what is property-第65节
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We need to exchange our products for other products。 It is our right that this exchange should be one of equivalents； and since we consume before we produce； it would be our duty； if we could control the matter； to see to it that our last product shall follow our last consumption。 Suicide is fraudulent bankruptcy。
We need to live our lives according to the dictates of our reason。 It is our right to maintain our freedom。 It is our duty to respect that of others。
We need to be appreciated by our fellows。 It is our duty to deserve their praise。 It is our right to be judged by our works。
Liberty is not opposed to the rights of succession and bequest。 It contents itself with preventing violations of equality。 〃Choose；〃 it tells us； 〃between two legacies； but do not take them both。〃 All our legislation concerning transmissions； entailments； adoptions； and； if I may venture to use such a word； COADJUTORERIES； requires remodelling。
Liberty favors emulation； instead of destroying it。 In social equality； emulation consists in accomplishing under like conditions； it is its own reward。 No one suffers by the victory。
Liberty applauds self…sacrifice； and honors it with its votes； but it can dispense with it。 Justice alone suffices to maintain the social equilibrium。 Self…sacrifice is an act of supererogation。 Happy； however； the man who can say； 〃I sacrifice myself。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ In a monthly publication； the first number of which has just appeared under the name of 〃L'Egalitaire；〃 self…sacrifice is laid down as a principle of equality。 This is a confusion of ideas。 Self…sacrifice； taken alone； is the last degree of inequality。 To seek equality in self…sacrifice is to confess that equality is against nature。 Equality must be based upon justice； upon strict right； upon the principles invoked by the proprietor himself； otherwise it will never exist。 Self…sacrifice is superior to justice； but it cannot be imposed as law； because it is of such a nature as to admit of no reward。 It is； indeed； desirable that everybody shall recognize the necessity of self…sacrifice； and the idea of 〃L'Egalitaire〃 is an excellent example。 Unfortunately； it can have no effect。 What would you reply； indeed； to a man who should say to you； 〃I do not want to sacrifice myself〃？ Is he to be compelled to do so？ When self… sacrifice is forced； it becomes oppression； slavery； the exploitation of man by man。 Thus have the proletaires sacrificed themselves to property。
Liberty is essentially an organizing force。 To insure equality between men and peace among nations； agriculture and industry； and the centres of education； business； and storage； must be distributed according to the climate and the geographical position of the country； the nature of the products； the character and natural talents of the inhabitants； &c。； in proportions so just； so wise； so harmonious； that in no place shall there ever be either an excess or a lack of population； consumption； and products。 There commences the science of public and private right； the true political economy。 It is for the writers on jurisprudence； henceforth unembarrassed by the false principle of property； to describe the new laws； and bring peace upon earth。 Knowledge and genius they do not lack； the foundation is now laid for them。＇1＇
＇1＇ The disciples of Fourier have long seemed to me the most advanced of all modern socialists； and almost the only ones worthy of the name。 If they had understood the nature of their task； spoken to the people； awakened their sympathies； and kept silence when they did not understand； if they had made less extravagant pretensions； and had shown more respect for public intelligence；perhaps the reform would now； thanks to them； be in progress。 But why are these earnest reformers continually bowing to power and wealth；that is； to all that is anti… reformatory？ How； in a thinking age； can they fail to see that the world must be converted by DEMONSTRATION； not by myths and allegories？ Why do they； the deadly enemies of civilization； borrow from it； nevertheless； its most pernicious fruits； property； inequality of fortune and rank； gluttony； concubinage； prostitution； what do I know？ theurgy； magic； and sorcery？ Why these endless denunciations of morality； metaphysics； and psychology； when the abuse of these sciences； which they do not understand； constitutes their whole system？ Why this mania for deifying a man whose principal merit consisted in talking nonsense about things whose names； even； he did not know； in the strongest language ever put upon paper？ Whoever admits the infallibility of a man becomes thereby incapable of instructing others。 Whoever denies his own reason will soon proscribe free thought。 The phalansterians would not fail to do it if they had the power。 Let them condescend to reason； let them proceed systematically； let them give us demonstrations instead of revelations； and we will listen willingly。 Then let them organize manufactures； agriculture； and commerce； let them make labor attractive； and the most humble functions honorable； and our praise shall be theirs。 Above all； let them throw off that Illuminism which gives them the appearance of impostors or dupes； rather than believers and apostles。
I have accomplished my task； property is conquered； never again to arise。 Wherever this work is read and discussed； there will be deposited the germ of death to property； there； sooner or later； privilege and servitude will disappear； and the despotism of will will give place to the reign of reason。 What sophisms； indeed； what prejudices （however obstinate） can stand before the simplicity of the following propositions：
I。 Individual POSSESSION＇1＇ is the condition of social life； five thousand years of property demonstrate it。 PROPERTY is the suicide of society。 Possession is a right； property is against right。 Suppress property while maintaining possession； and； by this simple modification of the principle； you will revolutionize law； government； economy； and institutions； you will drive evil from the face of the earth。
＇1＇ Individual possession is no obstacle to extensive cultivation and unity of exploitation。 If I have not spoken of the drawbacks arising from small estates； it is because I thought it useless to repeat what so many others have said； and what by this time all the world must know。 But I am surprised that the economists； who have so clearly shown the disadvantages of spade… husbandry； have failed to see that it is caused entirely by property； above all； that they have not perceived that their plan for mobilizing the soil is a first step towards the abolition of property。
II。 All having an equal right of occupancy； possession varies with the number of possessors； property cannot establish itself。
III。 The effect of labor being the same for all； property is lost in the common prosperity。
IV。 All human labor being the result of collective force； all property becomes； in consequence； collective and unitary。 To speak more exactly； labor destroys property。
V。 Every capacity for labor being； like every instrument of labor； an accumulated capital； and a collective property； inequality of wages and fortunes （on the ground of inequality of capacities） is； therefore； injustice and robbery。
VI。 The necessary conditions of commerce are the liberty of the contracting parties and the equivalence of the products exchanged。 Now； value being expressed by the amount of time and outlay which each product costs； and liberty being inviolable； the wages of laborers （like their rights and duties） should be equal。
VII。 Products are bought only by products。 Now； the condition of all exchange being equivalence of products； profit is impossible and unjust。 Observe this elementary principle of economy； and pauperism； luxury； oppression； vice； crime； and hunger will disappear from our midst。
VIII。 Men are associated by the physical and mathematical law of production； before they are voluntarily associated by choice。 Therefore； equality of conditions is demanded by justice； that is； by strict social law： esteem； friendship； gratitude； admiration； all fall within the domain of EQUITABLE or PROPORTIONAL law only。
IX。 Free association； libertywhose sole function is to maintain equality in the means of production and equivalence in exchangesis the only possible； the only just； the only true form of society。
X。 Politics is the science of liberty。 The government of man by man （under whatever name it be disguised） is oppression。 Society finds its highest perfection in the union of order with anarchy。
The old civilization has run its race； a new sun is rising； and will soon renew the face of the earth。 Let the present generation perish； let the old prevaricators die in the desert！ the holy earth shall not cover their bones。 Young man； exasperated by the corruption of the age； and absorbed in your zeal for justice！if your country is dear to you； and if you have the interests of humanity at heart； have the courage to espouse the cause of liberty！ Cast off your old selfishness； and plunge into the rising flood of popular equality！ There your regenerate soul will acquire new life and vigo
