The text is from Denis William Brogan (1934), Proudhon, London: H. Hamilton.

!"#DH"$
B% D.W. Brogan
&H' T(! ) TH( (D#&'T)"$ "* !"#DH"$
PIERRE-JOSEPH PROUDHON was born on the 15th of January, 180 , an! thus "rew u# $n the sha!ow of two "reat e%ents, the &ren'h an! the $n!ustr$a( re%o(ut$ons) both of these he fe(t #rofoun!(y) the f$rst of the* he un!erstoo!+ He was born $n ,attant, a suburb of ,esan'on, the 'a#$ta( of the &ree -ounty of ,ur"un!y, an! h$s $ntense (o'a( #atr$ot$s* re*a$ne! a ($%$n" for'e $n h$s ($fe an! thou"ht to the !ay of h$s !eath+ H$s .($tt(e 'ountry., &ran'he--o*te., ha! on(y been #art of &ran'e for one hun!re! an! f$fty years when Prou!hon was born) ,esan'on was a rea( (o'a( 'a#$ta(, an! so*e of the see!s of Prou!hon.s fe!era($s*, of h$s !$s($/e of Par$s, an! of 'entra($sat$on, were sown $n those ear(y years+ He was a '$t$0en of no *ean '$ty, a 'h$(! of no *ere !e#art*ent) an!, whether he was !efen!$n" the $nte((e'tua( $n!e#en!en'e of the -ounty of ,ur"un!y a"a$nst the #retens$ons of the Du'hy of ,ur"un!y, or (oo/$n" forwar! w$th !e($"ht to the re'onst$tut$on of the th$rty sub*er"e! nat$ona($t$es wh$'h he be($e%e! e1$ste! $n &ran'e, he was f$"ht$n", not *ere(y for a "enera( #r$n'$#(e,but for the *e*or$es an! (oya(t$es of h$s youth+ 2ore $*#ortant st$(( was h$s #arenta"e+ .2y an'estors on both s$!es were free #easants, e1e*#t fro* feu!a( ser%$tu!e fro* t$*e $**e*or$a(.) there re*a$ne! to Prou!hon a(( h$s ($fe a fa*$(y #r$!e as "reat as that of a 3uer$nantes) be was born of no #ro(etar$an or ser%$(e sto'/+ Ha! not h$s *aterna( "ran!father, the o(! so(!$er, w$thstoo! before the re%o(ut$on !$e (o'a( tyrann$'a( s4u$re, an! was not h$s *other .note! for her %$rtues an! for her re#ub($'an $!eas.5 .6h$s $s rea( nob$($ty of ra'e+ I *yse(f a* a nob(e+. H$s father.s fa*$(y, the Prou!hons, was note! for obst$na'y) one bran'h ha! r$sen $n the wor(!, ha! entere! the *$!!(e '(asses an! #ro!u'e! an e*$nent (awyer, but the #oorer 'onne't$ons were far fro* #(ay$n" the ro(e of #oor re(at$ons) they ha! the$r share of the #r$!e, that was to be so *ar/e! $n the$r *ost fa*ous /$ns*an+ Prou!hon.s father was a 'oo#er an!, for a t$*e, a brewer+ He was, !oubt(ess, an honest an! $n!ustr$ous *an, but unsu''essfu( $n h$s bus$ness+ 7ater, Prou!hon attr$bute! h$s father.s f$nan'$a( !$sasters to h$s $n'orr$"$b(e hab$t of se(($n" h$s beer at the .8ust #r$'e., that $s, at the 'ost of #ro!u't$on, $nstea! of $*$tat$n" the rest of the brewers who so(! at a #rof$t+ Not on(y that, the e(!er Prou!hon was 'arefu( about the 'hara'ter of h$s 'usto*ers, an! so (ost *oney by refus$n" to (et wo*en enter h$s sho#+ Others were not so s'ru#u(ous, an! .ha%$n" "rown r$'h by #rost$tut$on +++ *arr$e! the$r 'h$(!ren off to the best #eo#(e, wh$(e *y father.s 'h$(!ren ha%e foun! nobo!y.+ 6he (esson (earne! here was ne%er for"otten) there was a *ora((y r$"ht way of !o$n" bus$ness) there was a *ora((y wron" way of !o$n" bus$ness) but $n *o!ern so'$ety the r$"ht way (e! stra$"ht to ban/ru#t'y, the wron" way to wea(th an! honour+ So'$ety *ust be *a!e safe for honesty an! a wor(! be 'reate! $n wh$'h the 'h$(!ren of an honest *an ($/e -(au!e-&ran'o$s Prou!hon shou(! not be e*b$ttere! by ha%$n" the$r father.s honesty $n hun"er an! hu*$($at$on+ 9(thou"h Prou!hon 'ons$!ere! h$*se(f a nat$%eof ,esan'on, the suburb where he was born, #reser%e!, as 2+ Dan$e( Ha(e%y te((s us, a rura( 'hara'ter+ .2any *ar/et-"ar!eners, #easants, w$ne-

"rowers, foun! $t 'on%en$ent to (o!"e there, not far fro* the '$ty-fo(/+ 6hus they 'ou(! *a/e the$r ($%$n" w$thout 'han"$n" the$r way of ($fe, /ee#$n" fa$thfu((y, $n the sha!ow of the town, to the$r rura( 'usto*s an! the$r rura( s#ee'h+. 6h$s, a"a$n, was of "reat $*#ortan'e to Prou!hon, for he (earne! to /now an! sy*#ath$se w$th the #easants, to fee( w$th the #easants $n h$s heart, to share the$r (an!-hun"er) the$r r$"$! %$ews of r$"ht-($%$n") the$r !ee# 'onser%at$s*) a(( 'o*b$ne! w$th the$r #ass$on for e4ua($ty) the$r '(ass-'ons'$ousness) an! the$r sa%a"e reso(ut$on to be ea'h *aster of h$s own f$e(!s an! h$s own househo(!+ Not on(y !$! Prou!hon /now the #easant ($fe) he ($%e! $t+ Unt$( he was twe(%e, he was 'onstant(y en"a"e! $n far*-wor/, es#e'$a((y $n her!$n" 'att(e, an! (ate $n ($fe, he !e'(are! that there, $n the "rass, (oo/$n" at the s/y, he (earne! un--hr$st$an (essons of trust $n nature, an! !$strust of .that absur! s#$r$tua($s* wh$'h $s at the bas$s of -hr$st$an ($fe an! e!u'at$on.+ :hen he ha! be'o*e a fa*ous anta"on$st or the -hur'h, both he an! h$s ene*$es were $n'($ne! to e1a""erate the heres$es of h$s 'h$(!hoo!) an! one #$ous anta"on$st !e'(are! that #rayer foun! no e'ho $n the Prou!hon househo(!+ It was ne%er safe to assu*e anyth$n" about Prou!hon, an! he was $n!$"nant at th$s 'har"e, for he was, $n fa't, brou"ht u# $n *atter-of-fa't ortho!o1y by h$s #arents+ 6hey were "oo! -atho($'s of the o(! &ren'h #easant s'hoo( an! so was the$r son+ He be($e%e! $n 3o! an! the sa$nts) he a(so be($e%e! $n ny*#hs an! fa$r$es+ Prou!hon owe! h$s 'han'e of for*a( e!u'at$on to the 9bbe S$rebon, the #ar$sh #r$est, ne1t, to h$s father.s e*#(oyer, but, abo%e a((, to h$s *other, -ather$ne, who was the *a$nstay of the #oor househo(!+ 6he Prou!hons were "o$n" !own $n the wor(!+ -(au!e-&ran'o$s was no (on"er h$s own *aster, the future was !ar/ but the boy was to be "$%en h$s 'han'e+ 6he entry to the (o'a( 'o((e"e ;h$"h s'hoo(< was the "reatest e%ent of Prou!hon.s youth) *ore $*#ortant than the s$e"e of ,esan'on, than h$s father fa$(ure, than the b$rth of a youn"er brother+ He now (earne! of !e($"hts as /een as any he ha! /nown as a her!-boy) he !$s#(aye! the #ro!$"$ous $n!ustry that was to re*a$n w$th h$* a(( h$s ($fe an! an a##et$te for (earn$n" that start(e! h$s tea'hers+ ,ut he stu!$e! un!er "reat !$ff$'u(t$es) h$s fa*$(y was !es#erate(y #oor, an! he ha! to borrow s'hoo( boo/s fro* *ore fortunate boys, he ha! no hat) he wore woo!en shoes) an! he (earne! the truth of the (o'a( #ro%erb, .Po%erty $s no 'r$*e) $t $s worse+. 6he stu!$es were a(*ost ent$re(y *athe*at$'s an! 7at$n+ He was a #oor *athe*at$'$an ;an! that $s worth re*e*ber$n"<, but he was an e1'e((ent 7at$n$st+ He *astere! the (an"ua"e an! shone $n $t an!, unt$( h$s !eath, (an"ua"e fas'$nate! h$*+ He won #r$0es an! one of the* was &ene(on.s Demonstration of the Existence of God+ He rea! $t, an! $t shoo/ h$s fa$th+ .9fter that,. he sa$!, .I was a *eta#hys$'$an. -a be($ef wh$'h 2+ Dan$e( Ha(e%y notes, was an $((us$on+ H$s s'hoo( ($fe was !$ff$'u(t, an! $ts !$ff$'u(t$es nour$she! h$s so*bre #r$!e) be was re($"$ous, but be saw, or thou"ht he saw, that h$s 0ea( was $((-rewar!e!, that the -hur'h was a res#e'ter of #ersons+ :hen he was s$1teen he aban!one! the #ra't$'e of h$s re($"$on, a(thou"h be was to return to $t a"a$n+ 6he fa*$(y fortunes "rew worse an! worse+ On the !ay he was to re'e$%e a #r$0e, there was no one of h$s fa*$(y #resent, an! the #res$!$n" off$'$a( ha! to ta/e the #(a'e of the *$ss$n" /$nsfo(/+ He went ho*e to f$n! h$s father $n 'onsternat$on, h$s *other $n tears) a (awsu$t ha! en!e! $n a !e'$s$on a"a$nst h$s father+ .6hat e%en$n" we su##e! on brea! an! water+. 6he stra$n on the fa*$(y resour'es of /ee#$n" P$erre Jose#h at s'hoo( was unbearab(e+ =9t e$"hteen,= sa$! h$s father, =I earne! *y /ee# an! I ha!n.t ha! so (on" an a##rent$'esh$#=-=I thou"ht he was r$"ht+=. :hat tra!e to a!o#t was now the 4uest$on5 If he 'ou(! ha%e "ot a''ess to the (an!, he *$"ht ha%e be'o*e a far*er, but the want of 'a#$ta( barre! that roa!+ .Perha#s $t was on(y the want of a "oo! or"an$sat$on of rura( 're!$t that /e#t *e fro* re*a$n$n" a(( *y ($fe a #easant an! a 'onser%at$%e+. 9nother (esson, the e1'(us$on of the #oor fro* #ro#erty an! $n!e#en!en'e, was now (earne!+ 6he tra!e 'hosen was #r$nt$n", an! he ne%er for"ot the (essons he (earne! $n h$s a##rent$'esh$#+ He was #rou! to ha%e a tra!e an! be($e%e! that $t was a sure sh$e(! a"a$nst want, that he was now $n!e#en!ent of e%erybo!y+ He a(so be'a*e 'on%$n'e! that the 'o*#etent art$san re'e$%e! a *ore fru$tfu( tra$n$n" than the boo/wor*) an! he was a(ways $rr$tate! by the '(a$*s of an $nte((e'tua( e($te

to (ea! the wor/ers for the$r own "oo!+ H$s 'on%$'t$on of the ne'ess$ty, an! the #oss$b$($ty, of e4ua($ty was "$%en a se'ure bas$s $n h$s *$n! by h$s *e*or$es of the #r$nter.s 'ha#e(+ He (earne! the for'e of tra!e #ra't$'e, of the way $n wh$'h a 'usto*ary 'o!e 'an /ee# the s(u""ar!s u# to the *ar/ an! #re%ent the stron" fro* ra'$n" ahea! too fast+ He (earne! a tra!e *ora($ty, an! the nee! for an! the #oss$b$($ty of *utua( (oya(ty+ He ne%er (ost the 'on%$'t$on that he /new the *$n!s, the nee!s, the natures of the wor/ers, an! of the #easants, as no a'a!e*$'s, fort$f$e! w$th for*a( !o'tr$ne, 'ou(! /now the*+ 6he wor/ers ne%er be'a*e for h$* a ho*o"eneous '(ass of wh$'h any thousan! were worth any other thousan!) the$r sa(%at$on must 'o*e fro* w$th$n+ 9ny (ea!ersh$# fro* the outs$!e, no *atter what were $ts '(a$*s to su#er$or /now(e!"e or !$s$ntereste!ness, was s$*#(y another for* of tyranny+ 6here were *ore *o!es of e1#(o$tat$on than those 'reate! by for*a( #ro#erty re(at$ons+ ,es$!es (earn$n" h$s tra!e he fe(( $n (o%e, %$o(ent(y, as he was ne%er to fa(( $n (o%e a"a$n, an! he returne! to h$s re($"$on w$th a #ass$onate enthus$as*+ 6he wor/ of the #r$nt$n"-sho# was (ar"e(y 'on'erne! w$th theo(o"y) Prou!hou rea! w$!e(y $n the fathers of the -hur'h as we(( as *ore $n *o!ern wr$ters+ He thou"ht of h$*se(f as an a#o(o"$st for the fa$th, for $f he was a(rea!y sus#$'$ous of the #o($t$'a( s$!e of -atho($'$s*, h$s fa$th $n the theory, $f not $n the #ra't$'e, of the -hur'h was st$(( war*+ 9(rea!y he was #er#(e1e! by the #rob(e* of $ne4ua($ty, of wor(!(y $n8ust$'e+ :as the -hur'h r$"ht, was there no re*e!y for these e%$(s $n th$s wor(!, or was $t #oss$b(e to or"an$se so'$ety on new ($nes, to har*on$se the !es$res an! #ass$ons of *en5 :as *an the *a$*e! 'reature, *ar/e! by or$"$na( s$n as the -hur'h !es'r$be! h$*, or was the es'a#e fro* h$s #r$son house $n h$s own han!s on'e he foun! the /ey5 He was te*#te! by the heresy of So'$n$an$s*, by the !en$a( of or$"$na( s$n+ He was unw$tt$n"(y on h$s way out of the -hur'h an! on to another fa$th+ He was now a #roof-rea!er an!, throu"h h$s 'orre't$ons of a 7at$n Lives of the Saints, he *a!e the a'4ua$ntan'e an! won the fr$en!sh$# of $ts youn" e!$tor, 3usta%e &a((ot, !est$ne! to be the f$rst "reat #ersona( $nf(uen'e $n Prou!hon.s ($fe+ &a((ot was, or ho#e! to be, a #h$(o(o"$st) he $nfe'te! Prou!hon w$th h$s enthus$as*, an enthus$as* wh$'h, w$th Prou!hon, too/ the for* of (earn$n" Hebrew+ 6h$s stu!y (eft #er*anent *ar/s on h$s *$n!+ He reta$ne! to h$s !eath what was, for a &ren'h*an, an aston$sh$n" fa*$($ar$ty w$th the ,$b(e+ It was a wea#on of fa't, of ar"u*ent, of rhetor$'a( a##ea(, an! he ran/e! $t w$th 9!a* S*$th an! He"e( a*on" the three sour'es of h$s $!eas+ Not on(y the ,$b(e, but #h$(o(o"y attra'te! h$*+ It $s har! to rea($0e now the #rest$"e of #h$(o(o"$'a( stu!$es $n that a"e) new %$stas were o#ene! u# by $t, %$stas not on(y $n the h$story of (an"ua"e, but $n the "enera( h$story of *an/$n!+ It was a '(ue to the nature of th$n"s wh$'h, $f strenuous(y he(! to, wou(! (ea! $ts owner $nto the heart of the (abyr$nth where (ay the se'ret of hu*an *$sery to be re*e!$e! by the a##($'at$on of the true (aws of *an.s nature, (aws wh$'h (an"ua"e 'ou(! $((u*$nate+ 6h$s $((us$on, that ($n"u$st$' /now(e!"e was the /ey to a(( or to *ost #rob(e*s, ne%er who((y (eft Prou!hon+ It, as *u'h as any borrowe! !$a(e't$', was h$s *etho! of resear'h an! of ar"u*ent+ On the who(e, th$s be($ef !$! h$* har*+ It $s worth say$n" on'e that the Hebrew te1t of the 'o**an!*ent !oes not say .6hou sha(t not stea(., but .6hou sha(t not #ut as$!e., but Lo thignob re'urs too often, not as an $((ustrat$on, but as an ar"u*ent+ 9"a$n an! a"a$n ar"u*ents are $nterru#te! or e(o4uen'e $s a((owe! to 'oo( off, wh$(e the ety*o(o"y of a wor! $s #ursue! throu"h bo(! an! often erroneous "uesses+ It $s not of f$rst-'(ass $*#ortan'e to /now ;or to th$n/ you /now< that a(( the wor(! $s wron" $n be($e%$n" that religio at botto* *eans b$n!$n" , when $t rea((y *eans ben!$n"+ In any 'ase, e%en $f #h$(o(o"y ha! been as #owerfu( an! a!e4uate a wea#on as Prou!hon thou"ht, he was unf$tte! to use $t+ He /new a "oo! !ea( of 7at$n, 3ree/, Hebrew, but be /new noth$n" of language, or noth$n" to the #o$nt+ He #a$ne! fr$en!s, who /new better, by h$s bo(! "uesses+ He ha! ne$ther the s'ho(ar.s e4u$#*ent nor te*#era*ent+ :or!s ha! the *ean$n"s Prou!hon wante! the* to ha%e, an! $f *o!ern #h$(o(o"y "a%e h$* no su##ort, so *u'h the worse for $t> It $s $n %a$n that h$s #at$ent fr$en!, Professor ,er"*ann, tr$es to ta*e h$*) the bee /ee#s bu00$n" $n the bonnet+ He ha! %a($! reasons for !$s($/$n" Renan.s *etho!s, but, $n any 'ase, the #rofess$ona( su#er$or$ty of Renan $n #h$(o(o"$'a( e4u$#*ent wou(! ha%e *a!e Prou!hon sus#$'$ous of h$s r$%a( author of a Life of Jesus+ 9nother /ey to /now(e!"e of so'$ety was now #ut $nto h$s han!s, for a fe((ow-'$t$0en of &ran'he-

