ttony； 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 vigor； your enervated genius will recover unconquerable energy； and your heart； perhaps already withered； will be rejuvenated！ Every thing will wear a different look to your illuminated vision； new sentiments will engender new ideas within you； religion； morality； poetry； art； language will appear before you in nobler and fairer forms； and thenceforth； sure of your faith； and thoughtfully enthusiastic； you will hail the dawn of universal regeneration！
And you； sad victims of an odious law！you； whom a jesting world despoils and outrages！you； whose labor has always been fruitless； and whose rest has been without hope；take courage！ your tears are numbered！ The fathers have sown in affliction； the children shall reap in rejoicings！
O God of liberty！ God of equality！ Thou who didst place in my heart the sentiment of justice； before my reason could comprehend it； hear my ardent prayer！ Thou hast dictated all that I have written； Thou hast shaped my thought； Thou hast directed my studies； Thou hast weaned my mind from curiosity and my heart from attachment； that I might publish Thy truth to the master and the slave。 I have spoken with what force and talent Thou hast given me： it is Thine to finish the work。 Thou knowest whether I seek my welfare or Thy glory； O God of liberty！ Ah！ perish my memory； and let humanity be free！ Let me see from my obscurity the people at last instructed； let noble teachers enlighten them； let generous spirits guide them！ Abridge； if possible； the time of our trial； stifle pride and avarice in equality； annihilate this love of glory which enslaves us； teach these poor children that in the bosom of liberty there are neither heroes nor great men！ Inspire the powerful man； the rich man； him whose name my lips shall never pronounce in Thy presence； with a horror of his crimes； let him be the first to apply for admission to the redeemed society； let the promptness of his repentance be the ground of his forgiveness！ Then； great and small； wise and foolish； rich and poor； will unite in an ineffable fraternity； and； singing in unison a new hymn； will rebuild Thy altar； O God of liberty and equality！
END OF FIRST MEMOIR。
WHAT IS PROPERTY？
SECOND MEMOIR
A LETTER TO M。 BLANQUI。
WHAT IS PROPERTY？
A LETTER TO M。 BLANQUI。
SECOND MEMOIR。
PARIS； April 1； 1841。 MONSIEUR； Before resuming my 〃Inquiries into Government and Property；〃 it is fitting； for the satisfaction of some worthy people； and also in the interest of order； that I should make to you a plain； straightforward explanation。 In a much…governed State； no one would be allowed to attack the external form of the society； and the groundwork of its institutions； until he had established his right to do so；first； by his morality； second； by his capacity； and； third； by the purity of his intentions。 Any one who； wishing to publish a treatise upon the constitution of the country； could not satisfy this threefold condition； would be obliged to procure the endorsement of a responsible patron possessing the requisite qualifications。
But we Frenchmen have the liberty of the press。 This grand rightthe sword of thought； which elevates the virtuous citizen to the rank of legislator； and makes the malicious citizen an agent of discordfrees us from all preliminary responsibility to the law； but it does not release us from our internal obligation to render a public account of our sentiments and thoughts。 I have used； in all its fulness； and concerning an important question； the right which the charter grants us。 I come to…day； sir； to submit my conscience to your judgment； and my feeble insight to your discriminating reason。 You have criticised in a kindly spiritI had almost said with partiality for the writer a work which teaches a doctrine that you thought it your duty to condemn。 〃The Academy of Moral and Political Sciences；〃 said you in your report； 〃can accept the conclusions of the author only as far as it likes。〃 I venture to hope； sir； that； after you have read this letter； if your prudence still restrains you； your fairness will induce you to do me justice。
MEN； EQUAL IN THE DIGNITY OF THEIR PERSONS AND EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW； SHOULD BE EQUAL IN THEIR CONDITIONS；such is the thesis which I maintained and developed in a memoir bearing the title； 〃What is Property？ or； An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government。〃
The idea of social equality； even in individual fortunes； has in all ages besieged； like a vague presentiment； the human imagination。 Poets have sung of it in their hymns； philosophers have dreamed of it in their Utopias； priests teach it； but only for the spiritual world。 The people； governed by it； never have had faith in it； and the civil power is never more disturbed than by the fables of the age of gold and the reign of Astrea。 A year ago； however； this idea received a scientific demonstration； which has not yet been satisfactorily answered； and； permit me to add； never will be。 This demonstration； owing to its slightly impassioned style； its method of reasoning；which was so at variance with that employed by the generally recognized autho