emician that he spared a book which had already excited the indignation of the magistrates。 M。 Vivien is not the only official to whom I have been indebted； since my first publication； for assistance and protection； but such generosity in the political arena is so rare that one may acknowledge it graciously and freely。 I have always thought； for my part； that bad institutions made bad magistrates； just as the cowardice and hypocrisy of certain bodies results solely from the spirit which governs them。 Why； for instance； in spite of the virtues and talents for which they are so noted； are the academies generally centres of intellectual repression； stupidity； and base intrigue？ That question ought to be proposed by an academy： there would be no lack of competitors。
〃I feel as deeply as you； sir； the abuses which you point out； but I have so great an affection for order；not that common and strait…laced order with which the police are satisfied； but the majestic and imposing order of human societies；that I sometimes find myself embarrassed in attacking certain abuses。 I like to rebuild with one hand when I am compelled to destroy with the other。 In pruning an old tree； we guard against destruction of the buds and fruit。 You know that as well as any one。 You are a wise and learned man； you have a thoughtful mind。 The terms by which you characterize the fanatics of our day are strong enough to reassure the most suspicious imaginations as to your intentions； but you conclude in favor of the abolition of property！ You wish to abolish the most powerful motor of the human mind； you attack the paternal sentiment in its sweetest illusions； with one word you arrest the formation of capital； and we build henceforth upon the sand instead of on a rock。 That I cannot agree to； and for that reason I have criticised your book； so full of beautiful pages； so brilliant with knowledge and fervor！
〃I wish； sir； that my impaired health would permit me to examine with you； page by page； the memoir which you have done me the honor to address to me publicly and personally； I think I could offer some important criticisms。 For the moment； I must content myself with thanking you for the kind words in which you have seen fit to speak of me。 We each possess the merit of sincerity； I desire also the merit of prudence。 You know how deep…seated is the disease under which the working…people are suffering； I know how many noble hearts beat under those rude garments； and I feel an irresistible and fraternal sympathy with the thousands of brave people who rise early in the morning to labor； to pay their taxes； and to make our country strong。 I try to serve and enlighten them； whereas some endeavor to mislead them。 You have not written directly for them。 You have issued two magnificent manifestoes； the second more guarded than the first； issue a third more guarded than the second； and you will take high rank in science； whose first precept is calmness and impartiality。
〃Farewell； sir！ No man's esteem for another can exceed mine for you。 〃BLANQUI。〃
I should certainly take some exceptions to this noble and eloquent letter； but I confess that I am more inclined to realize the prediction with which it terminates than to augment needlessly the number of my antagonists。 So much controversy fatigues and wearies me。 The intelligence expended in the warfare of words is like that employed in battle： it is intelligence wasted。 M。 Blanqui acknowledges that property is abused in many harmful ways； I call PROPERTY the sum these abuses exclusively。 To each of us property seems a polygon whose angles need knocking off； but； the operation performed； M。 Blanqui maintains that the figure will still be a polygon （an hypothesis admitted in mathematics； although not proven）； while I consider that this figure will be a circle。 Honest people can at least understand one another。
For the rest； I allow that； in the present state of the question； the mind may legitimately hesitate before deciding in favor of the abolition of property。 To gain the victory for one's cause； it does not suffice simply to overthrow a principle generally recognized； which has the indisputable merit of systematically recapitulating our political theories； it is also necessary to establish the opposite principle； and to formulate the system which must proceed from it。 Still further； it is necessary to show the method by which the new system will satisfy all the moral and political needs which induced the establishment of the first。 On the following conditions； then； of subsequent evidence； depends the correctness of my preceding arguments：
The discovery of a system of absolute equality in which all existing institutions； save property； or the sum of the abuses of property； not only may find a place； but may themselves serve as instruments of equality： individual liberty； the division of power； the public ministry； the jury system； administrative and judicial organization； the unity and completeness of instruction； marriage； the family； heredity in direct and collateral succession； the right of sale and exchange； the right to make a will； and even birthright；a system which； better than property； guarantees the formation of capital and keeps up the courage of all； which； from a superior point of view； explains； corrects； and completes the theories of association hitherto proposed； from Plato and Pythagoras to Babeuf； Saint Simon； and Fourier； a system； finally； which； serving as a means of transition； is immediately applicable。
A work so vast requires； I am aware； the united efforts of twenty Montesquieus； nevertheless； if it is not given to a single man to finish； a single one can commence； the enterprise。 The road that he shall traverse will suffice to show the end and assure the result。
WHAT IS PROPERTY？ OR； AN INQUIRY INTO THE PRINCIPLE OF RIGHT AND OF GOVERNMENT。 FIRST MEMOIR。 _Adversus hostem aeterna auctertas esto。_
Against the enemy； revendication is eternal。 LAW OF THE TWELVE TABLES。
CHAPTER I。 METHOD PURSUED IN THIS WORK。THE IDEA OF A REVOLUTION。
If I were asked to answer the following question： WHAT IS SLAVERY？ and I should answer in one word； IT IS MURDER； my meaning would be understood at once。 No extended argument would be required to show that the power to take from a man his thought； his will； his personality； is a power of life and death； and that to enslave a man is to kill him。 Why； then； to this other question： WHAT IS PROPERTY！ may I not likewise answer； IT IS ROBBERY； without the certainty of being misunderstood； the second proposition being no other than a transformation of the first？
I undertake to discuss the vital principle of our government and our institutions； property： I am in my right。 I may be mistaken in the conclusion which shall result from my investigations： I am in my right。 I think best to place the last thought of my book first： still am I in my right。
Such an author teaches that property is a civil right； born of occupation and sanctioned by law； another maintains that it is a natural right； originating in labor；and both of these doctrines； totally opposed as they may seem； are encouraged and applauded。 I contend that neither labor； nor occupation； nor law； can create property； that it is an effect without a cause： am I censurable？
But murmurs arise！
PROPERTY IS ROBBERY！ That is the war…cry of '93！ That is the signal of revolutions！
Reader； calm yourself： I am no agent of discord； no firebrand of sedition。 I anticipate history by a few days； I disclose a truth whose development we may try in vain to arrest； I write the preamble of our future constitution。 This proposition which seems to you blasphemousPROPERTY IS ROBBERYwould； if our prejudices allowed us to consider it； be recognized as the lightning…rod to shield us from the coming thunderbolt； but too many interests stand in the way！ 。 。 。 Alas！ philosophy will not change the course of events： destiny will fulfill itself regardless of prophecy。 Besides； must not justice be done and our education be finished？
PROPERTY IS ROBBERY！ 。 。 。 What a revolution in human ideas！ PROPRIETOR and ROBBER have been at all times expressions as contradictory as the beings whom they designate are hostile； all languages have perpetuated this opposition。 On what authority； then； do you venture to attack universal consent； and give the lie to the human race？ Who are you； that you should question the judgment of the nations and the ages？
Of what consequence to you； reader； is my obscure individuality？ I live； like you； in a century in which reason submits only to fact and to evidence。 My name； like yours； is TRUTH… SEEKER。＇1＇ My mission is written in these words of the law： SPEAK WITHOUT HATRED AND WITHOUT FEAR； TELL THAT WHICH THOU KNOWEST！ The work of our race is to build the temple of science； and this science includes man and Nature。 Now； truth reveals itself to all； to…day to Newton and Pascal； tomorrow to the herdsman in the valley and the journeyman in the shop。 Each one contributes his stone to the edifice； and； his task accomplished； disappears。 Eternity precedes us； eternity follo