-o*te, 8ust be'o*$n" fa*ous, ha! h$s boo/ #r$nte! at ,esan'on+ 6he boo/ was The New Industrial World of -har(es &our$er, an! $t he(#e! to o#en the wor(! of e'ono*$' s#e'u(at$on to the youn" #roof-'orre'tor+ 7ater $n ($fe Prou!hon, as was h$s wont, was (ess an! (ess w$(($n" to a!*$t h$s !ebt to &our$er, es#e'$a((y as he "ot to be on worse an! worse ter*s w$th &our$er.s !$s'$#(es, but the $nf(uen'e was "reat+ It $s *ost ob%$ous $n the f$rst e!$t$on of the reation of !rder in "umanit#, where the syste* of ser$es $s *a!e to !o a(( sorts of won!ers, but th$s was 'h$ef(y a *atter of wor!s+ ,ut &our$er.s s'e#t$'$s* of the state h$s %$ew that the so'$a( re%o(ut$on 'ou(! be brou"ht about within the e1$st$n" so'$ety by sett$n" an e1a*#(e of a *ore eff$'$ent e'ono*y ;the Pha(anstery< has #o$nt of aff$n$ty w$th the (ater anar'h$'a( !o'tr$nes of Prou!hon, a(thou"h the effe't of the e1a*#(e "$%en $n Prou!bon.s syste* $s *ora(, not e'ono*$'+ Prou!hon a!*$tte! s$1 wee/s of $nfatuat$on w$th &our$er, but the $nf(uen'e (aste! (on"er than that+ Prou!hon 'a*e to s'orn a(( .Uto#$as. as 2ar1 !$!) the o#t$*$s* of Sa$nt-S$*on, of -abet, an! of the &out$er$sts $nfur$ate! h$*) a(( these #ro*$ses of $n'rease! wea(th to be "enera((y !$str$bute! by $n"en$ous *an$#u(at$ons, by $*#ro%e! #ro!u't$%e *etho!s, were !e'e$t $n h$s eyes, for the best that 'ou(! be ho#e! for was !e'ent #o%erty for e%eryone, $nstea! of wea(th for so*e an! wret'he!ness for the rest+ It $s a sour'e of h$s stren"th that the sat$sfa't$ons he #ro*$ses h$s !$s'$#(es are *ora( rather than *ater$a(, but $f he aban!one! the #ath o#ene! by &our$er, he was for (on" enou"h $n the !ebt of h$s fe((ow-'ountry*an, an! $n h$s own (ater years he thou"ht *ore /$n!(y of the s#e'u(ator who* he ha! been use! to atta'/+ :h$(e th$s $nter$or re%o(ut$on was un!er way, an e1ter$or re%o(ut$on bro/e out+ 6he .three "(or$ous !ays of Ju(y. ;18?0< o%erthrew the restore! ,ourbons an! *a!e $t e%$!ent to the wor(! that the re%o(ut$onary s#$r$t was a"a$n on the *ar'h+ 6hat re%o(ut$onary s#$r$t f$((e! the *$n! an! st$(( *ore the heart of Prou!hon+ He ne%er wa%ere! $n h$s be($ef that the &ren'h Re%o(ut$on was a turn$n" #o$nt $n hu*an h$story+ 6hat Re%o(ut$on *$"ht be, for 2ar1, *ere(y a tr$u*#h of the new 'a#$ta($st o%er the o(! feu!a( or!er, but for Prou!hon $t was the be"$nn$n" of the re$"n of Just$'e, or, at any rate, $t *a!e #oss$b(e the $nst$tut$on of the re$"n of Just$'e+ :hat the 'ontent of Just$'e was, $n Prou!bon.s syste*, w$(( be !es'r$be! (ater, but Prou!hon ne%er re"rette! for a *o*ent the Re%o(ut$on+ He 'ou(! be b$tter about $ts betraya( by (ea!ers who were heroes of the re%o(ut$onary (e"en!, but who* he 'on!e*ne! for *$sun!erstan!$n" the "reat *o*ent of !e($%eran'e, but none of h$s sneers at !e*o'ra'y an!, st$(( *ore, at !e*o'rats, 'an *a/e of h$* ;!es#$te the $n"en$ous s#e'$a( #(ea!$n" of 2+ 7ou$s D$*$er< a .*aster of the 'ounter-re%o(ut$on.+ Nowhere *ore '(ear(y than $n Prou!hon, 'an one fee( the unsha/ab(e !e%ot$on of the &ren'h #easant an! wor/er to the *e*ory of those !ays .when Death was on thy !ru*s, De*o'ra'y, an!, w$th one rush of s(a%es, the wor(! was free.+ Is a *an, a boo/, a #ro8e't, 'ounter-re%o(ut$onary5 It $s thereby 'on!e*ne!+ Does a (aw or an $!ea see* to atte*#t to !a*n u# the re%o(ut$onary f(oo!) $t $s fut$(e+ 6he future $s, must be w$th the Re%o(ut$on@ the o(! obe!$en'e to tra!$t$ona( author$ty, $n #o($t$'s an! $n re($"$on, has re'e$%e! a *orta( woun!+ 9ny so'$ety base! on these $!eas $s b(ee!$n" to !eath) $t *ay be ban!a"e! u# for a t$*e, but the b(ee!$n" 'annot be sto##e!, 9s *u'h as 2ar1, Prou!hon be($e%e! an! #rea'he! the $ne%$tab(e %$'tory of h$s 'ause, the *a/$n" of the wor(! safe for the $!ea of Just$'e brou"ht $nto $t by the &ren'h Re%o(ut$on+ It $s the the*e of h$s "reatest boo/, Justice in the $evolution and the hurch+ It sha#es a(( h$s e'ono*$' ar"u*ents, so that :a(ras $s start(e! to f$n! an e'ono*$' !o'tr$ne refute! as be$n" a"a$nst the s#$r$t of the Re%o(ut$on+ 6he Re- %o(ut$on, thou"h s$!e-tra'/e! an! betraye!, $s e%er on the *ar'h+ -r$ses ($/e 18?0 an! 18A8 are bre! by the $nstab$($ty of a(( $nst$tut$ons wh$'h !o not fran/(y ta/e as the$r base the re%o(ut$onary $!ea of Just$'e, that $s to say, e4ua($ty+ 6here are now no author$t$es of tra!$t$on or of !$%$ne r$"ht) a(( su'h author$t$es !$e! $n 1B8 ) a(thou"h the$r rott$n" 'or#ses *ay yet 'u*ber the "roun!+ 6he $**e!$ate effe't of the re%o(ut$on of 18?0 was not to #ro%$!e Prou!bon w$th a #h$(oso#hy, but to !e#r$%e h$* of h$s 8ob, for the u#hea%a( was ba! for bus$ness, Prou!hon (earne! that e%en be$n" *aster of a tra!e !$! not ;as $t shou(! ha%e !one< "uarantee a ($%$n"+ &a((ot !$! h$s best for the fr$en! to who* he #re!$'te! that .you w$(( be a wr$ter, a #h$(oso#her, you w$(( be one of the ($"hts of the a"e +++ you 'annot es'a#e your !est$ny.+ 6he !est$ny was st$(( fu"$t$%e, howe%er) a ($%e($hoo! of any /$n!, as a tea'her, as a #r$nter, was the f$rst ne'ess$ty+ &a((ot ha! an $!ea+ :hy not a##(y for the

Suar! S'ho(arsh$#5 It was tenab(e for three years) $t was the %ery th$n" that wou(! enab(e Prou!hon to 'o*#(ete h$s e!u'at$on+ ,ut Prou!hon was far (ess a*b$t$ous for h$*se(f than h$s fr$en! was for h$*+ 9t (ast he su''u*be! to &a((ot.s #(ea!$n"s, to the offer to share the$r resour'es $n Par$s+ He set off for the 'a#$ta( on foot) Par$s !$! not #(ease h$*, ne$ther the #(a'e nor the #eo#(e) an! &a((ot fe(( $((+ He re'o%ere!, but Prou!hon wou(! not be a !ra" on h$s fr$en! any (on"er) there was no wor/ to be ha! $n the '$ty, so he set out, on foot, for the South, w$th CD $n h$s #o'/et+ He was, $f not !$sa##o$nte!, for the *o*ent at (east, !efeate!) he was to be a wor/er, not a wr$ter an! he was a wor/er w$thout wor/+ 6he t$*es 'ont$nue! ba!) the he(#(essness of the *ere wor/er was tau"ht to Prou!hon+ He arr$%e! at 6ou(on w$th three an! a ha(f fran's (eft) he foun! no wor/, but ha! he not a #ass#ort wh$'h #ro*$se! he(# an! #rote't$on5 He a##($e! to the *ayor to "$%e h$* wor/, an! the *ayor, one of the now tr$u*#hant bour"eo$s$e wh$'h the re'ent re%o(ut$on ha! #ut $nto #ower, to(! h$* that he ha! *$sun!erstoo! h$s #ass#ort) a(( he 'ou(! '(a$* was enou"h *oney to ta/e h$* ho*e+ 6he off$'$a( ha%$n" fa$(e!, he a##ea(e! to the *an) a"a$n he was re#u(se!+ .Eery we(( .I sa$! between '(en'he teeth, .I #ro*$se you to re*e*ber th$s $nter%$ew+. 9n! re*e*ber $t he !$!, *ore than twenty years (ater when he to(! the story+ 6here was noth$n" for $t but to return to ,esan'on, where h$s fa*$(y ha! 8ust (ost the th$r! son, 'a((e! u# to the ar*y, wh$'h the sons of the #ros#erous 'ou(! es'a#e by a *oney #ay*ent, an! where Jean- Et$enne was to !$e, another %$'t$* of so'$ety+ &or a br$ef *o*ent Prou!hon was e!$tor of a new #a#er, an or"an of .a!%an'e! $!eas.) but, $n a !ay, he (earne! that the $!eas *ust not be *ore a!%an'e! than those of the #ro#r$etor+ 6he 8ob was thrown u# at on'e, an! a (esson on the ne'essary 'o*#ro*$ses of #arty 8ourna($s* tau"ht - but not (earne!+ He wor/e! for a wh$(e $n the 'ountry at 9rbo$s, a$!$n" $n a (awsu$t a"a$nst a "reat #ro#r$etor an! !r$n/$n" !ee#(y at the #o#u(ar tra!$t$ons of the Re%o(ut$on) an! then returne! to ,esan'on to wor/ for h$s o(! e*#(oyers as a #roof-rea!er+ He ha! CF a *onth) $t was wea(th> 9*on" h$s 8obs was the see$n" throu"h the #ress of a 7at$n ,$b(e - an! of a new e!$t$on of the theo(o"$'a( !$'t$onary of ,er"$er+ 6o the (atter he owe! *u'h of that 'o**an! of theo(o"$'a( (earn$n" that *a!e *any th$n/ he ha! stu!$e! for the #r$esthoo!+ It re$nfor'e! h$s 'onte*#t for %a"ueness or for 'o*#ro*$se) between -atho($'$s* an! 9the$s*, or, as he was to $ns$st, .ant$-the$s*, there $s noth$n" that a sober *an 'an rest on+ 6here must be 'erta$nty, an! one s$!e or the other *ust be 'hosen+ He hate! the -hur'h an! *any of $ts ser%ants, but he ne%er 'ease! to res#e't $t) $t was the "reatest, *ost res#e'tab(e of errors, not to be assa$(e! w$th the feeb(e an! 'orru#t *etho!s of Eo(ta$re - for a(thou"h Eo(ta$re was on the r$"ht s$!e, the ,$b(e an! the -hur'h were not to be re#(a'e! by the (ew! 8est$n" of La %ucelle or the sent$*enta( re($"$os$ty of Rousseau+ 2eant$*e, he atte*#te! to es'a#e fro* !e#en!en'e, not by (earn$n", but by h$s tra!e+ He set u# $n #artnersh$# as a #r$nter+ It was a *o*ent of ho#e an! 8oy) a short *o*ent, for h$s fr$en! &a((ot !$e!, h$s "reat s'he*es unf$n$she!, an! he ha! (eft h$s fa*e to Prou!hon as a 'har"e - an!, $n!ee!, $f &a((ot $s at a(( re*e*bere! to-!ay, $t $s as one who he(#e! Prou!hon> ,ut Prou!hon.s a*b$t$ons were not #ure(y those of a #r$nter) he ha! so*eth$n" to say) #erha#s $t was, as 2+ Dan$e( Ha(e%y su""ests, a way of 'arry$n" on &a((ot.s wor/+ In any 'ase, Prou!hon be"an h$s f$rst boo/, an essay $n #h$(o(o"y, the s'$en'e whose #oss$b$($t$es ha! !a00(e! h$* when &a((ot f$rst !$s#(aye! the* before h$s eyes+ In for*, the boo/ was an a##en!$1 to a #h$(o(o"$'a( essay of ,er"$er, but $n essen'e $t was the sear'h after eterna( truth by the roa! of (an"ua"e) the s'$en'e of (an"ua"e w$(( (ea! *an to the truth he $s *a!e to /now+ 6he essay fe(( ent$re(y f(at) $t !$! not bear Prou!hon.s na*e an!, $n any 'ase, no one not$'e! $t+ 9s a ser$ous stu!y $n #h$(o(o"y $t was worth(ess) Prou!hon, ($/e ,er"$er, ($%e! $n a wor(! where *o!e* s'$ent$f$' #h$(o(o"y was un/nown+ 7ater, Prou!hon re'o"n$se! th$s, an! was as s'ornfu( of h$s f$rst efforts as any 'r$t$' 'ou(! !es$re+ &or the *o*ent the (ost 'han'e of fa*e was (ess $*#ortant than the !e'($ne of the #r$nt$n" bus$ness+ Prou!hon was re#eat$n" h$s father.s e1#er$en'e, an effort to se'ure $n!e#en!en'e by har! wor/ an! honest !ea($n" was #ro%$n" fru$t(ess+ 6he !eath of h$s brother, of &a((ot, the fa$(ure of h$s wr$t$n"s, of h$s bus$ness, a(( e*b$ttere! h$*+ He ha!,!rea*'! of #r$%ate %en"ean'e, of the enfor'e*ent of 8ust$'e, or, at (east, the a%en"$n" of wron" by a se'ret 'ourt of honest *en, on(y there were so few honest *en> 9 hun!re!

*en $n &ran'e !e%ote! to+8ust$'e wou(! suff$'e, but out of ?A,000,000 where to f$n! the hun!re!5 9n! *eanwh$(e, the #r$son-"ates were a"a$n '(os$n" roun! h$*+ He ha! fa$(e! to es'a#e by h$s (earn$n") he ha! fa$(e!, $t a##eare!, to es'a#e by h$s tra!e) he *ust res$"n h$*se(f to a ($fe as the ser%ant of others+ :hy5 6here was a (ast 'han'e o#en to f$n! an answer to th$s #rob(e*, the Suar! S'ho(arsh$#+ It was about to be offere! by the 9'a!e*y of ,esan'on) he wou(! be a 'an!$!ate, an! $n the *eant$*e he ha! a 8ob as a #roof-rea!er $n Par$s+ 6h$s was a 'han"e fro* h$s (ast stay $n the 'a#$ta(, a 'han"e for the better) but &a((ot was !ea! an! there was noth$n" $n Par$s to tou'h h$s heart, a(thou"h he *a!e a few new a'4ua$ntan'es, so*e of who* were $n t$*e to be fr$en!s+ 2eanwh$(e, the ne"ot$at$ons an! the ne'essary ta't$'a( *o%es $n the 'a*#a$"n for the s'ho(arsh$# were un!er way+ Prou!hon ha! won res#e't for h$s 'hara'ter, an! a!*$rat$on for h$s ta(ent, $n ,esan'on, but he was not a(ways a he(# to h$s s#onsors+ One of the e(e'tors ;an! he was no ba! 8u!"e< thou"ht h$"h(y of Prou!hon.s ab$($ty, but !e'(are! .that fe((ow $s boun! to be a troub(eso*e 'usto*er. -an! refuse! to %ote for h$*+ Not on(y was Prou!hon a rather $nt$*$!at$n" 'an!$!ate, but he ha! o!! %$ews of what he wou(! !o w$th the s'ho(arsh$# $f he "a$ne! $t+ 6he 9'a!e*y wante! $ts no*$nee to "o to Par$s an! stu!y $n or!er that he *$"ht r$se $n the wor(!+ Prou!hon wante! to stay on $n ,esan'on) he wou(! stu!y, $n!ee!, but he !$! not want to aban!on h$s tra!e ;he was *ore an! *ore $n%o(%e! $n the $((fortune of h$s #artners< an! he !$! not want to r$se $n the wor(!, for su'h an a*b$t$on was $n'o*#at$b(e w$th h$s new re($"$on, that of e4ua($ty+ Des#$te h$s %$ews he was 'hosen, be$n" su##orte! by .a(( the *ost !$st$n"u$she! an! $nf(uent$a( *e*bers., notab(y by the 9bbe Doney, who ha! been a !$s'$#(e of 7a**ena$s+ Prou!hon was st$(( an a*ateur #h$(o(o"$st, an! he ha! sent $n an essay for the Eo(ney Pr$0e, offere! by the Inst$tute of &ran'e+ H$s $esearches on the rammatical ategories and on some !rigins of the &rench Language "ot an honourab(e *ent$on, an! so*e of $t a##eare! $n a (earne! 8ourna(+ 6h$s en!e! #h$(o(o"y for Prou!hon, but when he was fa*ous, so*e ene*$es re#r$nte! h$s '((endix to )ergier, to show that Prou!hon was $n'ons$stent or hy#o'r$t$'a(, a *a($'$ous tr$'/ wh$'h $nfur$ate! h$*, an! for wh$'h he b(a*e! the -hur'h+ Prou!hon.s #ro8e't was a*b$t$ous enou"h+ He #ro#ose! to wr$te $esearches on $evelation* or %hilo+ so(h# serving as an Introduction to ,niversal "istor#, a wor/ !es$"ne! to !e*onstrate that e%an"e($'a( *ora($ty re#resente! eterna( truths (ost to s$"ht to!ay+ E%an"e($'a( truths soon (ost the$r attra't$on for h$*, but the be($ef $n eterna( truths wh$'h he 'ou(! !e*onstrate for the sa(%at$on of the wor(!, re*a$ne! a Prou!hon$an !o'tr$ne to the en!+ 6he (etter of a##($'at$on was e4ua((y 'hara'ter$st$'+ In the f$rst !raft, $t 'onta$ne! a #rofess$on of fa$th wh$'h a(ar*e! h$s 'aut$ous s#onsor, Perennes+ .,orn an! brou"ht u# $n the wor/$n"-'(ass, be(on"$n" to $t st$((, to-!ay, an! for e%er, by fee($n"s, $nte((e't an! hab$ts an!, abo%e a((, by the 'o**un$ty of $nterests an! w$shes. Prou!hon #ro*$se!, $f 'hosen, to to$(, .by #h$(oso#hy an! s'$en'e, w$th a(( the ener"y of h$s w$(( an! a(( the #owers of h$s *$n!, towar!s 'o*#(ete e*an'$#at$on of h$s brothers an! fe((ows.+ Su'h a #ro"ra**e, $t was feare!, wou(! not a##ea( to the a'a!e*$'$ans, an! the te1t was a*en!e!+ 6he .'o**un$ty of $nterests an! of w$shes. be'a*e .the 'o**un$ty of suffer$n" an! of w$shes. an!, *ore $*#ortant, .the 'o*#(ete e*an'$#at$on. of the wor/ers be'o*e the$r .*ora( an! $nte((e'tua( better*ent.+ 6he 'a*#a$"n was o%er) he was 'hosen an! he was $nun!ate! by 'on"ratu(at$ons) 'on"ratu(at$ons wh$'h $nfur$ate! h$*, for they showe! that to the wor(! he was a wor/er who was now "$%en the 'han'e of es'a#$n" fro* h$s '(ass) that few or none saw h$* as he saw h$*se(f, a wor/er ta/$n" a 'han'e to be tra$ne! to ser%e h$s '(ass+ He !are! not !e'(are h$s $ntent$ons) h$s s'orn of wor(!(y su''ess) .#eo#(e wou(! th$n/ *e 'ra'/e!.+ Ne%erthe(ess, he was reso(%e! to !e%ote h$*se(f to the 'ause of the #oor an! he(#(ess, thou"h thereby he *$"ht be .an abo*$nat$on to the r$'h an! #owerfu() those who ho(! the /eys of s'$en'e an! of wea(th *$"ht 'urse h$*, yet he wou(! #ursue the #ath of the refor*er throu"h #erse'ut$on, 'a(u*ny, sorrow an! !eath $tse(f.+ It was not to ha%e a /na#sa'/ w$th a *arsha(.s baton $n $t, not to ha%e a 'areer o#en to h$s ta(ents, that Prou!hon sou"ht the s'ho(arsh$#+ He was reso(%e! to be a 7a 6our !.9u%er"ne of h$s '(ass) to re*a$n $n the ran/s an! f$"ht w$th h$s brethren+ It was a reso(ut$on that he ne%er bro/e) a(( h$s ($fe, !es#$te a(( h$s fau(ts of te*#er an! of un!erstan!$n", he fou"ht for

the "oo! 'ause as he 'on'e$%e! $t+

&H' T(! )) TH( '+ HL(T((!

