bitrary notion： he states the general idea；the higher principle which governs the matter which he is considering； in a word； he is the proclaimer； not the inventor； of the law。 So； when two or more men form among themselves； by synallagmatic contract； an industrial or an insurance association； they recognize that their interests； formerly isolated by a false spirit of selfishness and independence； are firmly connected by their inner natures； and by the mutuality of their relations。 They do not really bind themselves by an act of their private will： they swear to conform henceforth to a previously existing social law hitherto disregarded by them。 And this is proved by the fact that these same men； could they avoid association； would not associate。 Before they can be induced to unite their interests； they must acquire full knowledge of the dangers of competition and isolation； hence the experience of evil is the only thing which leads them into society。
Now I say that； to establish equality among men； it is only necessary to generalize the principle upon which insurance； agricultural； and commercial associations are based。 I say that competition； isolation of interests； monopoly； privilege； accumulation of capital； exclusive enjoyment； subordination of functions； individual production； the right of profit or increase； the exploitation of man by man； and； to sum up all these species under one head； that PROPERTY is the principal cause of misery and crime。 And； for having arrived at this offensive and anti…proprietary conclusion； I am an abhorred monster； radicals and conservatives alike point me out as a fit subject for prosecution； the academies shower their censures upon me； the most worthy people regard me as mad； and those are excessively tolerant who content themselves with the assertion that I am a fool。 Oh； unhappy the writer who publishes the truth otherwise than as a performance of a duty！ If he has counted upon the applause of the crowd； if he has supposed that avarice and self…interest would forget themselves in admiration of him； if he has neglected to encase himself within three thicknesses of brass；he will fail； as he ought； in his selfish undertaking。 The unjust criticisms； the sad disappointments； the despair of his mistaken ambition； will kill him。
But； if I am no longer permitted to express my own personal opinion concerning this interesting question of social equilibrium； let me； at least； make known the thought of my masters； and develop the doctrines advocated in the name of the government。
It never has been my intention； sir； in spite of the vigorous censure which you； in behalf of your academy； have pronounced upon the doctrine of equality of fortunes； to contradict and cope with you。 In listening to you； I have felt my inferiority too keenly to permit me to enter upon such a discussion。 And then； if it must be said；however different your language is from mine； we believe in the same principles； you share all my opinions。 I do not mean to insinuate thereby； sir； that you have （to use the phraseology of the schools） an ESOTERIC and an EXOTERIC doctrine；that； secretly believing in equality； you defend property only from motives of prudence and by command。 I am not rash enough to regard you as my colleague in my revolutionary projects； and I esteem you too highly； moreover； to suspect you of dissimulation。 I only mean that the truths which methodical investigation and laborious metaphysical speculation have painfully demonstrated to me； a profound acquaintance with political economy and a long experience reveal to you。 While I have reached my belief in equality by long reflection； and almost in spite of my desires； you hold yours； sir； with all the zeal of faith；with all the spontaneity of genius。 That is why your course of lectures at the Conservatory is a perpetual war upon property and inequality of fortunes； that is why your most learned investigations； your most ingenious analyses； and your innumerable observations always conclude in a formula of progress and equality； that is why； finally； you are never more admired and applauded than at those moments of inspiration when； borne upon the wings of science； you ascend to those lofty truths which cause plebeian hearts to beat with enthusiasm； and which chill with horror men whose intentions are evil。 How many times； from the place where I eagerly drank in your eloquent words； have I inwardly thanked Heaven for exempting you from the judgment passed by St。 Paul upon the philosophers of his time；〃They have known the truth； and have not made it known〃！ How many times have I rejoiced at finding my own justification in each of your discourses！ No； no； I neither wish nor ask for any thing which you do not teach yourself。 I appeal to your numerous audience； let it belie me if； in commenting upon you； I pervert your meaning。
A disciple of Say； what in your eyes is more anti…social than the custom…houses； or； as you correctly call them； the barriers erected by monopoly between nations？ What is more annoying； more unjust； or more absurd； than this prohibitory system which compels us to pay forty sous in France for that which in England or Belgium would bring us but fifteen？ It is the custom…house； you once said；＇1＇ which arrests the development of civilization by preventing the specialization of industries； it is the custom… house which enriches a hundred monopolists by impoverishing millions of citizens； it is the custom…house which produces famine in the midst of abundance； which makes labor sterile by prohibiting exchange； and which stifles production in a mortal embrace。 It is the custom…house which renders nations jealous of； and hostile to； each other； four…fifths of the wars of all ages were caused originally by the custom…house。 And then； at the highest pitch of your enthusiasm； you shouted： 〃Yes； if to put an end to this hateful system； it should become necessary for me to shed the last drop of my blood； I would joyfully spring into the gap； asking only time enough to give thanks to God for having judged me worthy of martyrdom！〃
＇1＇ Lecture of Jan。 15； 1841。
And； at that solemn moment； I said to myself： 〃Place in every department of France such a professor as that； and the revolution is avoided。〃
But； sir； by this magnificent theory of liberty of commerce you render military glory impossible；you leave nothing for diplomacy to do； you even take away the desire for conquest； while abolishing profit altogether。 What matters it； indeed； who restores Constantinople； Alexandria； and Saint Jean d'Acre； if the Syrians； Egyptians； and Turks are free to choose their masters； free to exchange their products with whom they please？ Why should Europe get into such a turmoil over this petty Sultan and his old Pasha； if it is only a question whether we or the English shall civilize the Orient；shall instruct Egypt and Syria in the European arts； and shall teach them to construct machines； dig canals； and build railroads？ For； if to national independence free trade is added； the foreign influence of these two countries is thereafter exerted only through a voluntary relationship of producer to producer； or apprentice to journeyman。
Alone among European powers； France cheerfully accepted the task of civilizing the Orient； and began an invasion which was quite apostolic in its character；so joyful and high…minded do noble thoughts render our nation！ But diplomatic rivalry； national selfishness； English avarice； and Russian ambition stood in her way。 To consummate a long…meditated usurpation； it was necessary to crush a too generous ally： the robbers of the Holy Alliance formed a league against dauntless and blameless France。 Consequently； at the news of this famous treaty； there arose among us a chorus of curses upon the principle of property； which at that time was acting under the hypocritical formulas of the old political system。 The last hour of property seemed to have struck by the side of Syria； from the Alps to the ocean； from the Rhine to the Pyrenees； the popular conscience was aroused。 All France sang songs of war； and the coalition turned pale at the sound of these shuddering cries： 〃War upon the autocrat； who wishes to be proprietor of the old world！ War upon the English perjurer； the devourer of India； the poisoner of China； the tyrant of Ireland； and the eternal enemy of France！ War upon the allies who have conspired against liberty and equality！ War！ war！ war upon property！〃
By the counsel of Providence the emancipation of the nations is postponed。 France is to conquer； not by arms； but by example。 Universal reason does not yet understand this grand equation； which； commencing with the abolition of slavery； and advancing over the ruins of aristocracies and thrones； must end in equality of rights and fortunes； but the day is not far off when the knowledge of this truth will be as common as that of equality of origin。 Already it seems to be understood that the Oriental question is only a question of custom…houses。 Is it； then； so difficult for public opinion to generalize this idea； and to comprehend； finally； that if the suppression of custom…houses involves the abolition of national property； it involve