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！
nto a right of possession； that is； that while； at present； property makes the elector； after this reform is accomplished； the citizen； the producer will be the possessor。＇1＇ Consequently； the radicals are right in saying that the electoral reform is in their eyes only a means； but； when they are silent as to the end； they show either profound ignorance； or useless dissimulation。 There should be no secrets or reservations from peoples and powers。 He disgraces himself and fails in respect for his fellows； who； in publishing his opinions； employs evasion and cunning。 Before the people act； they need to know the whole truth。 Unhappy he who shall dare to trifle with them！ For the people are credulous； but they are strong。 Let us tell them； then； that this reform which is proposed is only a means；a means often tried； and hitherto without effect；but that the logical object of the electoral reform is equality of fortunes； and that this equality itself is only a new means having in view the superior and definitive object of the salvation of society； the restoration of morals and religion； and the revival of poetry and art。
＇1＇ 〃In some countries； the enjoyment of certain political rights depends upon the amount of property。 But； in these same countries； property is expressive； rather than attributive； of the qualifications necessary to the exercise of these rights。 It is rather a conjectural proof than the cause of these qualifications。〃Rossi： Treatise on Penal Law。
This assertion of M。 Rossi is not borne out by history。 Property is the cause of the electoral right； not as a PRESUMPTION OF CAPACITY；an idea which never prevailed until lately； and which is extremely absurd；but as a GUARANTEE OF DEVOTION TO THE ESTABLISHED ORDER。 The electoral body is a league of those interested in the maintenance of property； against those not interested。 There are thousands of documents； even official documents； to prove this； if necessary。 For the rest； the present system is only a continuation of the municipal system； which； in the middle ages； sprang up in connection with feudalism；an oppressive； mischief…making system； full of petty passions and base intrigues。
It would be an abuse of the reader's patience to insist further upon the tendency of our time towards equality。 There are； moreover； so many people who denounce the present age； that nothing is gained by exposing to their view the popular； scientific； and representative tendencies of the nation。
Prompt to recognize the accuracy of the inferences drawn from observation； they confine themselves to a general censure of the facts； and an absolute denial of their legitimacy。 〃What wonder；〃 they say； 〃that this atmosphere of equality intoxicates us； considering all that has been said and done during the past ten years！ 。 。 。 Do you not see that society is dissolving； that a spirit of infatuation is carrying us away？ All these hopes of regeneration are but forebodings of death； your songs of triumph are like the prayers of the departing； your trumpet peals announce the baptism of a dying man。 Civilization is falling in ruin： _Imus； imus； praecipites_！〃
Such people deny God。 I might content myself with the reply that the spirit of 1830 was the result of the maintenance of the violated charter； that this charter arose from the Revolution of '89； that '89 implies the States…General's right of remonstrance； and the enfranchisement of the communes； that the communes suppose feudalism； which in its turn supposes invasion； Roman law； Christianity； &c。
But it is necessary to look further。 We must penetrate to the very heart of ancient institutions； plunge into the social depths； and uncover this indestructible leaven of equality which the God of justice breathed into our souls； and which manifests itself in all our works。
Labor is man's contemporary； it is a duty； since it is a condition of existence： 〃In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread。〃 It is more than a duty； it is a mission： 〃God put the man into the garden to dress it。〃 I add that labor is the cause and means of equality。
Cast away upon a desert island two men： one large； strong； and active； the other weak； timid； and domestic。 The latter will die of hunger； while the other； a skilful hunter； an expert fisherman； and an indefatigable husbandman； will overstock himself with provisions。 What greater inequality； in this state of Nature so dear to the heart of Jean Jacques； could be imagined！ But let these two men meet and associate themselves： the second immediately attends to the cooking； takes charge of the household affairs； and sees to the provisions； beds； and clothes； provided the stronger does not abuse his superiority by enslaving and ill…treating his companion； their social condition will be perfectly equal。 Thus； through exchange of services； the inequalities of Nature neutralize each other； talents associate； and forces balance。 Violence and inertia are found only among the poor and the aristocratic。 And in that lies the philosophy of political economy； the mystery of human brotherhood。 _Hic est sapientia_。 Let us pass from the hypothetical state of pure Nature into civilization。
The proprietor of the soil； who produces； I will suppose with the economists； by lending his instrument； receives at the foundation of a society so many bushels of grain for each acre of arable land。 As long as labor is weak； and the variety of its products small； the proprietor is powerful in comparison with the laborers； he has ten times； one hundred times； the portion of an honest man。 But let labor； by multiplying its inventions； multiply its enjoyments and wants； and the proprietor； if he wishes to enjoy the new products； will be obliged to reduce his income every day； and since the first products tend rather to depreciate than to rise in value；in consequence of the continual addition of the new ones； which may be regarded as supplements of the first ones；it follows that the idle proprietor grows poor as fast as public prosperity increases。 〃Incomes〃 （I like to quote you； sir； because it is impossible to give too good an authority for these elementary principles of economy； and because I cannot express them better myself）； 〃incomes；〃 you have said； 〃tend to disappear as capital increases。 He who possesses to…day an income of twenty thousand pounds is not nearly as rich as he who possessed the same amount fifty years ago。 The time is coming when all property will be a burden to the idle； and will necessarily pass into the hands of the able and industrious。＇1＇ 。 。 。〃
＇1＇ Lecture of December 22。
In order to live as a proprietor； or to consume without producing； it is necessary； then； to live upon the labor of another； in other words； it is necessary to kill the laborer。 It is upon this principle that proprietors of those varieties of capital which are of primary necessity increase their farm…rents as fast as industry develops； much more careful of their privileges in that respect； than those economists who； in order to strengthen property； advocate a reduction of interest。 But the crime is unavailing： labor and production increase； soon the proprietor will be forced to labor； and then property is lost。
The proprietor is a man who； having absolute control of an instrument of production； claims the right to enjoy the product of the instrument without using it himself。 To this end he lends it； and we have just seen that from this loan the laborer derives a power of exchange； which sooner or later will destroy the right of increase。 In the first place； the proprietor is obliged to allow the laborer a portion of the product； for without it the laborer could not live。 Soon the latter； through the development of his industry； finds a means of regaining the greater portion of that which he gives to the proprietor； so that at last； the objects of enjoyment increasing continually； while the income of the idler remains the same； the proprietor； having exhausted his resources； begins to think of going to work himself。 Then the victory of the producer is certain。 Labor commences to tip the balance towards its own side； and commerce leads to equilibrium。
Man's instinct cannot err；