Prou!hon returne! to Par$s $n 18?8, su##ort$n" h$*se(f by wr$t$n" art$'(es for a -atho($' en'y'(o#e!$a an! 'orre't$n" #roofs for a roya($st 8ourna(+ 6hese 8obs !$! not (ast (on") an! he was rea!y to #(un"e $nto h$s stu!$es, su##orte! by the s'ho(arsh$#+ He ha! !rea*e! of foun!$n" a re%$ew) he now wante! to e1#ress the $!eas fer*ent$n" $n h$*, an! he too/ the f$rst o##ortun$ty offere! by sen!$n" $n an essay for a #r$0e offere! by the 9'a!e*y of ,esan'on, on the 4uest$on of The ,sefulness of the elebration of Sunda#+ H$s essay "ot an honorab(e *ent$on, but, *ore $*#ortant, $t re%ea(e! the essent$a( Prou!hon+ 6he so'$a( usefu(ness of the 2osa$' (aw $s stresse!) but for us, the *ost $nterest$n" the*es are those that Prou!hon was to s#en! h$s ($fe $n e(aborat$n"+ .Is e4ua($ty of 'on!$t$ons an $nst$tut$on of nature, $s $t e4u$tab(e, $s $t #oss$b(e5 On ea'h of these #o$nts I !are !e'$!e for the aff$r*at$%e+. 6here $s a !e'(arat$on of the abso(ute 'hara'ter of the *ora( (aw, for Rousseau ha! erre! .$n sub*$tt$n" 8ust$'e an! *ora($ty to the !e'$s$on of nu*bers an! to the o#$n$on of the *a8or$ty+. Lo thignob $s stresse!) for $t *eans not, .6hou sha(t not stea(., but .6hou sha(t not (ay anyth$n" as$!e for thyse(f., 6here must e1$st a s'$en'e of so'$ety wh$'h $t $s the wor/ of the e'ono*$st not to invent, but to find+ If the for* an!, $n the *a$n, the (an"ua"e of the essay are $nno'uous enou"h, to any rea!er who /nows the (ater Prou!hon, $t $s ob%$ous that the elebration of Sunda#, for a(( $ts for*a( #$ety, shows that the 9'a!e*y ha! 'au"ht a tartar, an! $n 18A0 a##eare! the wor/ wh$'h #ut th$s beyon! !oubt+ It was a %ery hu*an tou'h $n Prou!hon to re"ar! a(*ost e%ery boo/ of h$s, wh$(e be was wr$t$n" $t, as e#o'h-*a/$n", new, f$na(+ Of none of the* were these ho#es better foun!e! than the essay on #ro#erty, wh$'h he was 'on%$n'e! *$"ht #ro%e .the *ost re*ar/ab(e e%ent of 18A0.+ Into $t he #ut a(( h$s b$tterness, a(( h$s !e($"ht $n %erba( ana(ys$s, an!, he thou"ht, the resu(t, free fro* a(( rhetor$', ha! noth$n" ($/e $tse(f $n a(( #h$(oso#hy+ What is %ro(ert#- was the t$t(e, an! the answer was "$%en $n the f$rst few ($nes+ .If I ha! to answer the fo((ow$n" 4uest$on@ What is Slaver#- an! answer$n" $n a s$n"(e wor!, I re#($e!@ It is .urder, *y *ean$n" wou(! be un!erstoo! at on'e+ I shou(! ha%e no nee! of a (on" !$s'ourse to show that the #ower to ta/e fro* a *an thou"ht, w$((, #ersona($ty, $s a #ower of ($fe an! !eath, an! that to ens(a%e a *an $s to *ur!er h$*+ :hy then, $n answer to th$s other 4uest$on@ What is %ro(ert#- 'an I not re#(y, It is Theft w$thout ha%$n" the assuran'e of not be$n" un!erstoo!, a(thou"h th$s se'on! #ro#os$t$on $s on(y the f$rst transfor*e!5. %ro(ert# is Theft+ 6o *ost of h$s own 'ountry*en Prou!hon, for the rest of h$s ($fe, was 'a#ab(e of anyth$n" be'ause of h$s e#$"ra*+ In %a$n he e(aborate! h$s !o'tr$ne, e1#(a$ne!, for twenty years, that he was a !efen!er, not an ene*y of #ro#erty) he 'ou(! ne%er ($%e !own or ($%e u# to the too su''essfu(,o#en$n" ($nes+ ,ut he ne%er re'ante! what he ha! wr$tten) he was $n!ee! $nor!$nate(y #rou! of h$s #hrase - an! there was no 4u$'/er way to earn h$s hate than to assert that he ha! not $n%ente! $t or, at (east, that he ha! not "$%en $t $ts f$rst rea( $nter#retat$on+ It was one of the 'r$*es of 7ou$s ,(an' that he sa$! ,r$ssot ha! #re'e!e! Prou!hon $n th$s assert$on, an! the #ro#erty $n the #hrase,.Pro#erty $s 6heft. was fou"ht o%er w$th an a'erb$ty that has $ts 'o*$' s$!e+ 6he atta'/ on #ro#erty was *a!e $n three tra'ts+ 6he f$rst 'ause! a terr$f$' s'an!a( an! e*bro$(e! h$* w$th the 9'a!e*y+ 6he se'on!, howe%er ;The Letter to ./ )lan0ui< was wr$tten $n *$(!er sty(e to e1#(a$n the f$rst, wh$'h *$"ht ha%e (e! to Prou!hon.s arrest ha! not 2+ ,(an4u$, a !$st$n"u$she!

e'ono*$st, assure! the 2$n$ster of 8ust$'e, 2+ E$%$en, that Prou!hon was a ser$ous stu!ent, not a *ere a"$tator -a "oo! off$'e for wh$'h Prou!hon re*a$ne! "ratefu( both to the a'a!e*$'$an an! the *$n$ster+ 6he th$r! tra't was the Letter to onsiderant or the Warning to %ro(rietors, an! th$s was as $nf(a**atory as the f$rst+ :hat are the ar"u*ents brou"ht forwar! to 8ust$fy the !e'(arat$on that %ro(ert# is Theft- No t$*e nee! be (ost $n 'onfut$n" the 'r$t$'s who #o$nt out that the $!ea of theft ne'essar$(y $*#($es #ro#erty+ &or Prou!hon, #ro#erty was #r$%ate #ro#erty+ 2u'h of h$s ar"u*ent rea!s o!!(y to-!ay, $f $t $s not re*e*bere! when he was wr$t$n" an! a"a$nst what anta"on$sts+ In the ($fet$*e of Prou!hon.s father an! *other, there ha! been an $**ense transferen'e of #ro#erty r$"hts fro* the -hur'h an! the nob$($ty, 'h$ef(y to the *$!!(e '(asses) at any rate, not to the Prou!hon fa*$(y+ 9s fast as #oss$b(e, the new owners be"an to !e*an! a re($"$ous re%eren'e for a(( #ro#erty r$"hts, $n'(u!$n" those so re'ent(y a'4u$re!> Pro#erty, $n!ee!, ha! been !e'(are! to be one of the .R$"hts of 2an.+ It $s a"a$nst these !efen'es that Prou!hon (aun'hes h$s *ost for*$!ab(e atta'/s+ If .the r$"ht to #ro#erty., $s to ha%e any *ean$n" re(at$n" $t to the other natura( r$"hts, $t *ust *ean the r$"ht of ever# man to ha%e #ro#erty, not the r$"ht of some men to e1'(u!e the$r (ess fortunate fe((ows fro* en8oy*ent of th$s .natura( r$"ht.+ ,ut #ro#erty $s not a natura( r$"ht at a(() $f $t were, why a(( the ar"u*ent5 .:ho,. he as/s au!a'$ous(y, .e%er $n4u$res $nto the or$"$n of the r$"hts of ($berty, se'ur$ty, e4ua($ty5. 9(( atte*#ts to !e*onstrate that #ro#erty has any r$"hts, other than those base! on for*a( (aw, brea/ !own+ Jur$sts, ($/e 3rot$us an! Poth$er, #h$(oso#hers ($/e Re$!, .'h$ef of the E!$nbur"h s'hoo(., #ro!u'e ar"u*ents that e$ther /ee# to the surfa'e or $n%o(%e !ee# 'ontra!$'t$ons+ In short, #ro#erty $s im(ossible1 6he f$rst retort of the un*eta#hys$'a((y-*$n!e! rea!er $s to as/ that $f #ro#erty $s $*#oss$b(e, why *a/e su'h a fuss about $t5 ,ut by $*#oss$b(e Prou!hon *eans that the $!ea of abso(ute #ro#erty, as un!erstoo! by the (awyers, $s 'ontra!$'tory, $s a Uto#$a+ ,y #ro#erty, Prou!hon a(*ost a(ways at th$s sta"e *eans #ro#erty $n (an! an! #ro#erty $n (an! not wor/e! by the owner+ It $s rent $n the 'o**on *ean$n" of the wor!, not the R$'ar!$an e'ono*$' rent, that $s the f$rst "reat "r$e%an'e of the #ro#erty(ess '(asses, for the *ere (an!(or! $s #a$! for so*eth$n" he has not 'reate!) h$s re(at$on to the e'ono*$' e1#(o$tat$on of the (an! $s #ure(y #aras$t$'+ It $s use(ess for -har(es -o*te to as/ what about the owner who $*#ro%es the (an!5 6he *a/$n" of two b(a!es of "rass "row where one "rew before 'reates r$"hts, ;%ery ($*$te! r$"hts $n!ee!<, but they are a#art fro* ownersh$#+ If a tenant $*#ro%es the (an! he far*s, the (aw !oes not "$%e h$* the $n'rease! %a(ue) $t "oes to the (an!(or! whose essent$a( 'hara'ter $s to !raw an $n'o*e w$thout a!!$n" $n the (east to the wea(th of so'$ety+ 6h$s #aras$t$' !ra$n on (abour *eans that #ro!u't$on 'osts *ore than $t $s worth, .for the (an!(or!.s #art re#resents no e'ono*$' rea($ty+ Prou!hon.s %$ews of #ro!u't$on were #ess$*$st$' an!, $f a (ar"e #art of the tota( #ro!u't of so'$ety went to non-#ro!u'ers, #ro!u't$on *ust fa((+ 9t $ts best $t $s bare(y suff$'$ent for the *a$ntenan'e of the ra'e) #ro#erty 'uts !own th$s *ea"re return fro* (abour an! so #ro#erty ten!s to /$(( $tse(f, to #ro!u'e $*#o%er$sh*ent $n the %ery e1er'$se of $ts r$"hts+ 9s for the wor/er, the far*er, h$s (ot $s far worse) he has to wor/ har!er an! har!er, wh$(e the wor/er $n $n!ustry $s for'e! to un!er'ut b$" fe((ows+ 9s the wor/ers w$thout #ro#erty 'annot buy what they #ro!u'e, an! s$n'e #ro!u't$on !oes not #ro!u'e a sur#(us wh$'h 'an be se$0e! w$th $*#un$ty by non-#ro!u'ers, .#ro#erty $s *ur!erous.+ 2oreo%er, #ro#erty $s $n'o*#at$b(e w$th #o($t$'a( ($berty+ If you ha%e #o($t$'a( e4ua($ty an! e'ono*$' $ne4ua($ty, #ro#erty w$(( be atta'/e! un!er 'o%er of (aw, by ta1at$on, for $nstan'e, an! su'h atta'/s are $n'ons$stent w$th the abso(ute #ro#erty r$"hts of the (awyers+ Pro#erty an! e4ua($ty 'annot 'o-e1$st) but e4ua($ty $s 8ust an! what $s 8ust $s what shou(! !eter*$ne the Or"an$sat$on of so'$ety) 8ust$'e $s the 'r$ter$on+ It was natura( for Prou!hon.s ene*$es an! for hasty rea!ers to 'on'(u!e that the author of th$s $n!$'t*ent was not on(y a so'$a($st but a 'o**un$st+ ,ut he ne%er "a%e any "roun!s for th$s %$ew, an! both 2ar1 an! -ons$!erant abso(%e! Prou!hon fro* the 'har"e of be$n" a rene"a!e to h$s ear($er 'on%$'t$ons+ If the #ub($' ba! been ta/en-$n an! be($e%e! th$s fanat$'a( $n!$%$!ua($st to ha%e been a 'o**un$st, the fau(t was the #ub($'.s for (oo/$n" to the for* rather than to the substan'e+ In fa't, Prou!hon was a !efen!er of #ro#erty) but #ro#erty 'ou(! not sur%$%e $n the #ost-re%o(ut$onary wor(! $f $t 'ou(! not be har*on$se! w$th Just$'e, that $s to say, w$th e4ua($ty+ 9(rea!y "o%ern*ents, for a(( the$r ($#-ser%$'e to #ro#erty r$"hts, are $n%a!$n" the*+ 6he 'on%ers$on of the nat$ona( !ebt $s

an atta'/ on #ro#erty, e%en thou"h the 'on%ers$on $s for*a((y %o(untary+ 6he ho(!ers of the !ebt ha%e a r$"ht to the$r 5 #er 'ent -or #ro#erty r$"hts are e*#ty, an ar"u*ent that one *$"ht ha%e thou"ht s$((y $f $t ha! not been use! $n our own t$*e by S$r Ernest ,enn+ :hat $s "oo!, $n #ro#erty, the #oss$b$($ty $t offers of es'a#e fro* the s(a%ery an! !e"ra!at$on of 'o**un$s*, $s on(y to be se'ure! by e4ua($ty+ Prou!hon #ushes the ar"u*ent for e4ua($ty %ery har!+ E%en the far*er who has $n'rease! wea(th by h$s $*#ro%e*ents on the (an! he t$((s $s not ent$t(e! to a##ro#r$ate the $n'rease! wea(th+ 9fter a((, the f$sher*an whose e1tra s/$(( resu(ts $n a 'at'h tw$'e as "reat as that of h$s fe((ows $s 'ontent w$th the rewar! of one !oub(e 'at'h) he !oes not '(a$* a !oub(e 'at'h for e%er> Prou!hon ha! a(ways a wea/ness for ana(o"y, not as $((ustrat$on, but as ar"u*ent) an! h$s atte*#t to ($*$t the r$"hts of the $*#ro%$n" far*er to a #re-e*#t$on an! yet to #reser%e e4ua($ty are not %ery ha##y+ He $s har!, $n!ee!, on a(( '(a$*s to su#er$or rewar!, for e%ery *e*ber of so'$ety $s $ts !ebtor) no *atter how har! or s/$(fu((y a *an wor/s, he !$es as he $s bo*, o%er!rawn at the ,an/ of So'$ety+ 6he "reat sour'e of wea(th $s the 'o**un$ty, an! th$s 'on%$'t$on $s at the bas$s of what 2+ ,ou"(e 'a((s .the so'$o(o"y of Prou!hon.+ It $s use(ess to say that h$"h ta(ents ou"ht to be better #a$!, for the !$fferen'e between *an an! *an $s s($"ht an! *ore e!u'at$on w$(( re!u'e $t further) wh$(e the s'ar'$ty of so*e ta(ents *ere(y shows that they are not *u'h nee!e!+ Nature #ro%$!es as *any of ea'h '(ass of wor/er as so'$ety nee!s, so there $s "ross $n8ust$'e $n #ay$n" an a'tress ($/e Ra'he( *ore than a sea*stress) any #ay*ent of that /$n! *ust be ta/en fro* the wor/ers+ 9 #oet who s#en!s th$rty years on a *aster#$e'e $s, at the en! of $t, ent$t(e! to th$rty years #ay as a wor/er, an! any out-of-#o'/et e1#enses he *ay ha%e $n'urre! for boo/s an! tra%e(+ 9fter a((, there are o''u#at$ons wh$'h are (u1ur$es, one #rofessor of #h$(oso#hy $s 4u$te enou"h for the who(e of &ran'e an! one e'ono*$st for e%ery two thousan! *$(($on #eo#(e> Natura((y, so*e wor/*en !o $n s$1 hours what others ta/e e$"ht to !o, but they *ust not *a/e use of those two hours to earn *ore+ If others 'an on(y !o four hours wor/ $n e$"ht hours, they *ust not "et *ore than ha(f #ay+ 6he a%era"e #ro!u't of+, the a%era"e wor/er, that $s what shou(! be the stan!ar!+ It $s easy here to see the for*er #r$nter, use! to the !$s'$#($ne of the wor/sho#> ,ut the rea( so(ut$on $s to se'ure (an! for e%erybo!y who wants $t, an! to se'ure e4ua($ty of resour'es $n th$s way+ &or, Prou!hon, at th$s sta"e, an! (ater, #ro#erty $s (an! an! "o(! an! s$(%er) they *ust be !$str$bute! e4ua((y, or so'$ety or"an$se! so that the s#e'$a( #r$%$(e"es of the$r owners !$sa##ear+ 6he *a$n !o'tr$nes of Prou!hon are #resent $n these three tra'ts - an! the *a$n fan'$es+ -o**en'$n" a re%o(ut$onary 'a*#a$"n, he f$res on h$s own s$!e as we(( as on the 'o**on ene*y+ Not on(y the r$'h, but other rebe( wr$ters an! (ea!ers are assa$(e!+ -abet, Sa$nt-S$*on, &our$er, 7ou$s ,(an', the ra!$'a(s of the National as we(( as the su##orters of the bour"eo$s *onar'hy, are b(u!"eone!+ 6he #ass$on for e4ua($ty wh$'h an$*ates the author !oes not "o as far as e4ua($ty between the se1es, *an an! wo*an are not $n a 'o**on so'$ety, so the ne'ess$ty of e4ua($ty wh$'h ar$ses between *an an! *an $s absent> In th$s f$rst a##earan'e before the "reat #ub($', Prou!hon was sub($*e(y 'onf$!ent that he saw further $nto the heart of th$n"s than anyone e(se, an! that h$s wr$t$n"s were of $**ense $**e!$ate $*#ortan'e+ Pro#erty was ($/e a 'r$*$na( try$n" to es'a#e 'ross-e1a*$nat$on an!, $n the Second .emoir* he !e'(ares that he .$s sworn to an $**ense re(%o(ut$on, terr$b(e to 'har(atans an! !es#ots.> Pe((etan was (ater to say that Prou!hon f$re! a *us/et off $n the street to attra't attent$on, an!, $n th$s 'ase, he su''ee!e! $n h$s, #ub($'$ty *etho!s+ It was not for noth$n" that he ha! /nown the youn" ro*ant$'s of Par$s) where 3aut$er ha! worn a re! wa$st'oat to start(e the *$!!(e '(asses, Prou!hon re($e! on %$o(ent (an"ua"e, (an"ua"e wh$'h often 'on'ea(e! far fro* %$o(ent thou"ht+ He now re'e$%e! the %ery th$n" he nee!e! to *a$nta$n the $*#ress$on he ha! *a!e, a #rose'ut$on, at ,esan'on, for the se!$t$ous 'hara'ter of the Warning to %ro(rietors, a #rose'ut$on wh$'h fa$(e! an! "a%e Prou!hon an a!%ert$se*ent an! what #ro%e to be a !an"erous(y h$"h o#$n$on of h$s #ower o%er an au!$en'e+ 6he un/nown #r$nter an! obs'ure stu!ent who ha! been so $((-at-ease $n the houses of h$s tea'hers $n Par$s, was now a fa*ous, or at (east a notor$ous *an+ :hat were the 'auses of h$s su''ess5 6he "reatest of Prou!hon.s assets was h$s a!*$rab(e *astery of the &ren'h ton"ue+ He #rofesse! to !es#$se *ere ($terature an! *ere *en, of (etters, but, at h$s best, there was no 'onte*#orary wr$ter

