what is property-第97节
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is； who formally teaches that the world is not an EMANATION from Divinity；which is pure pantheism；but a FLOW of Divinity。
I do not pretend； however； to deny that 〃L'Esquisse〃 contains some excellent things； but； by the author's declaration； these things are not original with him； it is the system which is his。 That is undoubtedly the reason why M。 Lamennais speaks so contemptuously of his predecessors in philosophy； and disdains to quote his originals。 He thinks that； since 〃L'Esquisse〃 contains all true philosophy； the world will lose nothing when the names and works of the old philosophers perish。 M。 Lamennais； who renders glory to God in beautiful songs； does not know how as well to render justice to his fellows。 His fatal fault is this appropriation of knowledge； which the theologians call the PHILOSOPHICAL SIN； or the SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOSTa sin which will not damn you； proletaires； nor me either。
In short； 〃L'Esquisse；〃 judged as a system； and divested of all which its author borrows from previous systems； is a commonplace work； whose method consists in constantly explaining the known by the unknown； and in giving entites for abstractions； and tautologies for proofs。 Its whole theodicy is a work not of genius but of imagination； a patching up of neo…Platonic ideas。 The psychological portion amounts to nothing； M。 Lamennais openly ridiculing labors of this character； without which； however； metaphysics is impossible。 The book； which treats of logic and its methods； is weak； vague； and shallow。 Finally； we find in the physical and physiological speculations which M。 Lamennais deduces from his trinitarian cosmogony grave errors； the preconceived design of accommodating facts to theory； and the substitution in almost every case of hypothesis for reality。 The third volume on industry and art is the most interesting to read； and the best。 It is true that M。 Lamennais can boast of nothing but his style。 As a philosopher； he has added not a single idea to those which existed before him。
Why； then； this excessive mediocrity of M。 Lamennais considered as a thinker； a mediocrity which disclosed itself at the time of the publication of the 〃Essai sur l'Indifference！〃？ It is because （remember this well； proletaires！） Nature makes no man truly complete； and because the development of certain faculties almost always excludes an equal development of the opposite faculties； it is because M。 Lamennais is preeminently a poet； a man of feeling and sentiment。 Look at his style；exuberant； sonorous； picturesque； vehement； full of exaggeration and invective；and hold it for certain that no man possessed of such a style was ever a true metaphysician。 This wealth of expression and illustration； which everybody admires； becomes in M Lamennais the incurable cause of his philosophical impotence。 His flow of language； and his sensitive nature misleading his imagination； he thinks that he is reasoning when he is only repeating himself； and readily takes a description for a logical deduction。 Hence his horror of positive ideas； his feeble powers of analysis； his pronounced taste for indefinite analogies； verbal abstractions； hypothetical generalities； in short； all sorts of entites。
Further； the entire life of M。 Lamennais is conclusive proof of his anti…philosophical genius。 Devout even to mysticism； an ardent ultramontane； an intolerant theocrat； he at first feels the double influence of the religious reaction and the literary theories which marked the beginning of this century； and falls back to the middle ages and Gregory VII。； then； suddenly becoming a progressive Christian and a democrat； he gradually leans towards rationalism； and finally falls into deism。 At present； everybody waits at the trap…door。 As for me； though I would not swear to it； I am inclined to think that M。 Lamennais； already taken with scepticism； will die in a state of indifference。 He owes to individual reason and methodical doubt this expiation of his early essays。
It has been pretended that M。 Lamennais； preaching now a theocracy； now universal democracy； has been always consistent； that； under different names； he has sought invariably one and the same thing；unity。 Pitiful excuse for an author surprised in the very act of contradiction！ What would be thought of a man who； by turns a servant of despotism under Louis XVI； a demagogue with Robespierre； a courtier of the Emperor； a bigot during fifteen years of the Restoration； a conservative since 1830； should dare to say that he ever had wished for but one thing；public order？ Would he be regarded as any the less a renegade from all parties？ Public order； unity； the world's welfare； social harmony； the union of the nations；concerning each of these things there is no possible difference of opinion。 Everybody wishes them； the character of the publicist depends only upon the means by which he proposes to arrive at them。 But
why look to M。 Lamennais for a steadfastness of opinion； which he himself repudiates？ Has he not said； 〃The mind has no law； that which I believe to…day； I did not believe yesterday； I do not know that I shall believe it to…morrow〃？
No； there is no real superiority among men； since all talents and capacities are combined never in one individual。 This man has the power of thought； that one imagination and style； still another industrial and commercial capacity。 By our very nature and education； we possess only special aptitudes which are limited and confined； and which become consequently more necessary as they gain in depth and strength。 Capacities are to each other as functions and persons； who would dare to classify them in ranks？ The finest genius is； by the laws of his existence and development； the most dependent upon the society which creates him。 Who would dare to make a god of the glorious child？
〃It is not strength which makes the man；〃 said a Hercules of the market…place to the admiring crowd； 〃it is character。〃 That man； who had only his muscles； held force in contempt。 The lesson is a good one； proletaires； we should profit by it。 It is not talent （which is also a force）； it is not knowledge； it is not beauty which makes the man。 It is heart； courage； will； virtue。 Now； if we are equal in that which makes us men； how can the accidental distribution of secondary faculties detract from our manhood？
Remember that privilege is naturally and inevitably the lot of the weak； and do not be misled by the fame which accompanies certain talents whose greatest merit consists in their rarity； and a long and toilsome apprenticeship。 It is easier for M。 Lamennais to recite a philippic； or sing a humanitarian ode after the Platonic fashion； than to discover a single useful truth； it is easier for an economist to apply the laws of production and distribution than to write ten lines in the style of M。 Lamennais； it is easier for both to speak than to act。 You； then； who put your hands to the work； who alone truly create； why do you wish me to admit your inferiority？ But； what am I saying？
Yes； you are inferior； for you lack virtue and will！ Ready for labor and for battle； you have； when liberty and equality are in question； neither courage nor character！
In the preface to his pamphlet on 〃Le Pays et le Gouvernement；〃 as well as in his defence before the jury； M。 Lamennais frankly declared himself an advocate of property。 Out of regard for the author and his misfortune； I shall abstain from characterizing this declaration； and from examining these two sorrowful performances。 M。 Lamennais seems to be only the tool of a quasi… radical party； which flatters him in order to use him； without respect for a glorious； but hence forth powerless； old age。 What means this profession of faith？ From the first number of 〃L'Avenir〃 to 〃L'Esquisse d'une Philosophie；〃 M。 Lamennais always favors equality； association； and even a sort of vague and indefinite communism。 M。 Lamennais； in recognizing the right of property； gives the lie to his past career； and renounces his most generous tendencies。 Can it； then； be true that in this man； who has been too roughly treated； but who is also too easily flattered； strength of talent has already outlived strength of will？
It is said that M。 Lamennais has rejected the offers of several of his friends to try to procure for him a commutation of his sentence。 M。 Lamennais prefers to serve out his time。 May not this affectation of a false stoicism come from the same source as his recognition of the right of property？ The Huron； when taken prisoner； hurls insults and threats at his conqueror；that is the heroism of the savage； the martyr prays for his executioners； and is willing to receive from them his life；that is the heroism of the Christian。 Why has the apostle of love become an apostle of anger and revenge？ Has； then； the translator of 〃L'Imitation〃 forgotten that he who offends charity cannot honor virtue？ Galileo； retracting on his knees before the tribunal of the inquisition his heresy in regard to the movement of the earth； and recovering at that price his liberty； seems to me a hundred times grander than M。 Lamennais。 What！ if we suffer for truth and justice； must we； in retaliation； thrust our persecutors out
