n the most illustrious personages of our time。 One is Jesus Christ； another Moses； a third Mahomet； this is Orpheus； that Plato； or Pythagoras。 Gregory VII。； himself； has risen from the grave together with the evangelists and the apostles； and it may turn out that even I am that slave who； having escaped from his master's house； was forthwith made a bishop and a reformer by St。 Paul。 As for the virgins and holy women； they are expected daily； at present； we have only Aspasias and courtesans。
Now； as in all diseases； the diagnostic varies according to the temperament； so my madness has its peculiar aspects and distinguishing characteristic。
Reformers； as a general thing； are jealous of their role； they suffer no rivals； they want no partners； they have disciples； but no co…laborers。 It is my desire； on the contrary； to communicate my enthusiasm； and to make it； as far as I can； epidemic。 I wish that all were； like myself； reformers； in order that there might be no more sects； and that Christs； Anti…Christs； and false Christs might be forced to understand and agree with each other。
Again； every reformer is a magician； or at least desires to become one。 Thus Moses； Jesus Christ； and the apostles； proved their mission by miracles。 Mahomet ridiculed miracles after having endeavored to perform them。 Fourier； more cunning； promises us wonders when the globe shall be covered with phalansteries。 For myself； I have as great a horror of miracles as of authorities； and aim only at logic。 That is why I continually search after the criterion of certainty。 I work for the reformation of ideas。 Little matters it that they find me dry and austere。 I mean to conquer by a bold struggle； or die in the attempt； and whoever shall come to the defence of property； I swear that I will force him to argue like M。 Considerant； or philosophize like M。 Troplong。
Finally；and it is here that I differ most from my compeers；I do not believe it necessary； in order to reach equality； to turn every thing topsy…turvy。 To maintain that nothing but an overturn can lead to reform is； in my judgment； to construct a syllogism； and to look for the truth in the regions of the unknown。 Now； I am for generalization； induction； and progress。 I regard general disappropriation as impossible： attacked from that point； the problem of universal association seems to me insolvable。 Property is like the dragon which Hercules killed： to destroy it； it must be taken； not by the head； but by the tail；that is； by profit and interest。
I stop。 I have said enough to satisfy any one who can read and understand。 The surest way by which the government can baffle intrigues and break up parties is to take possession of science； and point out to the nation； at an already appreciable distance； the rising oriflamme of equality； to say to those politicians of the tribune and the press； for whose fruitless quarrels we pay so dearly； 〃You are rushing forward； blind as you are； to the abolition of property； but the government marches with its eyes open。 You hasten the future by unprincipled and insincere controversy； but the government； which knows this future； leads you thither by a happy and peaceful transition。 The present generation will not pass away before France； the guide and model of civilized nations； has regained her rank and legitimate influence。〃
But； alas！ the government itself；who shall enlighten it？ Who can induce it to accept this doctrine of equality； whose terrible but decisive formula the most generous minds hardly dare to acknowledge？ 。 。 。 I feel my whole being tremble when I think that the testimony of three menyes； of three men who make it their business to teach and definewould suffice to give full play to public opinion； to change beliefs； and to fix destinies。 Will not the three men be found？ 。 。 。
May we hope； or not？ What must we think of those who govern us？ In the world of sorrow in which the proletaire moves； and where nothing is known of the intentions of power； it must be said that despair prevails。 But you； sir；you； who by function belong to the official world； you； in whom the people recognize one of their noblest friends； and property its most prudent adversary； what say you of our deputies； our ministers； our king？ Do you believe that the authorities are friendly to us？ Then let the government declare its position； let it print its profession of faith in equality； and I am dumb。 Otherwise； I shall continue the war； and the more obstinacy and malice is shown； the oftener will I redouble my energy and audacity。 I have said before； and I repeat it；I have sworn； not on the dagger and the death's…head； amid the horrors of a catacomb； and in the presence of men besmeared with blood； but I have sworn on my conscience to pursue property； to grant it neither peace nor truce； until I see it everywhere execrated。 I have not yet published half the things that I have to say concerning the right of domain； nor the best things。 Let the knights of property； if there are any who fight otherwise than by retreating； be prepared every day for a new demonstration and accusation； let them enter the arena armed with reason and knowledge； not wrapped up in sophisms； for justice will be done。
〃To become enlightened； we must have liberty。 That alone suffices； but it must be the liberty to use the reason in regard to all public matters。
〃And yet we hear on every hand authorities of all kinds and degrees crying： ‘Do not reason！'
〃If a distinction is wanted； here is one：
〃The PUBLIC use of the reason always should be free； but the PRIVATE use ought always to be rigidly restricted。 By public use； I mean the scientific； literary use； by private； that which may be taken advantage of by civil officials and public functionaries。 Since the governmental machinery must be kept in motion； in order to preserve unity and attain our object； we must not reason； we must obey。 But the same individual who is bound； from this point of view； to passive obedience； has the right to speak in his capacity of citizen and scholar。 He can make an appeal to the public； submit to it his observations on events which occur around him and in the ranks above him； taking care； however； to avoid offences which are punishable。
〃Reason； then； as much as you like； only； obey。〃Kant： Fragment on the Liberty of Thought and of the Press。 Tissot's Translation。
These words of the great philosopher outline for me my duty。 I have delayed the reprint of the work entitled 〃What is Property？〃 in order that I might lift the discussion to the philosophical height from which ridiculous clamor has dragged it down； and that； by a new presentation of the question； I might dissipate the fears of good citizens。 I now reenter upon the public use of my reason； and give truth full swing。 The second edition of the First Memoir on Property will immediately follow the publication of this letter。 Before issuing any thing further； I shall await the observations of my critics； and the co…operation of the friends of the people and of equality。
Hitherto； I have spoken in my own name； and on my own personal responsibility。 It was my duty。 I was endeavoring to call attention to principles which antiquity could not discover； because it knew nothing of the science which reveals them； political economy。 I have； then； testified as to FACTS； in short； I have been a WITNESS。 Now my role changes。 It remains for me to deduce the practical consequences of the facts proclaimed。 The position of PUBLIC PROSECUTOR is the only one which I am henceforth fitted to fill； and I shall sum up the case in the name of the PEOPLE。
I am； sir； with all the consideration that I owe to your talent and your character；
Your very humble and most obedient servant； P。 J。 PROUDHON； Pensioner of the Academy of Besancon。
P。S。 During the session of April 2； the Chamber of Deputies rejected； by a very large majority； the literary…property bill； BECAUSE IT DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT。 Nevertheless； literary property is only a special form of the right of property； which everybody claims to understand。 Let us hope that this legislative precedent will not be fruitless for the cause of equality。 The consequence of the vote of the Chamber is the abolition of capitalistic property；property incomprehensible； contradictory； impossible； and absurd。
End