of &ren'h #rose who ha! a surer 'o**an! of the (an"ua"e+ 6h$s *astery he !$s#(aye!, abo%e a((, $n atta'/ an!, at *o*ents, h$s %er%e an! for'e *a!e h$* not unworthy of 'o*#ar$son w$th the *aster who he a!*$re! so *u'h, Pau( 7ou$s -our$er+ In the f$rst .emoir on %ro(ert#, as $n h$s (ast #osthu*ous fra"*ents, there are #assa"es of $n%e't$%e whose te'hn$'a( e1'e((en'e w$ns the a!*$rat$on e%en of the *ost host$(e rea!er+ :hen 2ar1 #ra$se! the ($terary for'e !$s#(aye! $n the f$rst "reat #a*#h(et he, howe%er "ru!"$n"(y, re'o"n$se! a #o(e*$'a( #ower $n th$s ($ne at (east e4ua( to h$s own ) an! the *ost enthus$ast$' tr$bute to Prou!hon.s ($terary ab$($ty 'o*es fro* h$s r$"orous 'r$t$', 9rthur Des8ar!$ns+ .6h$s #(ebe$an 'ar%es out h$s #hrases w$th #rofoun! art, the art of the "reat '(ass$'a( authors) he $s !es'en!ant of the wr$ters who* 7ou$s GIE #rote'te! an! who #erfe'te! our ton"ue+ He, no (ess than 2o($ere, ou"ht to ha%e been a *e*ber of the &ren 9'a!e*y+. ,ut not a(( of Prou!hon.s ($terary s/$(( was s#ent on $n%e't$%e+ 6here are $n h$s (etters, an! s'attere! throu"h h$s wr$t$n"s, es#e'$a((y $n the autob$o"ra#h$'a( fra"*ents of Justice in the $evolution and the hurch* #a"es of #ure !es'r$#t$on, of re*$n$s'en'e, s/et'hes of h$s ear(y !ays $n &ran'he-o*te, wh$'h *a/e on rea($se that he sa'r$f$'e! the 'han'e of "$%$n" Renan.s .emories of hildhood and #outh a *ore fo*$!ab(e r$%a( than h$s Life of Jesus was to Renan.s best-se((er+ He "a%e u# to h$s 'ause, to h$s (o%es an! hates, the #oss$b$($ty of a ($terary 'areer of the f$rst or!er+ E%en when h$s #ub($shers wou(! not #ub($sh h$s #o($t$'a( boo/s, when the Press was barre! to h$* an! when ($terature $n%$te! h$* w$th o#en ar*s to es'a#e fro* !$re #o%erty by enter$n" her ser%$'e, he was not te*#te!+ He !a(($e! w$th the $!ea of ($terary 'r$t$'$s*) h$s fr$en!s, ($/e Sa$nte-,eu%e, h$s we((-*ean$n" t$*$! #ub($shers, the 3arn$ers, tr$e! to #ersua!e h$*) but h$s %o'at$on ha! been 'hosen twenty years before, when the !e($"hts an! !ut$es of 'ontro%ersy, of e1#oun!$n" the truth an! of 'onfut$n" error ha! ta/en #ossess$on of h$*+ H$s .one ta(ent wh$'h was !eath to h$!e. was for #ub($' affa$rs, h$s !uty was to a$! the !e($%eran'e of the #oor fro* the 'ha$ns $n wh$'h $"noran'e of the true 'ause of the$r $((s boun! the*+ Prou!hon was 'ontent to be a #a*#h(eteer+ He was a "reat #a*#h(eteer, but the un'r$t$'a( #ra$ses of b$" a!*$rers ha%e *a!e $t har!er for the wor(! to a##re'$ate h$s "reatness+ He was on(y o''as$ona((y, an! for br$ef #er$o!s, a /een reasoner+ He was not, !es#$te re#eate! assert$ons of !$s'$#(es, $n h$s own ($fet$*e an! s$n'e, a *aster of r$"$! (o"$'a( !e*onstrat$on+ He h$*se(f was, $n!ee!, un!er the $((us$on that (o"$' was h$s stron" #o$nt+ He was e1'ess$%e(y fon! of 'ast$n" ar"u*ent $nto (o"$'a( for*s an! ha%$n" brou"ht h$s !e*onstrat$on to a tr$u*#hant 'on'(us$on, he was #rone to re"ar! any 'r$t$' who !e*urre! to h$s resu(ts, as w$(fu((y b($n! - or *ere(y $n'a#ab(e of rat$ona( thou"ht+ In h$s (on" an! barren 'ontro%ersy w$th ,ast$at, o%er the nature of $nterest, he was at (ast #ro%o/e! $nto !e'(ar$n" that .I ha%e to !o w$th a *an whose $nte(($"en'e $s her*et$'a((y sea(e! an! for who* (o"$' !oes not e1$st+. ,ast$at was not a #rofoun! th$n/er, an! h$s share of the 'ontro%ersy earne! h$* the 'onte*#t of :a(ras, but he was not as stu#$! as Prou!hon *a!e out+ In fa't, Prou!hon.s !e%ot$on to (o"$' was %ery su#erf$'$a(+ 9 (o"$'a( *etho!, the ser$es of &our$er, the ant$*on$es of Hant, the !$a(e't$' of He"e(, the sy((o"$s* of the s'ho(ast$'s, was, for Prou!hon, not a *eans of test$n" truth, or of f$n!$n" $t, but a !e%$'e for #ersua!$n" h$s rea!ers of truths wh$'h he he(! on $ntu$t$ona( "roun!s+ 6h$s $s no !oubt true of *any *ore wr$ters than Prou!hon, but few wr$ters of h$s ab$($ty ha%e re($e! on *ore 'h$(!$sh fa((a'$es w$th *ore na$%e 'onf$!en'e than he+ 6he #a$n w$th wh$'h :a(ras !$sentan"(es so*e of the (ess f(a"rant so#h$str$es, the re#eate! bo(! trans$t$ons fro* a *ora( to an e'ono*$' 'ate"ory wh$'h $s the "reat Prou!hon$an tr$'/, $s un'ons'$ous(y funny+ In the Prou!hon$an wor(!, .e4ua($ty of res#e't. an! .e4ua($ty of $n'o*es. were ter*s $n the sa*e sy((o"$s*, for Prou!hon ha! no un!erstan!$n" of an $nte((e'tua( wor(! $n wh$'h non-*ora( 'ate"or$es e1$ste!+ &or a(( h$s #ara!e of r$"$! !e*onstrat$on of truths wh$'h wou(! sa%e the wor(!, Prou!hon was ne%er as/$n" .Is th$s 6rue5. but a(ways .Is th$s R$"ht5. If h$s o##onents ha! been notab(y *ore '(ear-hea!e! than Prou!hon, he wou(! ha%e been a (ess for*$!ab(e 'ontro%ers$a($st than, $n fa't, he was) but $n the *$!!(e of the n$neteenth 'entury, ortho!o1 e'ono*$sts ha! not a'4u$re! the$r #resent se(f-!eny$n" att$tu!e an!, 'ons'$ous(y or un'ons'$ous(y, *$1e! the$r own 'ate"or$es+ E%en :a(ras, who was f$"ht$n" at a h$"her (e%e( than ,ast$at or 6h$ers, 'o**$tte! h$*se(f to the %$ew that $t was $*#u!ent for Say ;an! Prou!hon< to atta'/ the #sy'ho(o"$'a( resu(ts of the !$%$s$on of (abour, s$n'e !$%$s$on of (abour ha!, or wou(!, re!u'e wor/$n" hours, so that the wor/er who ha! s#ent ten hours *a/$n" the twe(fth #art of a #$n

'ou(! restore h$s *ut$(ate! #ersona($ty by any for* of re'reat$on he ($/e!> 6he assu*#t$on, that the *onotony or %ar$ety of wor/ was $n $tse(f un$*#ortant, 'a*e *ore eas$(y to the *athe*at$'$an than to the for*er #r$nter who re*a$ne! to h$s !eath so #rou! that he ha! *astere! a who(e tra!e, not a *ere #art of a #ro'ess+ ,ut what was an o''as$ona( s($# w$th :a(ras, was fre4uent w$th (esser *en, an! the (e"a( a#o(o"$sts for #ro#erty, who *$1e! u# $*#($'$t ut$($tar$an$s*, (e"a( !o"*a ha0ar!ous anthro#o(o"y, $n one stout aff$r*at$on of the #ro#erty syste* as !ef$ne! by the ode Na(oleon* were easy *ar/s for Prou!hon.s (o"$'a( !e%$'es+ Natura((y, su'h rea!ers as were not ta/en-$n by the #ara!e of (o"$'a( r$"our, were so*et$*es $n'($ne! to !oubt Prou!hon.s "oo! fa$th+ 6hey #o$nte! out ;$t was not %ery har!< 'ontra!$'t$ons an! $n'ons$sten'$es+ -r$t$'s on the (eft thou"ht h$s a!o#t$on of the ro(e of the 'an!$! fr$en! an e1#ress$on of s#(een as we(( as of $nte((e'tua( !$sa"ree*ent) 'r$t$'s on the r$"ht thou"ht he was, $n another sense, a tra$tor to the wor/ers by f$(($n" the* w$th ha(f-ba/e! an! 'h$*er$'a( $!eas wh$'h !$stra'te! the$r attent$on fro* #ra't$'ab(e refor*s+ ,oth 'an f$n! a##arent(y 'on'(us$%e te1ts, but Prou!hon was both honest an! !$s$ntereste!, on(y he ha! *$sta/en h$s ab$($t$es) he was not a #h$(oso#her) he was not an e'ono*$st) he was a *ora($st, for who* the ob8e't of a(( so'$a( an! e'ono*$' arran"e*ents was not the $n'reas$n" of the (e%e( of *ater$a( we((-be$n", but the 'reat$on of a so'$ety $n wh$'h the "reat (aw of the un$%erse, the subor!$nat$on of a(( en!s to the ru(e of Just$'e, e*bo!$e! $n $n!e#en!ent an! e4ua( *en ;or, *ore str$'t(y, hea!s of fa*$($es< was, at (ast, after thousan!s of years of error, to be "$%en free #(ay+ 6h$s #reo''u#at$on w$th r$"ht sa%e! Prou!hon fro* !$ff$'u(t$es wh$'h assa$(e! other so'$a($st (ea!ers, for he !$! not #ro*$se to $n'rease #ro!u't$on+ H$s ar"u*ents a"a$nst 'a#$ta($s* were not ar"u*ents, base! on $ts $neff$'$en'y, but on $ts $n8ust$'e+ O''as$ona((y, he !oes *a/e o#t$*$st$' #ro#he'$es) when he $s try$n" to refute 2a(thus, he *a/es bo(! assert$ons of the "reater ra#$!$ty of the "rowth of #ro!u't$on 'o*#are! w$th hu*an fert$($ty, but h$s heart $s not $n su'h !e*onstrat$ons+ He be($e%e!, that the hu*an ra'e was !est$ne! to wor/ har!er an! har!er an!, $n!ee!, $t was th$s $n'reas$n" bur!en of (abour that wou(! so(%e the #o#u(at$on #rob(e*s by *a/$n" 'ont$nen'e easy to the weary (abourers+ 6he *ost that Prou!hon #ro*$ses $s the !$%ers$on to usefu( wor/ of the so(!$ers, off$'$a(s an! other un#ro!u't$%e *e*bers of so'$ety *a!e ne'essary by the #resent state syste* an!, $n a!!$t$on, the e4ua($sat$on of #ro#erty r$"hts w$(( for'e the $!(e r$'h $nto #ro!u't$%e a't$%$t$es+ 6h$s $s so*eth$n" but not *u'h, for e%en when the r$'h an! the$r #o($t$'a( #aras$tes ha%e "ot off the ba'/s of the #oor, those ba'/s w$(( st$(( be bent by the natura( ne'ess$ty of un'eas$n" to$(+ 9(thou"h Prou!hon ta(/e! a "reat !ea( about the !$%$s$on of (abour, he was rea((y !oubtfu( of $ts e'ono*$' eff$'a'y+ He th$n/s that the (abour sa%e! $s *ere(y !$%erte! $nto other e4ua((y un#ro!u't$%e 'hanne(s, an! th$s $s the bas$s of h$s #ers$stent ob8e't$on to free tra!e+ On h$s own #r$n'$#(es, he was boun! to o##ose free tra!e+ One of the few (e"$t$*ate a't$%$t$es of the state was to e%en out the !$fferent fa'tors of #ro!u't$on+ 6he owner of a hun!re! a'res $n the ,eau'e shou(! not thereby be a((owe! to ru$n the owner of a hun!re! a'res $n the -anta() an!, st$(( (ess, shou(! the #ro!u'ers of &ran'e be ra$ne! by 9*er$'an wheat an! 7an'ash$re 'otton+ ,ut Prou!hon $s not 'ontent w$th th$s a##($'at$on of h$s e4ua($tar$an theor$es+ 9t the en! of h$s ($fe he tr$e! to show that the -ob!en 6reaty was who((y !e'e#t$%e, be'ause e%en $f the #r$'e of 'otton "oo!s went !own, the #r$'e of w$ne wou(! "o u# e4ua((y> ,or!eau1 an! 2an'hester wou(! benef$t at the e1#ense of the 'otton s#$nners of Rouen an! of the &ren'h wor/er who wou(! no (on"er be ab(e to affor! h$s nat$%e w$ne+ :$thout "o$n" %ery far $nto the ar"u*ent, $t $s easy to see that Prou!hon !$! not un!erstan! or refuse! to 'ons$!er what the free tra!e 'ase was an! he wou(! ha%e been we(( a!%$se! not to #(un"e $nto a 'ontro%ersy for wh$'h he was $((-f$tte!+ If h$s #a*#h(ets an! h$s tr$a( brou"ht Prou!hon fa*e, they !$! not br$n" h$* fortune+ :$th a s$*#($'$ty wh$'h ne%er (eft h$*, he thou"ht that the "o%ern*ent an! so'$a( or!er wh$'h he ha! been assa$($n" wou(! "$%e h$* a 8ob+ Nee!(ess to say, the two off$'$a( #osts he ha! ho#e! for, were not waste! on so $n'orr$"$b(e an a"$tator) an! he ha! to shou(!er the !ebts of h$s unfortunate #r$nt$n" bus$ness, the bur!en of h$s #arents w$thout an $n'o*e w$th the en!$n" of h$s C Fo a year fro* h$s three years s'ho(arsh$#+ He ha! ne%er been so #oor as he was 8ust after he ha! be'o*e fa*ous+ He foun! an e*#(oyer $n a 8u!"e who ha! a !es$re to w$n a re#utat$on as a 'r$*$no(o"$st an! for who* Prou!hon was to furn$sh $nfor*at$on an! $!eas+ It was not a !$"n$f$e! #ost, but he thou"ht he 'ou(!

s*u""(e h$s $!eas $nto the wor/ of the e*$nent(y res#e'tab(e 8u!"e+ E%en a 8u!"e 'ou(! see throu"h th$s tr$'/, for Prou!hon, $n h$s 2a'h$a%e(($an *o*ents, ha! a *ar/e! rese*b(an'e to the %$((a$n of *e(o!ra*a who h$sses beh$n! h$s han!, .I !on.t *ean a wor! of what I a* te(($n" th$s s$*#(eton+. 6he 'o((aborat$on an! the $n'o*e 'a*e to an en!, but Prou!hon was now !ee# $n the wr$t$n" of a "reat #h$(oso#h$'a( wor/ of wh$'h he ha!, $n a!%an'e, the h$"hest #oss$b(e o#$n$on, see$n" h$*se(f as another Newton+ He ha! "ot r$! of h$s #r$nt$n" bus$ness at a (oss of C Aoo, a terr$b(e bur!en of !ebt for one $n h$s #os$t$on an! h$s ($%e($hoo! was a *ost ur"ent #rob(e*+ 9n o(! s'hoo( fr$en! too/ h$* $nto h$s f$r*, 3auth$er ,rothers) the bus$ness was that of trans#ort$n" 'oa( on the Rhone-Saone syste* an! Prou!hon be'a*e an e1#ert on r$%er trans#ortat$on, an!, $n h$s own eyes, a *aster of bus$ness *etho!+ 9s was usua( w$th h$*, a(( h$s e1#er$en'e was wor/e! $nto h$s #h$(oso#hy+ It re$nfor'e! h$s be($ef that other re%o(ut$onar$es who /new noth$n" of boo/-/ee#$n" were unworthy of attent$on, for boo/-/ee#$n" by !oub(e entry a##($e! to so'$ety was the so(ut$on of a(( so'$a( #rob(e*s) so ar$th*et$'a( ar"u*ents now be"$n to 'o*e $n at su$tab(e an! unsu$tab(e *o*ents+ 3auth$er.s bus$ness was be"$nn$n" to suffer fro* the 'o*#et$t$on of ra$(ways) an! Prou!hon be"an to wr$te on ra$(way e'ono*$'s+ 6heor$sts *$"ht ta(/ about sa%$n"s $n t$*e an! *oney, but he /new, that $f $t were not for the !oub(e-!ea($n" of the "o%ern*ent un!er the $nf(uen'e of the s#e'u(ators, the 'ana(s an! r$%ers of &ran'e wou(! ho(! the$r own an! !e#art*ents wh$'h ha! r$%er 'o**un$'at$ons $n the$r terr$tory wou(! not ha%e the$r %este! $nterests ru$ne! by the se(f$sh "ree! of the other !e#art*ents wh$'h 'are! noth$n" for the bar"e*en or ste%e!ores of 7yons, $f on(y they 'ou(! "et the$r "oo!s 'arr$e! 'hea#(y an! 4u$'/(y fro* Par$s to 2arse$((es> It $s !$ff$'u(t to !e'$!e $f he !eteste! ra$(ways *ore for be$n" so often un!er the 'ontro( of Sa$nt-S$*on$sts ;who were a(so Jews<, than he !eteste! Sa$nt-S$*on$sts for be$n" bu$(!ers an! e1#(o$ters of ra$(ways> :hen Prou!hon tr$es to !$s'uss ra$(ways an! 'ana(s the .fa((a'y of *$s#(a'e! 'on'reteness. $s se(!o* far away> ,ut bus$ness was on(y a *eans of ($%e($hoo!) the #ass$on for #rea'h$n" was as stron" as e%er+ He !rea*e! of e!$t$n" a news#a#er) he en"a"e! $n an atta'/ on the fa*ous Do*$n$'an #rea'her, 7a'or!a$re) an! he #ub($she! h$s treat$se !n the reation of !rder in "umanit#* or %rinci(les of %olitical !rganisation+ 6h$s $s a 'onfuse! wor/ wh$'h $ts author afterwar!s re"rette!+ It shows the h$"h-water *ar/ of &our$er.s $nf(uen'e an! so*e of Prou!hon.s !$s$((us$on*ent w$th $t *ay be !ue to th$s $n'on%en$ent fa't) but there $s a "oo! !ea( of essent$a( Prou!hon s'attere! throu"h these $((#(anne! #a"es, *ost 'hara'ter$st$', #erha#s, $n the announ'e*ent of the true ob8e't of #o($t$'a( e'ono*y+ .E$ther #o($t$'a( e'ono*y $s a hoa1 an! those who tea'h $t are ($ars@ or $t rea((y has as $ts ob8e't, the 'entra($sat$on of $n!ustr$a( for'es, an! the disci(lining of the mar2et+. If The reation of !rder was a*b$t$ous, the boo/ wh$'h "rew out of $t was *ore a*b$t$ous st$((, for Prou!hon was 'on%$n'e! that he ha! !$s'o%ere! fun!a*enta( 'ontra!$'t$ons $n the wr$t$n"s of the '(ass$'a( e'ono*$sts+ He #ro#ose! to show the e1$sten'e of these 'ontra!$'t$ons an!, (ater, to har*on$se the*+ So the *otto of h$s new boo/ was Destruam et 'edificabo ;I sha(( !estroy an! bu$(! u#<+ He se'ure! as #ub($shers, 3u$((au*$n, the (ea!$n" e'ono*$' #ub($shers, an! they $ns$ste! $n te*#er$n" the %$"our of h$s assau(ts on the ortho!o1 e'ono*$sts+ 6he boo/ a##eare! on O'tober 15, 18AF, un!er the t$t(e of The S#stem of Economic ontradictions or the %hiloso(h# of %overt#/ 9(thou"h there are st$(( wr$ters who re"ar! th$s boo/, h$"h(y, $ts *a$n $*#ortan'e, to-!ay, $s that $t *ar/e! the o''as$on of Prou!hon.s brea/ w$th 2ar1+ 6he (atter, as a refu"ee $n Par$s, ha! *a!e Prou!hon.s a'4ua$ntan'e an!, for a t$*e there was a br$s/ e1'han"e of $!eas between the*+ 2ar1 (ater #rofesse! to ha%e $n!o'tr$nate! Prou!hon w$th He"e(- an! to re"ret $t, s$n'e Prou!hon was $n'a#ab(e of us$n" the !$a(e't$'a( *etho! su''essfu((y an! was on(y (e! further astray by h$s atte*#ts to !o so+ 6h$s Prou!hon wou(! not a!*$t an!, $n!ee!, the 4uest$on was ($tt(e *o*ent, for He"e(, ($/e Hant, was *ere to#!ress$n" for Prou!hon.s $!eas an! he was 4u$t 'a#ab(e of "ett$n" a s*atter$n" of He"e($an (an"ua"e fro* other sour'es than 2ar1+ 9 ru#ture was boun! to 'o*e) ea'h was a born tea'her, but a #oor !$s'$#(e) ea'h was 8ea(ous of fa*e an! of author$ty+ Sore( su""ests that 2ar1 'a*e to resent the $nf(uen'e wh$'h Prou!hon ha! a'4u$re! $n 3er*any at a t$*e when he, the (earne! !o'tor, was st$(( un/nown an! there are so*e e%$!en'es of th$s $n the 'onfutat$on of Prou!hon wh$'h 2ar1 hastene! to #ub($sh+ ,o a#art fro* #ersona( !$fferen'es, the !o'tr$na(

