FREDERICK ENGELS
[THE CHARTIST MOVEMENT]
The opening  of the recently
elected Parliament that counts among  its members  distinguished representatives of the people’s party could not  but
produce extraordinary excitement in the ranks of the democracy. Everywhere the local Chartist associations are being
reorganised. The number  of meetings increases and the most
diverse ways and means of taking action are being pro posed and discussed. The Chartist executive has just assumed
leadership of this movement,  outlining in an address to the
British democrats the plan of campaign which the party will
follow during the present session.
“In a few days, we  are told, a meeting will be held which in the
face of the people dares to call itself the assembly of the commons  of
England. In a few days this assembly, elected by  only  one class of
society, will begin its iniquitous and odious work  of strengthening the
interests of this class, to the detriment of the people.
‘The people must  protest en masse at the very beginning  against the
exercise of the legislative functions usurped by  this assembly. You,
Chartists of the United Kingdom,  you  have the means to do so; it is
your  duty to use them to advantage. We  shall therefore submit  to you
a new  national petition with the demands of the People’s Charter. Cover
it with millions of your  signatures. Make it possible for us  to present it
as the expression of the will of the nation, as the solemn  protest of the
People against every law passed without  the consent of the people, as
5— 1296

a Bill, finally, for the restoration of the sovereignty out  of which the
nation has been tricked for so  many centuries.
“But  the petition by  itself will not  suffice to meet the needs of the
moment.  True, we  have won  a seat in the legislative chamber by  electing
Mr. O ’Connor.  The democratic members  will find him to be a vigilant
and energetic leader. But  O ’Connor  must  be supported by  pressure from
without, and it is you  who  should create this pressure from without,
this strong  and imposing  public opinion. Let the sections of our  Association be reorganised everywhere; let all our  former members  rejoin our
ranks; let meetings be called everywhere; let everywhere the Charter be
made the issue of the day; let each local contribute its share to increase
our  funds. Be active, give proof of the old energy of the English and the
campaign we  are opening  will be the most  glorious ever undertaken for
the victory of democracy.”
The Fraternal Democrats,21 a society consisting of democrats from almost every nation in Europe, has also just
joined, openly  and unreservedly, in the agitation of the
Chartists. They adopted a resolution of the following tenor:
“Whereas the English people will be unable effectively to support
democracy’s struggle in other countries until it has won  democratic
government  for itself; and
“whereas our  society, established to succour the militant democracy
of every country, is duty-bound to come to the aid of the English
democrats in their effort to obtain an electoral reform on  the basis of
the Charter;
“therefore the Fraternal Democrats undertake to support  with all
their strength the agitation for the People’s Charter.”
This fraternal society, which counts among  its members
the most  distinguished democrats, both  English and foreigners residing in London,  is daily gaining in importance. It
has grown  to such proportions  that the London  liberals have
considered it advisable to set up  in opposition  to it a bour geois International League28 headed by  Free-Trade parliamentary celebrities. The sole object of this new  association,
whose  leadership includes Dr. Bowring,  Col. Thompson  and
other champions of Free Trade, is to carry on  Free-Trade
propaganda abroad under cover of philanthropic and liberal
phrases. But  it seems that the association will not  make much
headway. During  the six months  of its existence it has done
almost nothing,  whereas the Fraternal Democrats have
openly  come out  against any act of oppression,  no  matter
who  may attempt to commit  it. Hence the democracy, both
English and foreign, in so  far as the latter are represented

in London,  have attached themselves to the Fraternal Demo crats, declaring at the same time that they will not  allow
themselves to be exploited for the benefit of England’s Free-
Trade manufacturers.
on  November  21, 1847
Published in La Reforme,
November  22, 1847 Translated from the French