what is property-第69节
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y seeming to be industrial feudality； being no longer a principle of exclusion and encroachment； but only a privilege of division； would not be slow； thanks to the intellectual and political emancipation of the proletariat； in passing into absolute equality；as absolute at least as any thing can be on this earth。
I omit； for the sake of brevity； the numerous considerations which the professor adduces in support of what he calls； too modestly in my opinion； his Utopia。 They would serve only to prove beyond all question that； of all the charlatans of radicalism who fatigue the public ear； no one approaches； for depth and clearness of thought； the audacious M。 Blanqui。
3。 NATIONAL WORKSHOPS SHOULD BE IN OPERATION ONLY DURING PERIODS OF STAGNATION IN ORDINARY INDUSTRIES； AT SUCH TIMES THEY SHOULD BE OPENED AS VAST OUTLETS TO THE FLOOD OF THE LABORING POPULATION。
But； sir； the stoppage of private industry is the result of over… production； and insufficient markets。 If； then； production continues in the national workshops； how will the crisis be terminated？ Undoubtedly； by the general depreciation of merchandise； and； in the last analysis； by the conversion of private workshops into national workshops。 On the other hand； the government will need capital with which to pay its workmen； now； how will this capital be obtained？ By taxation。 And upon what will the tax be levied？ Upon property。 Then you will have proprietary industry sustaining against itself； and at its own expense； another industry with which it cannot compete。 What； think you； will become； in this fatal circle； of the possibility of profit；in a word； of property？
Thank Heaven！ equality of conditions is taught in the public schools； let us fear revolutions no longer。 The most implacable enemy of property could not； if he wished to destroy it； go to work in a wiser and more effective way。 Courage； then； ministers； deputies； economists！ make haste to seize this glorious initiative； let the watchwords of equality； uttered from the heights of science and power； be repeated in the midst of the people； let them thrill the breasts of the proletaires； and carry dismay into the ranks of the last representatives of privilege！
The tendency of society in favor of compelling proprietors to support national workshops and public manufactories is so strong that for several years； under the name of ELECTORAL REFORM； it has been exclusively the question of the day。 What is； after all； this electoral reform which the people grasp at； as if it were a bait； and which so many ambitious persons either call for or denounce？ It is the acknowledgment of the right of the masses to a voice in the assessment of taxes； and the making of the laws； which laws； aiming always at the protection of material interests； affect； in a greater or less degree； all questions of taxation or wages。 Now the people； instructed long since by their journals； their dramas；＇1＇ and their songs；＇2＇ know to…day that taxation； to be equitably divided； must be graduated； and must be borne mainly by the rich；that it must be levied upon luxuries； &c。 And be sure that the people； once in the majority in the Chamber； will not fail to apply these lessons。 Already we have a minister of public works。 National workshops will follow； and soon； as a consequence； the excess of the proprietor's revenue over the workingman's wages will be swallowed up in the coffers of the laborers of the State。 Do you not see that in this way property is gradually reduced； as nobility was formerly； to a nominal title； to a distinction purely honorary in its nature？
＇1＇ In 〃Mazaniello；〃 the Neapolitan fisherman demands； amid the applause of the galleries； that a tax be levied upon luxuries。
＇2＇ _Seme le champ； proletaire； C'est l l'oisif qui recoltera_。
Either the electoral reform will fail to accomplish that which is hoped from it； and will disappoint its innumerable partisans； or else it will inevitably result in a transformation of the absolute right under which we live into 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