#os$t$ons of the two *en were w$!e(y a#art+ &or Prou!hon, so'$a($s* was #r$*ar$(y a so(ut$on for *ora( #rob(e*, the !e($%eran'e of the $n!$%$!ua( fro* the fetters $*#ose! on h$* by the $n!ustr$a( syste*) he was not, an! ne%er #reten!e! to be, 'o**un$st+ &or 2ar1, there were no abso(ute *ora( truths wh$'h ha! e1$ste! fro* the be"$nn$n" of t$*e an! wh$'h the &ren'h Re%o(ut$on ha! re%ea(e!) the fun!a*enta( for'e was the or"an$sat$on of the *etho!s of #ro!u't$on+ 9 '(ash between the *ater$a($st an! the s#$r$tua($st %$ews of h$story was $ne%$tab(e+ In any 'ase, Prou!hon, for a(( h$s #retens$ons, was not a syste* bu$(!er, he re#eate!, $n %ar$ous for*s, what he 'ons$!ere! a few fun!a*enta( truths, but he re'o$(e! fro* a new ortho!o1y, es#e'$a((y one 'o*$n" fro* another sour'e an! an$*ate! by another s#$r$t+ ,efore he bro/e w$th 2ar1, he a##ea(e! to h$* .to "$%e an e1a*#(e of a (earne! an! fores$"hte! to(eran'e ++ !on.t (et us #ose as a#ost(es of a new re($"$on, e%en of the re($"$on of (o"$', the re($"$on of reason+. On these ter*s, he thou"ht $t #oss$b(e to 'o-o#erate w$th 2ar1, an! he w$(($n"(y awa$te! 2ar1.s 'r$t$'$s*s of h$s boo/+ .I a* w$(($n" to a''e#t the ro! fro* your han!s, $f there $s reason for $t, an! w$th "oo! "ra'e, wa$t$n" for *y re%en"e+. 6he ro! !$! !es'en!, but not on a "ratefu( %$'t$*> 2ar1.s 'r$t$'$s* too/ the for* of a (on", ab(e, host$(e an! an"ry tra't 'a((e! The %overt# of %hiloso(h#+ Prou!hon wou(! not ha%e been Prou!hon -or a hu*an be$n" - $f he ha! re*a$ne! #ass$%e un!er th$s assau(t+ 2ar1 was st$(( obs'ure, ;twenty years (ater, for Prou!hon.s f$rst b$o"ra#her, Sa$nt-,eu%e, he ha! re*a$ne! obs'ure<, an! he hurt Prou!hon.s #r$!e as we(( as h$s !o'tr$nes+ He !e'(are! that Prou!hon owe! h$s re#utat$on $n &ran'e to the be($ef that he was a *aster of 3er*an #h$(oso#hy an!, $n 3er*any to the be($ef that he was a *aster of &ren'h e'ono*$'s) both of these be($efs, as 2ar1 #ro#ose! to show, were erroneous+ Prou!hon was a '(e%er #a*#h(eteer who ha! o%erest$*ate! h$s stren"th an!, far fro* be$n" a (ea!er of the so'$a( re%o(ut$on, was a 'ha*#$on of the *ost ba'/war! '(ass of a((, that of the .(esser bour"eo$s$e. to wh$'h he be(on"e!, a '(ass !oo*e! to !$sa##ear, an! one whose wr$""(es un!er the harrow of *o!e* 'a#$ta($s* ha! no #er*anent h$stor$'a( $nterest an! 'ou(! $n no way affe't the *o%e*ent of so'$ety+ In atte*#t$n" to ere't the #re8u!$'es of th$s '(ass $nto eterna( (aws of nature, $n h$s #reo''u#at$on w$th .r$"ht. an! .wron"., $nstea! of w$th the !$a(e't$'a( *o%e*ent of h$story, Prou!hon showe! h$s $n'a#a'$ty for un!erstan!$n" e$ther #h$(oso#hy or e'ono*$'s) he ne$ther un!erstoo!, He"e( nor 'ou(! a##(y R$'ar!o+ .6he wor/ of 2+ Prou!hon $s not s$*#(y a treat$se on #o($t$'a( e'ono*y, an or!$nary boo/, $t $s a ,$b(e+ =2yster$es=, =Se'rets !ra""e! fro* the boso* of 3o!=, =Re%e(at$ons=, noth$n" $s (a'/$n"+. 6hese rhetor$'a( #assa"es are $rre(e%ant, but they are sy*#to*at$' of Prou!hon.s *$n!, for he th$n/s of e'ono*$' a't$%$ty as subor!$nate! to eth$'a( a't$%$ty, but $f the wor/ of one *an $s now worth that of another, .$t $s not the !o$n" of 2+ Prou!hon.s =eterna( 8ust$'e=, $t $s so(e(y the a''o*#($sh*ent of *o!ern $n!ustry.+ 6h$s assau(t, when $t 'a*e, $nfur$ate! Prou!hon+ He ha! e1#e'te! atta'/s fro* the r$"ht+ H$s #at$ent fr$en!, ,er"*ann, ha! re#roa'he! h$* w$th the #a*#h(eteer$n" 'hara'ter he ha! "$%en to what #asse! for a wor/ of s'$en'e, but Prou!hon !efen!e! h$s #ersona($t$es+ .6o *y *$n!, $n #o($t$'s, $n #ra't$'a( *ora(s, $n so'$a( s'$en'e, $n a(( that 'on'erns a't$%e ($fe an! the a'tua($ty of so'$et$es, theor$es are not *ere(y $!eas, abstra't$ons of the *$n!) they are $nterests, $nf(uen'es, a(($an'es, $ntr$"ues, #ersons as we((+. ,ut what was sau'e for the "oose was not sau'e for the "an!er) an! the .($be( of a Do'tor 2ar1. was .a t$ssue of $nsu(ts, abuse, 'a(u*n$es, fa(s$f$'at$ons an! #(a"$ar$s*s.+ 9s the notes he *a!e on h$s 'o#y show, Prou!hon thou"ht that The %overt# of %hiloso(h# was *ere(y an e1#ress$on of 8ea(ousy on 2ar1.s #art+ .6he rea( *ean$n" of 2ar1.s wor/ $s that he re"rets that, a(( throu"h, I ha%e thou"ht ($/e h$* an! that I ha%e sa$! $t before h$*.+ :hate%er 2ar1.s *ot$%es *ay ha%e been ;an! he was not a(to"ether an a*$ab(e *an>< th$s was not one of the*, for the two, *en !$ffere! #rofoun!(y as to *etho! an! as to ob8e't+ ,ut e%en to-!ay $t $s st$(( not enou"h to say of a boo/, to !$s#ose of $t, that 2ar1 !$! not a##ro%e+ 6he *er$ts of the two *en were %ery !$fferent an! Prou!hon *$"ht ha%e $n'urre! 8ust 'r$t$'$s* an! yet the boo/ be, $n the *a$n, a "oo! one+ 6o one rea!er, at (east, $t see*s a ba! one+ It (oses, by $ts (en"th an! !$ffuseness, the f$"ht$n" #o$nt of the .emoirs on %ro(ert#) $f $t has !ro##e! *u'h of the ter*$no(o"y, $t #reser%es *u'h of the 'onfus$on of The reation !f !rder) $t has *ore than the usua( share of rhetor$' an! (ess than the usua( share of e(o4uen'e+ 3o! $s brou"ht $n an! then

as*ue! as the or$"$n of e%$(+ 6he refusa(, or $nab$($ty, to un!erstan! what the '(ass$'a( e'ono*$sts were !r$%$n" at, *a/es (on" #assa"es *ere %erb$a"e+ 6here $s the 'usto*ary assau(t on ra$(ways an! the usua( #h$(o(o"y, $n"en$ous(y !efen!e! to ,er"*ann, who thou"ht $t $rre(e%ant - an!, as #h$(o(o"y, ba!+ ,ut $f Prou!hon.s "en$us $s often h$!!en, $t so*et$*es f(ashes out+ He w$ns a few %erba(, $f not substant$a(, %$'tor$es o%er h$s anta"on$sts) an! there are *o*entary tr$u*#hs of h$s $rony+ .:hat nee! ha%e we now of the !$etary ru(es of the -hur'h5 6han/s to ta1es, a(( the year $s 7ent for the wor/er) an! h$s Easter !$nner $s not e4ua( to the ,$sho#.s 3oo! &r$!ay 'o((at$on+. ,ut there were #eo#(e who* the boo/ $*#resse! an! e%ents were soon to *a/e of $ts author, an a'tor, $nstea! of *ere(y an obser%er+

&H' T(! ))) The !e,ol-tionar% Leader

PROUDHON ha! "rown *ore an! *ore !$s'ontente! w$th h$s 8ob) $t /e#t h$* away fro* Par$s, $n 7yons an! tra%e(($n" roun! the #ro%$n'es+ E%en at the best of t$*es he was not easy to "et on w$th+ .I fe(t,. he wrote to ,er"*ann, .so*eth$n" that was unsu$tab(e an!, abo%e a((, $n the way they 'arr$e! $t on.) so, $n O'tober, 18AB, he sett(e! $n Par$s, ho#$n" to *a/e a #(a'e for h$*se(f, to start a news#a#er, The %eo(le, wh$'h .w$(( be the f$rst a't of the e'ono*$' re%o(ut$on, the #(an of 'a*#a$"n of wor/ a"a$nst 'a#$ta(++++I ho#e the e!$t$n" w$(( be as or$"$na( as the #os$t$on $s e1'e#t$ona(+. He *a!e h$s #re#arat$ons, ba!(y sha/en by the !eath of h$s *other,.worn out, ($/e *y father, by a"e, !$ff$'u(t$es, to$(, wear$ness++++I 'annot a''usto* *yse(f to the $!ea that nobo!y 'ares about *e, that *y o(! *other $s "one+. the te*#erature of the #o($t$'a( batt(e was r$s$n") but Prou!hon (oo/e! on the #ar($a*entary batt(e w$th s'orn+ .6he best th$n" that 'ou(! ha##en for the &ren'h #eo#(e, wou(! be the throw$n" of a hun!re! *e*bers of the o##os$t$on $nto the Se$ne w$th *$((stones roun! the$r ne'/s+++++6hey are worth a hun!re! t$*es (ess than the 'onser%at$%es, for they are hy#o'r$tes $nto the bar"a$n+. ,ut th$s was not the so(ut$on that was foun!) for, on &ebruary DA, the bour"eo$s *onar'hy fe((, w$th (ess res$stan'e an! far (ess !$"n$ty than ha! the e(!er ($ne of the ,ourbons+ 6he s'e#t$'a( obser%er of #o($t$'s ha! ta/en #art $n the o%erthrow+ Prou!hon ha! "one out when the f$"ht$n" was ta/$n" #(a'e an! ha! been 'a((e! on by &(o'on, one of the (ea!ers of the re%o(t, to ser%e the re%o(ut$on w$th h$s tra!e+ He ha! set u# the *an$festo@ .-$t$0ens, 7ou$s-Ph$($##e $s ha%$n" you *ur!ere! as !$! -har(es G) sen! h$* to re8o$n re%o(ut$on tr$u*#h) an! he was f$((e! w$th 'onte*#t both for the "o%ern*ent wh$'h ha! 'o((a#se! so feeb(y an! for the (ea!ers of the re%o(t who were be$n" 'arr$e! to #ower on a wa%e of #o#u(ar fee($n"+ 6he wor/ers were a(( r$"ht, "ay, bra%e, 8o/$n", honest+ ,ut, on the *orn$n" after the %$'tory, when a(( Par$s ha! (ost $ts hea! w$th enthus$as*, Prou!hon /e#t h$s+ 6he re%o(ut$on ha! no #(an+ .It *ust be "$%en a !$re't$on an! a(rea!y I see $t #er$sh$n" $n a f(oo! of s#ee'hes+. Howe%er, .I shou(! #refer to be($e%e that *y #o$nt of %$ew $s fa(se, rather than a''use e%erybo!y e(se of fo((y+. Prou!hon was no a *o!e( of #ru!en'e an! , when he was en"a"e! $n 'onf($'t, he often (ost a(( sense of #ro#ort$on, but to ha%e wr$tten th$s !$a"nos$s of the Re%o(ut$on of &ebruary DA, on &ebruary D5, was an aston$sh$n" feat of #enetrat$on for $t was Prou!hon who was r$"ht - an! the na$%e enthus$asts who were wron"+ 6he ear(y $((us$ons were natura( enou"h) the bour"eo$s *onar'h ha! "one, w$th har!(y a show of res$stan'e, why shou(! the bour"eo$s$e $tse(f not be as eas$(y !$s#(a'e!5 9s for the so'$ety wh$'h shou(! be bu$(t on the ru$ns of the o(! or!er, were there not #(enty of a'ute 'r$t$'s an! bo(! 'onstru'tors to be #resse! $nto ser%$'e5 :as there not 7ou$s ,(an'5 :ere there not the &our$er$sts an! the Sa$nt -S$*on$sts, an! -abet$ans5 :as there not Prou!hon who ha! #ro*$se! to #ro%$!e a

so(ut$on of the 'ontra!$'t$ons of the o(! syste*5 So*e of the wor/ers re*e*bere! Prou!hon) they 'a((e! on h$* an! #resse! h$* $nto ser%$'e on &ebruary DF) two !ays after the fa(( of the *onar'hy+ 6hey offere! to #ro%$!e #a#er an! a #r$nter+ Prou!hon 'onsente!) he was to ha%e h$s 8ourna( at (ast an! he was (aun'he! on the !an"erous 'areer of a #arty (ea!er) he ha! now both to #rea'h h$s !o'tr$ne an! "et $t a''e#te!+ He stoo! as a 'an!$!ate for the Doubs ;&ran'he--o*tI< an! for Par$s+ He a##ea(e! to 7ou$s ,(an', who re#resente! so'$a($s* $n the Pro%$s$ona( 3o%ern*ent, $n an effort to f$n! 'o**on "roun!+ Des#$te h$s a%owe! $ntent$ons of 'on'$($at$n" *asters an! wor/ers, he was not e(e'te! - an! 7ou$s ,(an' snubbe! h$*+ He ha! for the *o*ent, to #rea'h h$s !o'tr$ne throu"h #a*#h(ets an! throu"h h$s news#a#er, The $e(resentative of the %eo(le+ :hat !$! he #rea'h5 6he essent$a( !o'tr$ne $n Prou!hon $s the $!ent$f$'at$on of Just$'e w$th e4ua($ty an! the 'oer'$on of e'ono*$' ($fe $nto a''or! w$th Just$'e+ 6he ne'ess$ty an! #oss$b$($ty of e4ua($ty was ta/en as ob%$ous(y true) a(( e'ono*$' reason$n" had to en! w$th e4ua($ty+ So, for the theory of %a(ue, Prou!hon subst$tutes a theory of the 8ust #r$'e+ If the ortho!o1 e'ono*$sts say that %a(ue $s not f$1e!, but $s a re(at$on between su##(y an! !e*an!, they are 'on!e*ne! out of the$r own *ouths, for what *ean$n" 'an .%a(ue. ha%e $f $t $s not 'erta$n5 Roo* $s (eft for the .h$""($n" of the *ar/et., but, for Prou!hon, th$s $s no *eta#hor) he rea((y *eans the h$""($n" of the *ar/et, the 'haffer$n" $n the %$((a"e s4uare between the *an se(($n" a 'ow an! the *an se(($n" fo!!er+ 6he 8ust #r$'e $s revealed by th$s h$""($n") the two #art$es !$s'o%er, by h$""($n", what $s the rea( #r$'e of a 'ow an! of fo!!er $n ter*s of ea'h other) $t w$(( ($e between the h$"hest !e*an! an! the (owest offer $n ea'h 'ase, but the ran"e of %ar$at$on $s s*a((, for %a(ue $s base! on the 'ost of #ro!u't$on+ It $s !oubtfu( $f Prou!hon a##re'$ate! a(( the a*b$"u$t$es h$!!en un!er h$s .'ost of #ro!u't$on., but he saw so*e of the*+ 6he 'ost of #ro!u't$on $s that of the a%era"e #ro!u'er, a #r$'e f$1e! by the #ra't$'e of the tra!e+ How that 'usto*ary #r$'e $s to be f$1e! w$thout .*ar/et-anar'hy. we are not '(ear(y to(!+ 9 hea(thy so'$ety $s that $n wh$'h a(( #ro!u't$on $s or"an$0e! on a bas$s of mutualit#, when #ro!u'ers a"ree to be 'onsu*ers of the "oo!s #ro!u'e! by ea'h other+ :hen that o''urs, a(( #r$'es w$(( be .'onst$tute!.) the #resent anar'hy, $n wh$'h a(( "oo!s are #r$'e! $n *oney w$(( be en!e!) an! the *ono#o(y of *oney, an! of 're!$t, wh$'h $s the stron"ho(! of 'ounter-re%o(ut$onary 'a#$ta($s*, w$(( fa((+ Prou!hon.s $**e!$ate ob8e't was to #ersua!e the wor/ers - an! the "o%ern*ent - that $t was easy to br$n" about th$s state of affa$rs, to "$%e the re%o(ut$on a rea( so'$a( 'ontent+ :hat $s nee!e! $s 'hea#, or rather , free 're!$t+ It $s $*#oss$b(e to un!erstan! Prou!hon.s %$ews on th$s 4uest$on w$thout /now$n" what he be($e%e! about *oney+ 2oney ;"o(! an! s$(%er< were the on(y 'o**o!$t$es whose %a(ue was 'onst$tute!) th$s "a%e the$r #ossessors an unfa$r a!%anta"e o%er the #ro!u'ers of un'onst$tute! %a(ues+ It $s !oubtfu( how far Prou!hon rea($se! that "o(! an! s$(%er ha! a %ar$ab(e #r$'e ($/e a(( other "oo!s+ He ta(/s of a ha##y t$*e $f "o(! an! s$(%er were as #(ent$fu( as $ron an! 'o##er an! so no *ore %a(uab(e, but $t $s !oubtfu( $f he saw the $*#($'at$ons of th$s re*ar/+ 9 #r$'e (e%e( was not $nter#rete! by h$* as an as#e't of the #r$'e of *oney+ 2ar1 ha! as/e! h$* $f he rea((y be($e%e! that ever#thing 'ou(! be !ear at the sa*e t$*e an! $t see*s #robab(e that he !$!> 3o(! an! "oo!s 'ou(! both be !ear+ In for*, at any rate, Prou!hon was a fanat$'a( !ef(at$on$st+ He be($e%e! that there was so*e so'$a( "a$n $n an abso(ute(y un$for* an! sy**etr$'a( re!u't$on of #r$'es+ 9(( h$s ($fe he thou"ht of (ow #r$'es, not as a s$"n of abun!an'e, but as a "oo! $n the*se(%es) the Restorat$on be'a*e a "o(!en a"e $n retros#e't, be'ause #r$'es ha! been so (ow+ .Rea( wa"es. $s a 'on'e#t$on wh$'h $s se(!o* tra'eab(e $n Prou!hon.s wor/+ 6he f$rst *easure he a!%o'ate!, was a r$"orous !ef(at$on of a(( 'osts, not to *eet wor(! 'o*#et$t$on, not to sh$ft a bur!en fro* one '(ass to another, but s$*#(y to *a/e the *ea"re su##(y of *oney "o further+ 6here was to be a "enera( re!u't$on of $nterest 'har"es, the ban/-rate, sa(ar$es an! wa"es+ Prou!hon thou"ht th$s #ro"ra**e 4u$te #ra't$'ab(e, an! $n so*e for*s of $t, he ar"ue! that no one wou(! (ose, that the tota( resu(t wou(! be to ha%e e%erybo!y where they starte! - e1'e#t that a(( "oo!s wou(! be 'hea#er+ :hen he a!%o'ate! th$s, $n h$s !ebate w$th 6h$ers, the (atter as/e!, natura((y enou"h, what was the "oo! of "o$n" to a(( that troub(e5 In fa't, of 'ourse, as 6h$ers #o$nte! out, Prou!hon.s s'he*es wou(! not resu(t $n a un$for* re!u't$on, but $n a re!u't$on of the returns fro* one /$n! of #ro#erty, that base!

