按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ine； unite； and amalgamate in a manner to form a veritable hard rock； in accordance with a dynamic law； patiently studied by economists； those geologists of politics。 These men who grouped themselves under different appellations； but who may all be designated by the generic title of socialists； endeavored to pierce that rock and to cause it to spout forth the living waters of human felicity。
From the question of the scaffold to the question of war； their works embraced everything。
To the rights of man； as proclaimed by the French Revolution； they added the rights of woman and the rights of the child。
The reader will not be surprised if； for various reasons； we do not here treat in a thorough manner； from the theoretical point of view； the questions raised by socialism。
We confine ourselves to indicating them。
All the problems that the socialists proposed to themselves； cosmogonic visions； revery and mysticism being cast aside； can be reduced to two principal problems。
First problem：
To produce wealth。
Second problem：
To share it。
The first problem contains the question of work。
The second contains the question of salary。
In the first problem the employment of forces is in question。
In the second； the distribution of enjoyment。
From the proper employment of forces results public power。
From a good distribution of enjoyments results individual happiness。
By a good distribution； not an equal but an equitable distribution must be understood。
From these two things bined； the public power without； individual happiness within； results social prosperity。
Social prosperity means the man happy； the citizen free； the nation great。
England solves the first of these two problems。
She creates wealth admirably； she divides it badly。
This solution which is plete on one side only leads her fatally to two extremes： monstrous opulence； monstrous wretchedness。
All enjoyments for some； all privations for the rest； that is to say； for the people； privilege； exception； monopoly； feudalism； born from toil itself。 A false and dangerous situation； which sates public power or private misery； which sets the roots of the State in the sufferings of the individual。
A badly constituted grandeur in which are bined all the material elements and into which no moral element enters。
munism and agrarian law think that they solve the second problem。 They are mistaken。
Their division kills production。
Equal partition abolishes emulation； and consequently labor。
It is a partition made by the butcher； which kills that which it divides。
It is therefore impossible to pause over these pretended solutions。 Slaying wealth is not the same thing as dividing it。
The two problems require to be solved together； to be well solved。 The two problems must be bined and made but one。
Solve only the first of the two problems； you will be Venice； you will be England。
You will have； like Venice； an artificial power； or； like England； a material power； you will be the wicked rich man。
You will die by an act of violence； as Venice died； or by bankruptcy； as England will fall。
And the world will allow to die and fall all that is merely selfishness； all that does not represent for the human race either a virtue or an idea。
It is well understood here； that by the words Venice； England； we designate not the peoples； but social structures； the oligarchies superposed on nations； and not the nations themselves。
The nations always have our respect and our sympathy。
Venice； as a people； will live again； England； the aristocracy； will fall； but England； the nation； is immortal。
That said； we continue。
Solve the two problems； encourage the wealthy； and protect the poor； suppress misery； put an end to the unjust farming out of the feeble by the strong； put a bridle on the iniquitous jealousy of the man who is making his way against the man who has reached the goal； adjust； mathematically and fraternally； salary to labor； mingle gratuitous and pulsory education with the growth of childhood； and make of science the base of manliness； develop minds while keeping arms busy； be at one and the same time a powerful people and a family of happy men； render property democratic； not by abolishing it； but by making it universal； so that every citizen； without exception； may be a proprietor； an easier matter than is generally supposed； in two words； learn how to produce wealth and how to distribute it； and you will have at once moral and material greatness； and you will be worthy to call yourself France。
This is what socialism said outside and above a few sects which have gone astray； that is what it sought in facts； that is what it sketched out in minds。
Efforts worthy of admiration！
Sacred attempts！
These doctrines； these theories； these resistances； the unforeseen necessity for the statesman to take philosophers into account； confused evidences of which we catch a glimpse； a new system of politics to be created； which shall be in accord with the old world without too much disaccord with the new revolutionary ideal； a situation in which it became necessary to use Lafayette to defend Polignac； the intuition of progress transparent beneath the revolt； the chambers and streets； the petitions to be brought into equilibrium around him； his faith in the Revolution； perhaps an eventual indefinable resignation born of the vague acceptance of a superior definitive right； his desire to remain of his race； his domestic spirit； his sincere respect for the people； his own honesty； preoccupied Louis Philippe almost painfully； and there were moments when strong and courageous as he was； he was overwhelmed by the difficulties of being a king。
He felt under his feet a formidable disaggregation； which was not； nevertheless； a reduction to dust； France being more France than ever。
Piles of shadows covered the horizon。
A strange shade； gradually drawing nearer； extended little by little over men； over things； over ideas； a shade which came from wraths and systems。 Everything which had been hastily stifled was moving and fermenting。 At times the conscience of the honest man resumed its breathing； so great was the disfort of that air in which sophisms were intermingled with truths。
Spirits trembled in the social anxiety like leaves at the approach of a storm。
The electric tension was such that at certain instants； the first er； a stranger； brought light。
Then the twilight obscurity closed in again。 At intervals； deep and dull mutterings allowed a judgment to be formed as to the quantity of thunder contained by the cloud。
Twenty months had barely elapsed since the Revolution of July； the year 1832 had opened with an aspect of something impending and threatening。
The distress of the people； the laborers without bread； the last Prince de Conde engulfed in the shadows； Brussels expelling the Nassaus as Paris did the Bourbons； Belgium offering herself to a French Prince and giving herself to an English Prince； the Russian hatred of Nicolas； behind us the demons of the South； Ferdinand in Spain；