按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ir farm…rent； to find themselves poorer by one…tenth than they were the previous year。 In fact； this tenthwhich was formerly produced and paid by the proprietor…laborer who then took part in the production； and paid part of thepublic expensesnow has not been produced； and has been paid。 It must then have been taken from the producer's consumption。 To choke this inexplicable deficit； the laborer borrows； confident of his intention and ability to return；a confidence which is shaken the following year by a new loan； PLUS the interest on the first。 From whom does he borrow？ From the proprietor。 The proprietor lends his surplus to the laborer； and this surplus； which he ought to return； becomesbeing lent at interesta new source of profit to him。 Then debts increase indefinitely； the proprietor makes advances to the producer who never returns them； and the latter； constantly robbed and constantly borrowing from the robbers； ends in bankruptcy； defrauded of all that he had。
Suppose that the proprietorwho needs his tenant to furnish him with an incomethen releases him from his debts。 He will thus do a very benevolent deed； which will procure for him a recommendation in the curate's prayers； while the poor tenant； overwhelmed by this unstinted charity； and taught by his catechism to pray for his benefactors； will promise to redouble his energy； and suffer new hardships that he may discharge his debt to so kind a master。
This time he takes precautionary measures； he raises the price of grains。 The manufacturer does the same with his products。 The reaction comes； and； after some fluctuation； the farm…rentwhich the tenant thought to put upon the manufacturer's shouldersbecomes nearly balanced。 So that； while he is congratulating himself upon his success； he finds himself again impoverished； but to an extent somewhat smaller than before。 For the rise having been general； the proprietor suffers with the rest； so that the laborers； instead of being poorer by one…tenth； lose only nine…hundredths。 But always it is a debt which necessitates a loan； the payment of interest； economy； and fasting。 Fasting for the nine…hundredths which ought not to be paid； and are paid； fasting for the redemption of debts； fasting to pay the interest on them。 Let the crop fail； and the fasting becomes starvation。 They say； 〃IT IS NECESSARY TO WORK MORE。〃 That means； obviously； that IT IS NECESSARY TO PRODUCE MORE。 By what conditions is production effected？ By the combined action of labor； capital； and land。 As for the labor； the tenant undertakes to furnish it； but capital is formed only by economy。 Now； if the tenant could accumulate any thing； he would pay his debts。 But granting that he has plenty of capital； of what use would it be to him if the extent of the land which he cultivates always remained the same？ He needs to enlarge his farm。
Will it be said； finally； that he must work harder and to better advantage？ But； in our estimation of farm…rent； we have assumed the highest possible average of production。 Were it not the highest； the proprietor would increase the farm…rent。 Is not this the way in which the large landed proprietors have gradually raised their rents； as fast as they have ascertained by the increase in population and the development of industry how much society can produce from their property？ The proprietor is a foreigner to society； but； like the vulture； his eyes fixed upon his prey； he holds himself ready to pounce upon and devour it。
The facts to which we have called attention； in a community of one thousand persons； are reproduced on a large scale in every nation and wherever human beings live； but with infinite variations and in innumerable forms； which it is no part of my intention to describe。
In fine； propertyafter having robbed the laborer by usury murders him slowly by starvation。 Now； without robbery and murder； property cannot exist； with robbery and murder； it soon dies for want of support。 Therefore it is impossible。
FIFTH PROPOSITION。
Property is impossible； because； if it exists； Society devours itself。
When the ass is too heavily loaded； he lies down； man always moves on。 Upon this indomitable courage； the proprietorwell knowing that it existsbases his hopes of speculation。 The free laborer produces ten； for me； thinks the proprietor； he will produce twelve。
Indeed；before consenting to the confiscation of his fields； before bidding farewell to the paternal roof；the peasant； whose story we have just told； makes a desperate effort； he leases new land； he will sow one…third more； and； taking half of this new product for himself； he will harvest an additional sixth； and thereby pay his rent。 What an evil！ To add one…sixth to his production； the farmer must add； not one…sixth； but two…sixths to his labor。 At such a price； he pays a farm…rent which in God's eyes he does not owe。
The tenant's example is followed by the manufacturer。 The former tills more land； and dispossesses his neighbors； the latter lowers the price of his merchandise； and endeavors to monopolize its manufacture and sale； and to crush out his competitors。 To satisfy property； the laborer must first produce beyond his needs。 Then； he must produce beyond his strength； for； by the withdrawal of laborers who become proprietors； the one always follows from the other。 But to produce beyond his strength and needs； he must invade the production of another； and consequently diminish the number of producers。 Thus the proprietorafter having lessened production by stepping outsidelessens it still further by encouraging the monopoly of labor。 Let us calculate it。
The laborer's deficit； after paying his rent； being； as we have seen； one…tenth； he tries to increase his production by this amount。 He sees no way of accomplishing this save by increasing his labor： this also he does。 The discontent of the proprietors who have not received the full amount of their rent； the advantageous offers and promises made them by other farmers； whom they suppose more diligent； more industrious； and more reliable； the secret plots and intrigues；all these give rise to a movement for the re…division of labor； and the elimination of a certain number of producers。 Out of nine hundred； ninety will be ejected； that the production of the others may be increased one… tenth。 But will the total product be increased？ Not in the least： there will be eight hundred and ten laborers producing as nine hundred； while； to accomplish their purpose； they would have to produce as one thousand。 Now； it having been proved that farm…rent is proportional to the landed capital instead of to labor； and that it never diminishes； the debts must continue as in the past； while the labor has increased。 Here； then； we have a society which is continually decimating itself； and which would destroy itself； did not the periodical occurrence of failures； bankruptcies； and political and economical catastrophes re…establish equilibrium； and distract attention from the real causes of the universal distress。
The monopoly of land and capital is followed by economical processes which also result in throwing laborers out of employment。 Interest being a constant burden upon the shoulders of the farmer and the manufacturer； they exclaim； each speaking for himself； 〃I should have the means wherewith to pay my rent and interest； had I not to pay so many hands。〃 Then those admirable inventions； intended to assure the easy and speedy performance of labor； become so many infernal machines which kill laborers by thousands。
〃A few years ago； the Countess of Strafford ejected fifteen thousand persons from her estate； who； as tenants； added to its value。 This act of private administration was repeated in 1820； by another large Scotch proprietor； towards six hundred tenants and their families。〃Tissot： on Suicide and Revolt。
_ _The author whom I quote； and who has written eloquent words concerning the revolutionary spirit which prevails in modern society； does not say whether he would have disapproved of a revolt on the part of these exiles。 For myself； I avow boldly that in my eyes it would have been the first of rights； and the holiest of duties； and al