on f$1e!-$nterest 'har"es@ $t was f$1e! $nterest, not #ro#erty as su'h, that Prou!hon, at th$s *o*ent of h$s 'areer, re"ar!e! as theft+ 2ar1, ,ast$at, 6h$ers, :a(ras, a(( $n %a$n #o$nte! out that $nterest was on(y an as#e't of #ro#erty) that $t was $nse#arab(e fro* #ro#erty+ Prou!hon was a!a*ant, $nterest was wron" be'ause on(y (abour 'ou(! 'reate wea(th) the owner of 'a#$ta( !$! no wor/ when he (ent $t, so that any $nterest on $t was sto(en fro* the borrower of the 'a#$ta(+ 6here are two '(asses of wr$ters on 're!$t, those who be($e%e that a b$r! $n the han! $s a(ways worth a b$r! #(us something $n the bush) an! those who re"ar! th$s su##ose! a1$o* as a su#erst$t$on+ Prou!hon be(on"e! to the se'on! '(ass+ &or h$*, (en!$n" was no har!sh$#, you on(y (ent so*eth$n" for wh$'h you ha! no $**e!$ate use an! you "ot $t ba'/ $nta't after the #er$o! a"ree! u#on+ :here, then, was the #r$%at$on for wh$'h ,ast$at an! the other #rea'hers of ortho!o1y sa$! you ha! to be 'o*#ensate!5 9t t$*es, #resse! $n for*a( 'ontro%ersy, Prou!hon hes$tate! an! a((owe! %ar$ous 'har"es to be *a!e for (oans, but $nterest as su'h was wron"+ It was one of the errors of the -hur'h that ha%$n" on'e "ras#e! the *ora( an! e'ono*$' truth that $nterest was wron", she ha! wa%ere! an! tr$e! to *a/e !$st$n't$ons between ban/$n" an! usury) there was no !$st$n't$on, a(( $nterest for the use of *oney or "oo!s was usury+ In Prou!hon.s *oney *ar/et, on(y !e*an! 'ounte!) usury wou(! sto#+ 6hat (en!$n" *$"ht sto# too) an! that a 're!$t stru'ture, base! on (oans wh$'h were no #r$%at$on to the (en!er, *$"ht be rather $na!e4uate for the nee!s of so'$ety !$! not o''ur to h$*, for the t$*e e(e*ent was !$sre"ar!e!+ He see*s, at *o*ents, to re"ar! the $*#ortan'e atta'he! to $**e!$ate #ossess$on as a 'ounter-re%o(ut$onary su#erst$t$on an! when he ref(e'ts that what #re%ents a far*er who, o%er th$rty years, #ays the tota( %a(ue of h$s far* $n rent, fro* thereby be'o*$n" $ts owner, $s the $ns$sten'e of the #ro#r$etor of the (an! on *oney !own, h$s $n!$"nat$on $s at (east as *u'h !$re'te! at the stu#$!$ty, as at the 'u#$!$ty of the (an!(or!> 6o !e'(are that a(( rent shou(! be !ee*e! #art #ur'hase an! that the rent of *oney 'ou(! thus be a%o$!e! see*e! s$*#(e enou"h+ It was th$s $((us$on that #ro#erty 'ou(! be (eft $nta't an! #re%ente! fro* ha%$n" $ts fru$ts that $nfur$ate! 2ar1, who 'ou(! f$n! noth$n" worse to say of Prou!hon, as an e'ono*$' 'ontro%ers$a($st, than that e%en ,ast$at was too *u'h for h$*+ 6he ban/-rate !e'(are! by the ,an/ of &ran'e see*e! to Prou!hon, not an e1a*#(e of the "enera( #ower of 'a#$ta(, but a resu(t of the (e"a( *ono#o(y "$%en the ban/+ 7et the state or!er the re!u't$on of the ban/-rate an! of a(( f$1e! 'har"es to one #er'ent or ha(f #er'ent an! the usurers wou(! be !efeate!+ :ho, he as/e!, wou(! borrow at f$%e #er'ent $f they 'ou(! "et *oney at a ha(f #er'ent $f they 'ou(! "et *oney at a ha(f #er'ent, th$s be$n" a 'har"e *a!e *ere(y to 'o%er boo/-/ee#$n" e1#enses5 :ho wou(! (en! at that #r$'e when by buy$n" #ro#erty, $nstea! of t$t(es to *oney, they 'ou(! e%a!e th$s (e"$s(at$on, was a 4uest$on he !$! not answer> If he !$! not answer the 4uest$on who wou(! (en! *oney, he !$! answer the 4uest$on, how wou(! 're!$t be #ro%$!e!5 ,y *utua($ty+ 6he *ono#o(y of 'a#$ta( 'ou(! be bro/en $f a(( #ro!u'ers $"nore! the *onetary syste* an! e1'han"e! the "oo!s at 8ust #r$'es, "uarantee! by *utua( 'onf$!en'e+ 9s t$*e was un$*#ortant, the /now(e!"e that, at so*e t$*e $n the future, you wou(! "et a ba" of f(our $n return for the $**e!$ate !e($%ery of three #a$rs of shoes, was a(( that you 'ou(! want+ If a(( '(asses of #ro!u'ers were un$te! $n these *utua( a"ree*ents, *oney wou(! be unne'essary an! the entr$es on the boo/s of the ban/ wou(! ta/e the$r #(a'e+ ,oo/-/ee#$n" w$thout *oney, that was the #ana'ea+ He !e*an!e!, therefore, that the "o%ern*ent shou(! !e'ree that .s$n'e !$re't e1'han"e w$thout *oney an! w$thout $nterest, $s both #art of natura( r$"ht an! of #ub($' ut$($ty., $nterest shou(! be 'ut !own an! free 're!$t estab($she!+ &a$(ure to rea($se both the !es$rab$($ty an! #ra't$'ab$($ty of th$s refor*, was a s$"n of w$'/e!ness, or of stu#$!$ty, or of both+ 2ost (eft-w$n" (ea!ers fe(( un!er th$s ban+ So*e were 'o**un$sts an! so ene*$es of ($berty an! the fa*$(y) others were absorbe! $n *ere #o($t$'s, $n un$%ersa( suffra"e an! other !e%$'es for ren!er$n" har*(ess what was ne'essar$(y har*fu(, the author$tar$an state+ In #ursu$t of these 'h$*eras, they nee!(ess(y a($enate! the *$!!(e '(asses who 'ou(! be shown that they ha! as *u'h $nterest $n the abo($t$on of the 're!$t *ono#o(y as any wor/er+ In the he't$' at*os#here of !$e s#r$n" an! su**er of 18A8, when the o(! or!er see*e! to be 'o((a#s$n" e%erywhere, Prou!hon, ($/e *any others, a'4u$re! a fo((ow$n"+ 9t a bye(e't$on $n June, he was e(e'te! to the asse*b(y fro* Par$s w$th a %ery han!so*e *a8or$ty+ He now

ha! to #(ay the #art of the states*an, an! h$s 'on!u't $n the ne1t few *onths a($enate! h$* fro* *ost of h$s #o($t$'a( a(($es, an! so !ro%e h$* further towar!s h$s natura( "oa(, anar'hy+ ,y the t$*e Prou!hon entere! the asse*b(y the re%o(ut$on was ob%$ous(y ebb$n"+ 6he 'rush$n" of the re%o(t of the wor/ers $n the !ays of June showe! that bour"eo$s so'$ety was stron"er than ha! see*e! #oss$b(e $n 2ar'h+ 6he 'ountrys$!e ha! sent an $**ense 'onser%at$%e *a8or$ty to the asse*b(y, an! rea't$on "rew stron"er e%ery !ay+ Prou!hon, !es#$te so*e rash wor!s, was a"a$nst try$n" to re*e!y th$s state of affa$rs by ar*e! re%o(t, but he was h$*se(f a s'are'row to r$"htth$n/$n" #eo#(e+ 9 #(ay was #ut on 'a((e! %ro(ert# is Theft, an! Prou!hon was !a$(y abuse! as a *onster, $ns#$re! by the De%$(+ H$s news#a#er was su##resse! a"a$n an! a"a$n, an! Prou!hon was a ($ab$($ty to the (eft-w$n" #art$es who were now try$n" to sa%e so*eth$n" out of the wre'/+ :hen Prou!hon, on Ju(y ?1, !e'(are! h$s #o($'y to the asse*b(y, that bo!y %ote! that .the #re#os$t$on of -$t$0en Prou!hon $s an o!$ous atta'/ on the #r$n'$#(es of #ub($' *ora(s.+ 6here were on(y two !$sent$ent %otes, that of Prou!hou h$*se(f an! of 3re##o+ 6he r$ft w$th the (eft-w$n" (ea!ers 'ont$nue! to "row+ Prou!hou refuse! to %ote a"a$nst the rea't$onary *$n$stry of wh$'h h$s o(! #rote'tor, E$%$en, was a *e*ber+ He fou"ht a !ue( w$th &I($1 Pyat, an! wou(! ha%e ha! to f$"ht others ha! he not refuse! to be boun! by the 'on%ent$ons of &ren'h #o($t$'s+ He was a (ea!er of the e1tre*e (eft se't$on wh$'h bro/e u# #arty un$ty $n the #res$!ent$a( e(e't$on by runn$n" Ras#a$( a"a$nst 7e!ru-Ro(($n+ Out of se%en *$(($on %otes 'ast, Ras#a$( "ot th$rty thousan!+ 6he un/nown 7ou$s Na#o(eon ,ona#arte, who* Prou!bon ha! tr$e! to $n!o'tr$nate, was e(e'te!, an! Prou!hon #oure! out abuse on the new hea! of &ran'e who* *any 'r$t$'s fe(t he ha! !one *u'h to e(e't+ 6he asse*b(y was not s(ow to ta/e $ts 'han'e to re#ro%e se!$t$on $n the #erson of the ene*y of so'$ety, an! $t a((owe! Prou!hon to be tr$e! for h$s atta'/s on the hea! of the state+ He was senten'e! to three years. $*#r$son*ent an! three thousan! fran's f$ne+ He ha! 8ust starte! h$s .,an/ of the Peo#(e., but the 'han'e of try$n" out h$s theor$es was (ost+ He es'a#e! to ,e("$u*, but was rash enou"h to return to Par$s, was !enoun'e!, an! sent to #r$son+ H$s ($fe as an a't$%e #o($t$'$an was at an en!) an! he ha! the (e$sure to th$n/ out h$s syste* an! !$"est the e1#er$en'e of the #ast year+ He ha! a(so a new t$e to ta/e the #(a'e (eft %a'ant by h$s *other, for he ha! *arr$e! a #oor sea*stress, Eu#hras$e P$I"ar!, .w$th #re*e!$tat$on, w$thout #ass$on, to be a father of a fa*$(y, to ha%e a 'o*#(ete ($fe, an! to ha%e by *e, $n the %orte1 $nto wh$'h I ha%e 'ast *yse(f, an $*a"e of *aterna( s$*#($'$ty an! *o!esty.+ H$s w$fe was a f$t 'o*#an$on for an a"$tator) $((-e!u'ate!, but an e1'e((ent *ana"er an! reso(ute $n a(( !$ff$'u(t$es+ He *arr$e! outs$!e the -hur'h, a "reat tr$u*#h for h$*, for h$s w$fe.s father was a roya($st of the e1tre*e r$"ht+ 6he $n'on%en$en'es of su'h a 'onne't$on were to be *a!e e%$!ent when h$s father$n-(aw was senten'e! to two years. $*#r$son*ent for a roya($st 'ons#$ra'y after a tr$a(, of wh$'h the *ost $nterest$n" !o'u*ent was a #et$t$on to the Preten!er, the -o*te !e -ha*bor!, wr$tten by Prou!hon) h$*se(f > It was, sa$! Prou!hon, a hoa1, but by that t$*e ;185?<, he ha! enou"h ene*$es to rub $t $n to h$* that there are fo(($es wh$'h (oo/ ($/e 'r$*es+ &or the *o*ent, *arr$a"e 'a(*e! h$*+ H$s w$fe ($%e! o##os$te the #r$son, Sa$nte-PI(a"$e, an! $n No%e*ber, 1850, Prou!hon was !e($"hte! by the b$rth of !au"hter+ &or the "reater #art of h$s #r$son ($fe, he was %ery (en$ent(y treate!, by ,r$t$sh stan!ar!s, a((owe! !a$(y %$s$ts fro* h$s w$fe, an! a((owe! to "o out of #r$son+ He wrote for h$s #a#er, now a wee/(y 'a((e! The %eo(le, an! e%en *ana"e! to "et tr$e! an! a'4u$tte! for another %$o(ent #$e'e of 8ourna($s*+ 9s the rea't$on "ot stron"er, an! as the res$stan'e of the (eft too/ the 'r$*$na((y foo($sh for* of the $nsurre't$on of June, 18A , Prou!hon.s #r$son ($bert$es were restr$'te!+ He was, for a #er$o!, sent to Dou((ens an! to ,our"es, where he *et *ost of the other (eft-w$n" (ea!ers an! was 'hara'ter$st$'a((y s'ornfu( of the*+ .6he one th$n" I !$s($/e *ore than #erse'utors,. he was re#orte! to say, .are *artyrs+. He ha! h$*se(f been a %$'t$* of June, for the Nat$ona( 3uar!, now the stor*troo#ers of rea't$on, ha! !estroye! h$s #r$nt$n" #(ant+ 6he fut$(e a##ea(s to *ore rebe(($on wh$'h 'a*e fro* the e1$(es $nfur$ate! h$* an!, when the !y$n" Re#ub($' was snuffe! out by the Pres$!ent.s cou( d3 etat of De'e*ber D, 1851, Prou!hon.s !$s($/e of the %$'tors was 'ons$!erab(y te*#ere! by h$s s'orn of the %an4u$she!+ ,y swee#$n" away the !ebr$s of !e*o'ra'y, the !$'tator

was (ea%$n" the way '(ear for the #ro#het of the true re%o(ut$onary !o'tr$ne - anar'hy+ Prou!hon.s #(a'e $n the h$story of anar'hy $s se'ure) there were *o*ents of $n'ons$sten'y) *o*ents of wa%er$n" when he (oo/e! to the state an! e%en to *ere #o($t$'s for !e($%eran'e, but, as he announ'e! $n the &irst .emoir, .I a* an anar'h$st. -an! he re*a$ne! one+ 9nar'hy was $n the a$r) *any refor*ers bes$!es Prou!hon were an1$ous to 'arry out the Sa$nt-S$*on$st #ro"ra**e an! to subst$tute .the a!*$n$strat$on of th$n"s for the a!*$n$strat$on of *en.+ ,y anar'hy, Prou!hon *eant the absen'e of a *aster an! of sub8e'ts+ He was a(ways s'e#t$'a( of *ere !$fferen'es $n #o($t$'a( for*+ He was a re#ub($'an by te*#era*ent) h$s !e%ot$on to the re%o(ut$on as the !awn of e4ua($ty *a!e $t har! for h$* to to(erate su'h a "(ar$n" e1'e#t$on to e4ua($ty as here!$tary *onar'hy) but he ne%er atta'he! a suff$'$ent $*#ortan'e to the sa're! wor! .re#ub($'. to 4ua($fy as 4u$te ortho!o1 a*on" the wr$ters an! #o($t$'$ans of the (eft+ :hat he wante! of a "o%ern*ent was that $t shou(! 'o**$t su$'$!e "ra'efu((y, "$%$n" way to the free anar'h$'a( so'$ety w$thout try$n" to *a/e the b$rth of the new or!er !$ff$'u(t+ If the House of Or(eans wou(! #ut $tse(f at the !$s#osa( of the Re%o(ut$on, Prou!hon wou(! #ut u# w$th the ano*a(y of here!$tary #o($t$'a( #ower+ He was w$(($n", (ater, to *a/e the sa*e bar"a$n w$th the House of ,ona#arte, an! he saw noth$n" to 'hoose between a *onar'h$'a( an! a !e*o'rat$' tyranny+ In!ee!, he was a b(as#he*er of re%o(ut$onary ortho!o1y) at t$*es a !efen!er of the *e*ory of the ,ourbons, e%en of -har(es G, a #ra$ser of the -harter of 181A, an! an assa$(ant of the Ja'ob$ns whose !$%$ne r$"ht of the *a8or$ty was as outra"eous $n theory an! far *ore !an"erous $n fa't than the !$%$ne r$"ht of .Henry E.+ :hen #ersona((y $nfur$ate! he was w$(($n" to be($e%e any nonsense about Na#o(eon III, rea!y to 're!$t h$s $**$nent !e#os$t$on at the han!s of #a(a'e 'ons#$rators, but ne%er w$(($n" to #ut h$s !$fferen'es w$th the $*#er$a( "o%ern*ent on the "roun! of #o($t$'a( $((e"$t$*a'y+ Un$%ersa( suffra"e was a !e(us$on) but a "o%ern*ent #rofess$n" to be base! on $t shou(! not be a((owe! to ta*#er w$th $ts wor/$n", yet the obsess$on of .the Ja'ob$ns. w$th *ere #o($t$'s, the atte*#t to "et the state $nto the$r own han!s, was a !e'e#t$on of the #eo#(e, for $f #ro#erty was theft, the state was tyranny, be $t e*#$re or re#ub($'+ 6he $!ea( to be a$*e! at $n *atters of "o%ern*ent $s not .!$re't (e"$s(at$on or !$re't "o%ern*ent or s$*#($f$e! "o%ern*ent, but no *ore "o%ern*ent.+ 9s ear(y as 18A0, Prou!hon ha! !e'(are! that *ost of the fun't$ons of "o%ern*ent w$(( !$sa##ear, an! those wh$'h re*a$n w$(( ta/e on a s'$ent$f$' 'hara'ter, a s'$en'e of wh$'h the !ata are stat$st$'s ;for the be($ef $n boo/-/ee#$n" was #resent before the e1#er$en'e of $t<) but, $f the bas$s of anar'hy $s #resent $n What is %ro(ert#5, $t $s $n the boo/s wr$tten after the !eath of the $((us$ons of 18A8 that the !o'tr$ne $s set forth $n *ost !eta$( an! w$th *ost enthus$as*+ 9 state, Prou!hon ha! f$na((y (earne!, 'ou(! on(y be an e%$( whether $t was ru(e! by 7e!ru-Ro(($n or by 7ou$s Na#o(eon+ 3o%ern*ent was alwa#s for the "o%ernors, ne%er for the "o%erne!+ No !e*o'rat$' *a'h$nery 'ou(! a(ter the fa't that those who !eta$ne! #ower were *asters an! those who ha! to obey, ser%ants+ 9(( so#h$s*s of the "enera( w$((, a(( so'$a( 'ontra'ts $n the *anner of Rousseau wh$'h atte*#te! to e1#(a$n away the ne'essary surren!er of ($berty $n%o(%e! $n any #owerfu( state, were ene*$es of the r$"hts of e%ery *an to ru(e .h$*se(f, not $n f$'t$on, but $n fa't+ Not on(y was the state an e%$(, $t was not a ne'essary e%$(+ .6he so'$a( 'onst$tut$on,. he wrote $n The onfessions of a $evolutionar#, .$s boun! u# w$th hu*an nature, ($bera(, ne'essary +++ $ts !e%e(o#*ent 'ons$sts abo%e a(( $n wea/en$n" an! "ett$n" r$! of the #o($t$'a( 'onst$tut$on wh$'h $s essent$a((y art$f$'$a(, restr$'t$%e an! trans$tory+. How was the state to be re#(a'e! an! so'$ety "$%en $ts 'onst$tut$on5 ,y the *a"$' #ower of 'ontra't+ No (awyer, not e%en S$r Henry 2a$ne, ha! a *ore (yr$'a( 'on'e#t$on of the "(or$es of 'ontra't than ha! Prou!hon+ 2utua( 'ontra'ts were to so(%e the #rob(e* of e1'han"e an! of 're!$t,= they were a(so to so(%e the #rob(e* of #o($t$'a( or"an$sat$on+ The General Idea of the $evolution in the Nineteenth entur# $s a hy*n to 'ontra't+ .6he $!ea of 'ontra't e1'(u!es that of "o%ern*ent+ + + + :hat 'hara'ter$ses the 'ontra't, the *utua( 'on%ent$on, $s that $n %$rtue of th$s 'on%ent$on *an.s ($berty an! we((be$n" $n'rease, wh$(st by the $nst$tut$on of an author$ty, both ne'essar$(y !$*$n$sh+. 6he ob8e't of so'$a( s'$en'e $s .to f$n! a for* of bar"$n wh$'h, br$n"$n" to un$ty the !$%er"en'e of $nterests, $!ent$fy$n" the #r$%ate an! the "enera( "oo!, effa'$n" the $ne4ua($ty of nature by that of e!u'at$on, reso(%es a(( #o($t$'a( an! e'ono*$' 'ontra!$'t$ons) where ea'h $n!$%$!ua( $s e4ua((y an! synony*ous(y #ro!u'er an! 'onsu*er) '$t$0en an! #r$n'e) a!*$n$strator an! a!*$n$stere!) where h$s ($berty a(ways $n'reases,

