble amelioration for themselves.

The union of associations based on fraternal solidarity had for
its end the organization of labor; that is to say, an equal
division of labor, of instruments, and of the products of labor.

The means were, the union of labor, and of credit among the
workers of all professions, in order to acquire the instruments
of labor and the necessary materials, and to form a mutual
guarantee for the education of their children, and to provide for
the needs of the old, the sick, and the infirm.

In this organization all the workers, without distinction of sex
or profession, having an equal right to election, and being
eligible for all functions, and all having equally the initiative
and the sovereign decision in the acts of common interests, they
laid the foundation of a new society based on liberty, equality,
and fraternity.

It is in the name of law framed by man only--by those elected by
privilege--that the Old World, wishing to stifle in the germ the
holy work of pacific enfranchisement, has shut up within the
walls of a prison those who had founded it--those elected by the
laborers.

But the impulse has been given, a grand act has been
accomplished. The right of woman has been recognized by the
laborers, and they have consecrated that right by the election of
those who had claimed it in vain for both sexes, before the
electoral urn and before the electoral committees. They have
received the true civil baptism, were elected by the laborers to
accomplish the mission of enfranchisement, and after hav