w$thout any nee! e%er to alienate any #art of $t) where h$s we((be$n" "rows $n!ef$n$te(y, w$thout h$s e1#er$en'$n", fro* so'$ety or fro* h$s fe((ow-'$t$0ens, any $n8ury e$ther $n h$s #ro#erty or h$s wor/ or $n h$s $n'o*e or $n h$s 'onne't$ons of $nterest or affe't$on w$th h$s /$n!.+ How was th$s #ara!$se to be rea'he!5 Not by the a$! of "o%ern*ent, that was 7ou$s ,(an'.s error+ 9 "o%ern*ent 'annot be #aterna( $f $t $s ($*$te!, for, as/s Prou!hon, .what father e%er thou"ht of a bar"a$n w$th h$s fa*$(y++++ 6he author$ty whose seat $s $n the fa*$(y $s a *yst$'a( #r$n'$#(e, anter$or an! su#er$or to the w$(( of the #eo#(e 'on'erne!., but so'$ety has no su'h bas$s for $ts author$ty+ On the other han!, an un($*$te! author$ty $n the state $s $ne4ua($ty, tyranny++++.6he ru(e of 'ontra'ts subst$tute! for the ru(e of (aws wou(! 'onst$tute +++ the rea( so%ere$"nty of the #eo#(e, the REPU,7I-+. Prou!hon was 'ons'$ous that h$s fa$th $n 'ontra't was not un$%ersa((y share!+ .Jou $*a"$ne that $t $s $*#oss$b(e to fu(f$( these 'on!$t$ons+ 6he so'$a( 'ontra't, when you 'ons$!er the fr$"htfu( nu*ber of re(at$ons $t ou"ht to re"u(ate +++ see* so*eth$n" ($/e s4uar$n" the '$r'(e or #er#etua( *ot$on+ 6hat $s why, worn out w$th the f$"ht, you re(a#se $nto !es#ot$s* an! for'e+ + + Rea($se, howe%er, that $f the so'$a( 'ontra't 'an be 'on'(u!e! between two #ro!u'ers -an! who !oubts that, $n th$s s$*#(e for*, there $s a so(ut$on5 - $t 'an e4ua((y be 'on'(u!e! between *$(($ons s$n'e the un!erta/$n" $s the sa*e, an! the nu*ber of s$"natures - wh$(e they *a/e $t *ore an! *ore effe't$%e - !o not a!! an art$'(e Kto the a"ree*entL+ Jour a((e"e! $nab$($ty $s non-e1$stent then) $t $s r$!$'u(ous an! *a/es you $ne1'usab(e+. 3$%en the #ra't$'ab$($ty of a so'$ety so or"an$se!, $t *ust be un!erstoo! that the 'ontra'tua( bas$s of so'$ety !oes not 'reate r$"hts an! ob($"at$ons not set out $n the bon!+ 9(( th$s ta(/ about .asso'$at$on. $s !an"erous, for $t $*#($es that there $s a 'o**on w$(( $n the asso'$ates, that the bo!y they 'reate has a ($fe of $ts own outs$!e the narrow ob8e'ts for wh$'h $t has been 'reate!+ ,ut su'h theor$es are 'on!u'$%e to tyranny+ 9 so'$ety for #ro!u't$on 'reates no bon! between $ts *e*bers outs$!e those $n!$s#ensab(e for the e'ono*$' a't$%$ty of the so'$ety+ 6he abso(ute $n!e#en!en'e of ea'h *e*ber *ust be obser%e!+ No so'$a( foo! $s worth the #r$'e of ($berty+ Natura((y, su'h a !o'tr$ne *a!e $ts author sus#$'$ous of tra!e un$ons, an! str$/es he abhorre! fro* the be"$nn$n" to the en! of h$s ($fe+ 9s was usua( w$th Prou!hon, he !estroye! before he bu$(t u#+ E%en $n the 'o*#arat$%e(y ear(y e1#os$t$ons ;The General Idea of the $evolution4 The onfessions of a $evolutionar#<, wr$tten un!er the sha!ow of the !$sasters of 18A8-A , Prou!hon re'o"n$ses that the state w$(( not !$sa##ear at on'e, a(thou"h, for ob%$ous reasons, he $s 'on%$n'e! that $f other state $nst$tut$ons *ay ha%e a ($tt(e ($fe $n the*, the 8u!$'$a( syste* *ust be $**$e!$ate(y abo($she! for the state has no r$"ht to #un$sh, a(thou"h a *an *ay as/ to be #un$she!+ 6he a##arent ne'ess$ty of the state $s !ue to e'ono*$' $ne4ua($ty, be'ause of the absen'e of 8ust$'e+ :hen a(( *en ha%e boun! the*se(%es to *utua( 8ust$'e, the nee! for the 'oer'$%e a##aratus of the state w$(( %an$sh+ E%en $n the #resent syste*, the '(a$*s of the state are e1a""erate!+ &ran'e has to en!ure an $**ense ar*y, hor!es of off$'$a(s, a s#(en!$! 'ourt, a(( ne'ess$tat$n" an o%erwhe(*$n" bur!en of ta1at$on, be'ause &ren'h*en are %a$n) be'ause they want the$r 'ountry to *a/e a "reat $*#ress$on $n the wor(!+ 6hey are the %$'t$*s of any s/$(fu( 8$n"o+ :hat "oo! !oes $t !o the*5 6hey are worse off than the Sw$ss, who ha%e no su'h $((us$ons+6he$r %ast an! e1#ns$%e ar*y ou"ht to be re#(a'e! by a *$($t$a wh$'h wou(! be 'o*#etent for !efen'e, but not for tyranny+ In any 'ase, there $s not one &ren'h nat$on) there are th$rty sub*er"e! nat$ona($t$es $n &ran'e, an!, $n a rat$ona((y or"an$se! so'$ety, these .nat$ons. wou(! be the natura( un$tsof "o%ern*ent+ 6he !ea!(y 'entra($sat$on be(o%e! of tyrants, ,ona#artes an! Ja'ob$ns, w$th the$r fet$sh of .$n!$%$s$b(e &ran'e. wou(! be !estroye!, to the benef$t of a(( 'on'erne!, e%en of Par$s+ 9s (on" as Par$s has 'on'entrate! w$th$n her wa((s, the "o%ern*ent, the f$nan'$a( an! e!u'at$ona( $nst$tut$ons of the 'ountry) as (on" as the who(e of &ran'e $s ta1e! to a!orn the 'a#$ta( w$th s#(en!$! bu$(!$n"s) so (on" $t w$(( be $*#oss$b(e to #er*$t Par$s to ha%e any a't$%e #o($t$'a( ($fe of her own+ 6he so(ut$on to th$s, as to other "o%ern*enta( #rob(e*s, was fe!era($s*+ 6h$s was the answer to the 'ontra!$'t$ons Prou!hon thou"ht he ha! shown to e1$st $n the #o($t$'a( s#here, the '(ash between

"o%ern*ent, e%en .!e*o'rat$'. "o%ern*ent an! ($berty+ 6he s*a((er the un$t, the "reater !e"ree of free!o* $n "o%ern*ent+ 6he "reat $n!ustr$a( un$ts shou(! ru(e the*se(%es an! a fe!era($s*, base! on the free 'oo#erat$on of the 'o**unes an! #ro%$n'es, wou(! so(%e the #ure(y "o%ern*enta( #rob(e*s+ 6he 'o**une ;the #ar$sh or town< shou(! ru(e $tse(f, #ro%$!e for $ts own 8ust$'e an! $ts own e!u'at$ona( nee!s+ 6he $ntrus$on of the 'entra( "o%ern*ent $nto these f$e(!s shou(! 'ease+ 6he 'o**une shou(! e%en #ro%$!e an! 'ontro( $ts own 'hur'h+ 6he "reat !ay of the Re%o(ut$on was the !ay of the &e!erat$on, before Ja'ob$n abso(ut$s* ha! !$%erte! the Re%o(ut$on fro* the true #ath+ 6h$s enthus$as* for fe!era($s* affe'te! Prou!hon.s 8u!"*ent of 'urrent e%ents $n o!! ways+ He b$tter(y re"rette! the anne1at$on of Sa%oy to &ran'e+ :hat foo(s the Sa%eyar!s were to (et the*se(%es be tr$'/e! by the$r '(er"y $nto %ot$n" for anne1at$on to &ran'e when they *$"ht ha%e be'o*e a free Sw$ss -anton> In any 'ase, how !$s"ust$n" was the s#e'ta'(e of E$'tor E**anue( aban!on$n" the (an! of h$s an'estors> Ita($an un$ty $s on(y a hoa1 for $s not the !estru't$on of 6us'an nat$ona($ty a "reat !$saster5 6he rea( "reatness of Ita(y $s on(y #oss$b(e $n a fe!era( state+ So we f$n! Prou!hen !efen!$n" the #ro8e'te! Ita($an 'onfe!erat$on a"a$nst the b($n! a!*$rers of 2a00$n$ an! (a*ent$n" the !efeat of the ar*$es of H$n" &ran'$s of Na#(es> 6he s#e'ta'(e of the "reat re%o(ut$onary foster$n" the sa*e sa're! f(a*e as -ar!$na( 9ntone(($ an! .H$n" ,o*ba.s 7a00aron$. was start($n" enou"h, but Prou!hon e%en asserte! that the 7o*bar! #easants were 4u$te $n!$fferent whether the$r o##ressors were Ita($ans or 9ustr$ans+ In!ee!, 9ustr$a, by *o%$n" $n the #ath of fe!era($s*, was *a/$n" her #(a'e $n the forefront of '$%$($sat$on se'ure, wh$(e Ita(y was "o$n" ba'/> Rea( un$ty, he was to wr$te at the en! of h$s ($fe, .was $n $n%erse #ro#ort$on to s$0e) so, $n e%ery 'o((e't$%$ty, or"an$' #ower (oses $n $ntens$ty what $t "a$ns $n e1tens$on an! re'$#ro'a((y++++ 9##(y th$s (aw to #o($t$'s) a state $s essent$a((y one, $n!$%$s$b(e, $n%$o(ab(e@ the b$""er her #o#u(at$on an! area "row, the further for'e of 'ohes$on an! the un$ty of the "o%ern*ent w$(( !e'rease ++++ 7et bran'hes be for*e!, (et 'o(on$es be for*e!+++ these w$(( for* a fe!era( bon! w$th the *other state or e%en w$(( ha%e no 'onne't$on at a((+. S*a(( states or 'o**unes, !$re't(y ru(e! by free*en, who were e'ono*$'a((y e4ua(, ea'h *aster of h$s tra!e or of h$s far* - an! of h$s fa*$(y, that was Prou!hon.s $!ea( 'o**un$ty) a 'o**un$ty ($/e the ,attant of h$s youth, but not un!er the "uns of the '$ta!e( of ,esan'on nor at the !$s#osa( of a #refe't sent fro* Par$s> In a fe!era( or"an$sat$on for ea'h 'ountry an! for Euro#e as a who(e, Prou!hon, at the en! of h$s ($fe, asserte! that he ha! foun! the so(ut$on of the #o($t$'a( #rob(e* he ha! #ose! $n 18A0+ He ha! !estroye! - he now bu$(t u#+ .I be"an by anarch#, the 'on'(us$on of *y 'r$t$'$s* of the $!ea of "o%ern*ent, to f$n$sh by fe!erat$on, as the ne'essary base of Euro#ean #ub($' (aw an!, (ater on, of the or"an$sat$on of a(( states+ On a(( th$s 4uest$on, $t $s easy to see that logic, right an! libert# are !o*$nant) so that #ub($' or!er bas$n" $tse(f !$re't(y on the ($berty an! 'ons'$en'e of the '$t$0en, anarch#, the absen'e of a(( restra$nt, of a(( #o($'e, author$ty, 8u!"es, (e"a( ru(es, et'+, $s !$s'o%ere! to be the 'orre(at$%e of the h$"hest so'$a( %$rtue an! the $!ea( of hu*an "o%ern*ent+ No !oubt we are far away fro* $t, an! $t w$(( ta/e 'entur$es before we rea'h th$s $!ea() but our 79: $s to a!%an'e $n that !$re't$on+.

&H' T(! ). !"#DH"$ '$D /#0T)&(

:h$(e Prou!hon was for*u(at$n" h$s !o'tr$ne of anar'hy, he was wat'h$n" the #o($t$'a( s$tuat$on w$th $*#at$en'e an! w$th ho#e+ He was (u'/y to be $*#r$sone! when the 'onf($'t between the

asse*b(y an! the #res$!ent was 'o*$n" to a hea!+ He ha! not to 'hoose between a rea't$onary #ar($a*ent an! a #robab(y rea't$onary !$'tator+ Prou!hon *a!e no #o$nt of #o($t$'a( ortho!o1y+ He ha! a(ways been s'e#t$'a( of un$%ersa( suffra"e, an! $f the s$"ht of *$(($ons of &ren'h*en #utt$n" the$r !est$n$es $n the han!s of 7ou$s Na#o(eon !$s"uste! h$*, $t !$! not sur#r$se h$*+ He ha! not thou"ht &ran'e rea!y for re%o(ut$on $n 18A8) now $t was ob%$ous she was not) but ha%$n" ha! to .8u*# out of the f$rst-f(oor w$n!ow $nstea! of 'o*$n" !ownsta$rs one at a t$*e., Prou!hon was w$(($n" to *a/e the best of a ba! 8ob+ He saw '(ear(y the !$(e**a $n wh$'h the Pres$!ent foun! h$*se(f+ On the one han!, 7ou$s Na#o(eon ha! a##ea(e! to the 'onser%at$%e e(e*ents as the sa%$our of so'$ety) on the other, he ha! !$sso(%e! the asse*b(y wh$'h ha! ($*$te! the r$"ht to %ote, an! was su##ose! to be #re#ar$n" a *onar'h$st restorat$on+ 9(( "o%ern*ents were a($/e to Prou!hon, !an"erous $nst$tut$ons, but the new one nee! not be any worse than the (ast+ 7et 7ou$s Na#o(eon "$%e #roof that he was w$th the Re%o(ut$on an! h$s a*b$t$on, h$s bro/en oath, an! the b(oo! of De'e*ber wou(! be for"$%en h$*+ 6hat #roof abo%e a((, (ay $n h$s re($"$ous #o($'y+ Prou!hon was now a *ost !eter*$ne! ant$-'(er$'a(+ In 18AB he ha! re#($e! to the r$tua( 4uest$on as/e! of h$* when he was a!*$tte! as a &ree*ason+ .:hat !oes *an owe to 3o!5. by the start($n" answer .:ar.) but not unt$( the 'o*b$nat$on of the -hur'h w$th the 'onser%at$%es $n 18A8, !$! he reso(%e on war to the !eath a"a$nst the '(er$'a( #arty+ 6here were, $n the Pr$n'e-Pres$!ent.s '$r'(e, *en as r$"orous(y ant$-'(er$'a( as Prou!hon) notab(y Pr$n'e Na#o(eon+ 6hrou"h 'o**on fr$en!s, Prou!hon /e#t $n tou'h w$th the #r$n'e) he e%en %$s$te! h$* fro* t$*e to t$*e at the Pa(a$s Roya(, to the horror of the e1$(es $n 7on!on an! ,russe(s, to who* the 'r$*e of the cou( d3etat was $ne1#$ab(e+ Prou!hon refuse! to (ea%e &ran'e) he refuse!, for $nstan'e, to ta/e refu"e $n Sar!$n$a+ .:ho the !e%$(,. he as/e!, .e1#e'ts en($"hten*ent &ro* -a"($ar$5. He refuse! a *ore te*#t$n" offer, for 9(bert ,r$sbane, the #o#u(ar$ser of &our$er.s !o'tr$nes $n 9*er$'a, fr$en! of a(( new $!eas, an! father of 2r+ Hearst.s 'h$ef (ea!erwr$ter, wante! to br$n" Prou!hon to New Jor/+ He was free $n h$s !enun'$at$ons of the a(($es of De'e*ber D, the .sabre an! the ho(y-water s#r$n/(er.) but he be($e%e! he 'ou(! *a/e a bar"a$n w$th the new ru(ers of &ran'e+ He wou(! !e%ote h$*se(f e1'(us$%e(y to s'$en'e .w$th $ts axioms, $ts determinations, $ts method, $ts own 'erta$nty, a s'$en'e wh$'h $s ne$ther *athe*at$'s nor 8ur$s#ru!en'e, nor anyth$n" that $s 'a((e! s'$en'e at #resent ++++ 9fter e'ono*$' s'$en'e a %hiloso(h# of "istor#+++ an!, (ater, a General %hiloso(h# ++++ 9(( th$s 'an be !one $n &ran'e, $n s#$te of !es#ot$s*+. Prou!hon ho#e!, abo%e a((, to "et #er*$ss$on to start a 8ourna( $n wh$'h he 'ou(! assa$( the '(er$'a(s an! $n!u'e the new re"$*e to *o%e to the (eft, but he was too notor$ous an! not ta'tfu( enou"h to be worth 'on'$($at$n"+ H$s ho#es were !ashe! a"a$n an! a"a$n) he was to(! that the Jesu$ts were beh$n! the refusa( of #er*$ss$on) but he 'a*e to rea($se, s(ow(y, that h$s !ays as a 8ourna($st were o%er+ He ha! h$s ($%$n" to *a/e, an! he was fu(( of ($terary #ro8e'ts, a*on" the* be$n" a "istor# of Democrac#, wh$'h re*a$ne! a fra"*ent+ In the *eant$*e, he #ut to"ether a #otbo$(er 'a((e! The .anual of the Stoc2 Exchange S(eculator+ Prou!hon usua((y ha! the h$"hest o#$n$on of h$s boo/s wh$(e he was wr$t$n" the*, but "rew !$s$((us$one! after they were #ub($she!) but he re%erse! th$s h$story $n the 'ase of the .anual+ 2ost of $t was the wor/ of Du'hene, the for*er *ana"er of The %eo(le, but, as the boo/ so(! we((, Prou!hon #ut h$s own na*e on the t$t(e-#a"e of the th$r! e!$t$on+ The .anual $s 'h$ef(y !e%ote! to !es'r$b$n" %ar$ous 'o*#an$es then 4uote! on the Par$s ,ourse an! has a ($*$te! $nterest to-!ay, but Prou!hon was $n'a#ab(e of wr$t$n", or e%en of re%$s$n" anyth$n" an! not *ar/$n" $t w$th h$s #ersona($ty+ 6he 2anua( $s a %ery 'hara'ter$st$' wor/+ Prou!hoh !$s#(ays h$s s'e#t$'$s* about ra$(ways) h$s !$s($/e of Sa$nt-S$*on$sto who are both 'a#$ta($sts an! Jews) h$s be($ef $n the $**ense #oss$b$($t$es of *utua($ty an! of the refor* of 're!$t) h$s host$($ty to the #oss$b$($t$es of *ono#o(y wor/$n" throu"h ra$(way rebates, an! a rather #athet$'a((y o#t$*$st$' be($ef $n the future of 'o-o#erat$%e so'$et$es of #ro!u't$on as a ste# towar!s a refor*e! so'$ety+ H$s $ailwa# $eform was a %$"orous assau(t on the $*#er$a( #o($'y of 'reat$n" %este! $nterests $n the ra$(ways by "$%$n" 'on'ess$ons+ ,y (ea%$n" the ra$(ways too *u'h free!o* $n f$1$n" the$r 'har"es, they are #er*$tte! to ru$n water trans#ort an! then to #(un!er the !efense(ess #ub($'+ He be($e%e!, howe%er, that the "rowth of ra$(ways wou(! (ea! to a !e'entra($sat$on of $n!ustry an! the !e'ay of the "reat towns - a #re!$'t$on $n the s#$r$t of h$s *ost !$st$n"u$she! !$s'$#(e, Hro#ot/$n+ In any 'ase when the ra$(ways ha! 'o*#(ete! the$r

!estu't$%e wor/, the o(! *etho!s of trans#ort wou(! 'o*e $nto the$r own> Prou!hon.s ho#es of foun!$n" a re%$ew were now %an$sh$n" an! he ha! #ub($' an! #r$%ate *ot$%es to resent h$s enfor'e! s$(en'e, for he ha! no re"u(ar $n'o*e an! he thou"ht h$s *ar/et-%a(ue as a 8ourna($st was h$"h+ In any 'ase, the E*#eror was "o$n" o%er to the 'ounter-re%o(ut$on e*bo!$e! $n the -hur'h+ Prou!hon a(*ost !es#a$re! of the &ren'h, !ur$n" the -r$*ean :ar he was rea!y to be($e%e any ba! news an! s'e#t$'a( about "oo! news+ 6he ra#$! #ro"ress of the $n!ustr$a( syste* $n &ran'e un!er the Se'on! E*#$re an! the "rowth of s#e'u(at$on !e'e$%e! th$s fr$%o(ous #eo#(e $nto th$n/$n" $t was we(( off+ 6he nat$ona( !ebt /e#t r$s$n" an! the *ora( tone of the nat$on /e#t fa(($n"+ ,a! te*#er an! "enu$ne $n!$"nat$on foun! a %ent $n the #ub($'at$on of Prou!hon.s "reatest an! *ost 'hara'ter$st$' boo/+ !f Justice in the $evolution and the hurch was ostens$b(y #ro%o/e! by a '(er$'a( 8ourna($st, Eu"Ine !e 2$re'ourt, who ha! #ub($sh a br$ef s/et'h of Prou!hon+ Prou!hon ha! a horror of any $ntrus$on $nto h$s #r$%ate ($fe, an! he f(attere! h$*se(f that he ne%er $ntro!u'e! any #ersona( an$*us or s'an!a( $nto h$s own wr$t$n"+ 2$re'ourt, $n!ee!, 'ou(! not f$n! any ser$ous f(aws $n Prou!hon.s *ora(s, but, $n any 'ase, $t was nobo!y.s bus$ness $f the re%o(ut$onary was a *o!e( husban! an! father+ :hen Prou!hon (earne! that $t was to -ar!$na( 2ath$eu, the 9r'hb$sho# of ,esanMon, that 2$re'ourt owe! so*e of h$s $nfor*at$on an! that the -ar!$na( ha! attr$bute! Prou!hon.s o#$n$ons to #o%erty an! #r$!e, h$s ra"e bo$(e! o%er+ 9 fe((ow-'$t$0en of &ran'he--o*tI ha! so far for"otten the ob($"at$ons of that bon! as to *a/e Prou!hon the %$'t$* of a Par$s$an s'r$bb(er> 9 re#(y to the -ar!$na( was be"un, a re#(y wh$'h "rew fro* a #a*#h(et $nto a boo/ of o%er two thousan! #a"es $n wh$'h Prou!hon re#eate! a(*ost a(( he ha! sa$!, but w$th a fer%our an! an e(o4uen'e that he ha! ne%er e4ua((e! before+ 6he *a$n the*e of the boo/ $s !e'(are! $n the t$t(e, !f Justice in the $evolution and the hurch+ It $s not *ere(y a re#(y to 2$re'ourt or to the -ar!$na() $t $s a !e'(arat$on of war a"a$nst the -hur'h, a !e*onstrat$on of the fun!a*enta( $n'o*#at$b$($ty of the tea'h$n" of the -hur'h an! the tea'h$n" of the Re%o(ut$on+ :hat $s the nature of th$s $n'o*#at$b$($ty5 It ($es $n the #(a'e "$%en to 3o! $n -atho($' theo(o"y+ Prou!hon !oes not !eny the e1$sten'e of 3o!) but he $s host$(e to any $!ea of 3o! wh$'h *a/es hu*an a't$on !e#en! on H$s a't$on or wh$'h #uts off to the ne1t wor(! the re*e!y for the $n8ust$'es of th$s+ 6he 'entra( a'h$e%e*ent of the Re%o(ut$on was that $t brou"ht !own Just$'e fro* the s/y to the earth+ :here -hr$st$an tea'h$n" ha! stresse! 'har$ty, an $!ea $n%o(%$n" *ore or (ess than Just$'e, the Re%o(ut$on asserts that Just$'e $s the "reatest nee! of *an -an! that $t $s atta$nab(e+ 6o (oo/ to 3o! for a$! $n $ts a'h$e%e*ent $s to 'orru#t the essent$a( truth that a(( *en hun"er after Just$'e before a(( other earth(y "oo!s) that Just$'e $s $**anent, not trans'en!enta(+ -hr$st$an$ty obs'ures th$s truth+ It has *any *er$ts) $t $s the on(y #oss$b(e a(ternat$%e to the ru(e of Just$'e) but whate%er $ts ser%$'es $n the #ast, s$n'e the Re%o(ut$on abo($she! "o%ern*ent by !$%$ne r$"ht, all author$t$es !e#en!$n" on !$%$ne r$"ht, the -hur'h, an! e%en the state, subst$tut$n" the !$%$ne r$"ht of the #eo#(e for the !$%$ne r$"ht of the /$n", are 'on!e*ne!+ 6hey are a barr$er $n the way of #ro"ress, the rea($sat$on of Just$'e on earth, Just$'e re%ea(e! $n *utua( res#e't, $n e'ono*$' e4ua($ty, an! $n the #o($t$'a( e4ua($ty that w$(( fo((ow fro* $t+ 2ost wr$ters wou(! not ta/e two thousan! #a"es to assert these !o"*as, an! to $((ustrate the*, but $n the 'ourse of h$s ar"u*ent, Prou!hon $s not ha*#ere! by re(e%an'e+ He $s ab(e to atta'/ 'o**un$s*, both $n the for* of ear(y -hr$st$an 'o**un$t$es an! $n that of the &our$er$st #ha(anstery+ 6he '(osest reason$n" of ,entha* *ay *a/e h$* a "reat e'ono*$st, but what a%a$(s that $f he 'onte*n Just$'e5 ,ut he $s not 'ontent w$th atta'/$n" o#$n$ons) he for"ets h$s own soun! #r$n'$#(es an! assa$(s #ersons+ H$s outra"eous assau(t on the *e*ory of He$ne shows h$* at h$s worst) an! h$s ostentat$ous refusa( to $n!u("e $n *ere ant$-'(er$'a( s'an!a( *on"er$n" !$! not (ast (on"+ 6he w$'/e!ness of b$sho#s who ($sten too rea!$(y to 'har"es *a!e a"a$nst the *ora(s of the$r '(er"y $s stresse! $n one #(a'e- an! the truth of those 'har"es asserte! $n another+ 6he -ar!$na( $s as/e! to be "ratefu( that Prou!hon !oes not !we(( on .that b$sho# re'ent(y !ea! who be'a*e father to a who(e 'o*#any of nat$ona( "uar!s) nor on that #ar$sh #r$est who, to the s$"ht an! /now(e!"e of h$s #ar$sh$oners, ha! ten 'h$(!ren by three wo*en.+ 6h$s *o!erat$on was not as we(( re'e$%e! as Prou!hon #rofesse! to e1#e't an!, when he was as/e! for h$s author$ty, he ha! to wr$te fur$ous(y to

a fr$en! that .the two 'ases were to(! *e by a na%a( off$'er, or a!*$ra(, who was a w$tness of the* $n S#an$sh 9*er$'a or $n ,ra0$(, I !on.t /now wh$'h ++++ 6h$s $s 'a((e! calumn#+. 9s Prou!hon ha! ta/en "reat #a$ns to #ut h$s s'an!a(s on .th$s s$!e of the 9t(ant$'., the 'har"e of 'a(u*ny was not $((foun!e!) an! $t $s easy to $*a"$ne the fury w$th wh$'h any s$*$(ar tr$'/, #(aye! by 2$re'ourt, wou(! ha%e been re'e$%e!> In a!!$t$on to #h$(oso#hy, e'ono*$'s, *ora(s an! s'an!a(s, Prou!hon !e*onstrates h$s ($terary #r$n'$#(es $n Justice+ 6hey are not a(ways 'ons$stent+ ,Iran"er $s ran/e! abo%e P$n!ar, Da%$!, Hora'e+ 9t another t$*e he $s *ere(y one of the "reatest #oets of the n$neteenth 'entury) at another he $s %ery *e!$o're+ 2ost of the (ea!$n" 'onte*#orary &ren'h wr$ters are re(e"ate! to $nfer$or #(a'es be'ause of the$r #reo''u#at$on w$th art, $nstea! of w$th tea'h$n"+ D$!a't$' #oetry $s the on(y #oetry worth wr$t$n" or rea!$n", so the future of E$'tor Hu"o !e#en!s on h$s aban!on$n" La L5gende des Si6cles for *ore #a*#h(ets+ 6he erot$' no%e(s of 3eor"e San! natura((y 'o*e off ba!(y) En"($sh ($terature has (on" been !ea!) &ren'h $s now !ea!) but, not on(y $n #rose but $n #oetry, &ren'h $s the best of (an"ua"es an! ($teratures+ 6hat he ha! no 4ua($f$'at$ons for #ass$n" on the *er$ts of 3er*an or En"($sh ($terature !$! not *o!$fy Prou!hon.s 'onf$!en'e+ Not on(y !oes Prou!hon wan!er) so*e of h$s o(! fau(ts of #o$nt(ess (o"$'a( 8ar"on re'ur@ .x be$n" the a%era"e %a(ue of "en$us $n the hu*an be$n", #oss$b(y there w$(( be foun! e1'e#t$ona( $n!$%$!ua(s whose "en$us e4ua(s x 1 D) there are no "en$uses e4ua(($n" x 1 ?+. .If, $n stren"th, *an $s to wo*an as ? to D) wo*an, $n beauty, $s $n turn to *an as ? to D+ Ne$ther the ar"u*ent for natura( e4ua($ty, the sus#$'$ons of any s#e'$a( '(a$* for ta(ent nor the f$r*(y roote! be($ef that e4ua($ty between *en !oes not $n%o(%e e4ua($ty between the se1es, are rea((y he(#e! by the $ntrus$on of 'ru!e *athe*at$'a( #ro#ort$ons $n f$e(!s of 8u!"rnent unf$tte! for the*+ 2ore *athe*at$'s $n h$s e'ono*$'s an! (ess $n h$s aesthet$'s an! *ora(s wou(! ha%e $*#ro%e! Prou!hon.s boo/s> If Prou!hon.s r$%a(s re#roa'he! h$* w$th terr$fy$n" the *$!!(e '(asses by h$s asso'$at$on w$th the abo($t$on of #ro#erty, Prou!hon was e4ua((y an"ry w$th those who "a%e "roun! for the be($ef that so'$a($s* an! free (o%e went to"ether+ &or one th$n", he ha! a (ow est$*ate of the $*#ortan'e of se1ua( (o%e+ It was one of the !etestab(e fru$ts of the .ro*ant$' s'rofu(a. that (o%e was *a!e essent$a( to *arr$a"e+ 2arr$a"e ha! h$"her a$*s than the "rat$f$'at$on of (o%e or (ust+ Prou!hon was %ery #rou! of h$s own 'hast$ty, a for* of #r$!e s$n"u(ar enou"h $n the ($terary an! refor*$n" '$r'(es of that !ay+ H$s own se1ua( #ass$ons !o not see* to ha%e been stron", an! he ha! no sy*#athy w$th those whose #ass$ons were stron"er+ He 'ou(! !o w$thout (o%e as he 'ou(! !o w$thout toba''o, an! the s(a%es of e$ther of these ba! hab$ts ha! on(y to $*$tate h$* to the$r #rof$t+ On th$s sub8e't he was ne%er t$re! of #rea'h$n", #rea'h$n" at $ts best worthy of 2ass$((on, at $ts not $nfre4uent worst, rather re'a(($n" the #owerfu( art$'(es of 2r+ Ja*es Dou"(as+ 6h$s enthus$as* for *ora($ty *a!e Prou!hon the %$'t$* of a 'e(ebrate! hoa1, for he was (e! to sen! a (etter of a!%$'e to a fe*a(e '$r'us r$!er who was re#ent$n" an $((-s#ent ($fe+ 6he a!%$'e, $f r$"orous, was "oo!, but $n the Par$s of that t$*e the 8o/e was thou"ht e%en better-e1'e#t by Prou!hon, who was fur$ous at the tr$'/ #(aye! on h$*+ In noth$n" was Prou!hon.s #os$t$on *ore !eter*$ne!(y *a$nta$ne! than $n h$s atta'/s on fe*$n$s*+ H$s #ass$on for e4ua($ty was ($*$te!+ If there were ra'es wh$'h 'ou(! not be ra$se! to the (e%e( of &ren'h*en - (et the* !$sa##ear, but he !$! not want wo*an to !$sa##ear or to '(a$* #o($t$'a( or so'$a( e4ua($ty w$th *an+ 6he outs$!e wor(! on(y rea'he! a wo*an, $n a #ro#er(y 'onst$tute! so'$ety, throu"h her husban! or father+ She was a(ways $n tute(a"e, for she was $n bo!y an! *$n! $nfer$or to *an+ No !oubt she ha! h$"h 4ua($t$es of her own wh$'h *an 'ou(! not $*$tate, but she rea'he! the* throu"h *an+ In Par$s 'orru#t throu"h an! throu"h, where wo*an no%e($sts were a((owe! to sa# the foun!at$ons of *ora($ty an! #rost$tutes f(aunte! the s#o$( that the$r /ee#ers ha! sto(en on the Sto'/ E1'han"e, these hea(thy truths were ne"(e'te!, but the tra!$t$ona( #easant %$ew of wo*an.s #(a'e was unf($n'h$n"(y asserte! by Prou!hon an! #ra't$se! by h$* at ho*e+ He !$! not want of h$s w$fe, or !au"hters, $nte((e'tua( e4ua($ty) he e%en thou"ht re($"$on a "oo! th$n" $n $ts #(a'e for a se1 $n'a#ab(e of r$s$n" to the h$"h 'on'e#t$on af $**anent Just$'e an! of ta/$n" a #(a'e $n the ($fe of so'$ety $n the$r own r$"ht+

6h$s se1ua( 'onser%at$s* !$! not sa%e Prou!hon fro* #rose'ut$on, for the !r$ft of $*#er$a( #o($'y fro* r$"ht to (eft ha! been $nterru#te! by the atte*#t to *ur!er the e*#eror *a!e by Ors$n$+ In the rea't$on that fo((owe!, Prou!hon was a %$'t$*+ Justice ha! ha! a "reat su''ess) $t was se$0e! an! $ts author #rose'ute! for .atta'/s on #ub($' an! re($"$ous *ora(s+++ !efen'e of 'r$*es+++ atta'/s a"a$nst the res#e't !ue to (aw+++ $n'$te*ent of '$t$0ens to *utua( hate an! s'orn + + + #ub($'at$on of fa(se news+. He fou"ht ba'/ by $n"en$ous #et$t$ons to the Senate, but was 'on!e*ne! to three years $*#r$son*ent an! A,ooo fran's f$ne+ H$s #ub($sher "ot one *onth - an! $t #ro%e! a (esson to him+ 9##ea(s were use(ess, an! Prou!hon ha! to f(ee to ,e("$u*, where he (earne! the har! (essons of ($fe as an e1$(e+ He sett(e! !own $n ,russe(s $n 1858, fu(( of ra"e at h$s #($"ht, a(thou"h 'an!$! fr$en!s #o$nte! out that he ha! h$s own %$o(en'e of (an"ua"e to than/ for $t) $t was fo((y to $*a"$ne that the $*#er$a( "o%ern*ent wou(! (et #ass so "oo! a 'han'e of 'on'$($at$n" the -hur'h by sa'r$f$'$n" a #a*#h(eteer who was as troub(eso*e a fr$en! as an ene*y+ 6he f$rst troub(es of the e1$(e were f$nan'$a(+ 3arn$er ha! (earne! h$s (esson+ He wou(! #ub($sh no *ore #o(e*$'a( wor/s for Prou!hon) ($terature, yes, but #o($t$'s an! e'ono*$'s, no> Prou!hon ha! 'a('u(ate! on the #rof$ts of h$s boo/s to free h$* fro* the 'onstant *oney worr$es that he ha! en!ure! s$n'e he ha! (eft 7yons+ Now he was 'ut off fro* h$s *ar/et+ He 'ou(! wr$te *ore free(y $n ,e("$u* than $n &ran'e, but he 'ou(! not rea'h the &ren'h #ub($', or turn h$s wr$t$n"s $nto a *eans of ($%e($hoo!+ He suffere! fro* 'onstant 'atarrh, wh$'h he b(a*e! on the ,e("$an '($*ate) he ob8e'te! to the h$"h #r$'e of w$ne an! to h$s for'e! a!!$'t$on to beer+ 2oreo%er, he *a!e ene*$es $n ,e("$u*+ He #rea'he! a"a$nst 'entra($sat$on, thus annoy$n" the #o($t$'$ans of ,russe(s) he, the "reat ant$-'(er$'a(, #oure! s'orn on the ,e("$an ($bera(s, say$n" he #referre! the -atho($' #arty) an!, $f $n &ran'e he was a(ways atta'/$n" the na$%e #r$!e of h$s 'ountry*en, he *a!e $t '(ear to h$s ,e("$an hosts that &ran'e was st$(( at the hea! of '$%$($0at$on+ E%ents were *o%$n" fast $n &ran'e - an! $n the !$re't$on that Prou!hon ha! a!%o'ate!+ 6he E*#eror !e'$!e!, $n 185 , to *a/e war on 9ustr$a to free Ita(y+ It was a swer%e to the (eft, to the #arty of the Re%o(ut$on an! $t was so re"ar!e! by obser%ers on both s$!es+ 6he (eft re8o$'e!) the r$"ht "rew *ore an! *ore sus#$'$ous, for any u#set of the status 0uo $n Ita(y 'ou(! on(y har* the Po#e+ Prou!hon refuse! to be($e%e $n the war) he refuse! to be($e%e $n &ren'h %$'tor$es) he refuse! to re8o$'e $n the*) an! the wor(! was soon treate! to the s#e'ta'(e of the "reat re%o(ut$onary #ra$s$n" the wor/ of the -on"ress of E$enna) 'ast$n" 'o(! water on the $!ea of Ita($an nat$ona($ty) re"rett$n" the tr$u*#hs of 3ar$ba(!$) abus$n" 2a00$n$) burn$n" a(( the $!o(s of the !e*o'rat$' #arty $n Euro#e+ He as/e!, $n the s#$r$t of a *o!ern &ren'h roya($st, what was the "a$n for &ran'e $n 'reat$n" another "reat #ower on her southern front$er an! aban!on$n" the "reat #o($t$'a( asset of be$n" the here!$tary #rote'tor of the Po#e5 He a!!e! to h$s 'r$*es by assert$n" that 9ustr$a an! Russ$a were tru(y #ro"ress$%e 'ountr$es an! by atta'/$n" Po(an!+ 9t that t$*e, an $(($nfor*e! an! sent$*enta( sy*#athy for Po(an! was as *u'h the *ar/ of a "oo! ra!$'a( as $(($nfor*e! an! sent$*enta( host$($ty to Po(an! was the *ar/ of a "oo! *o!ern ra!$'a( - unt$( 1 ??+ Po(an!, sa$! Prou!hon, was an ar$sto'rat$' re#ub($', wh$'h !$e! of her own %$'es) $t shou(! not be re%$%e! at the e1#ense of the future free!o* of Russ$a+ Russ$a, un!er an en($"htene! 6sar, $s 'a#ab(e of #ro"ress) -atho($' Po(an! $s not+ 6he s'an!a( 'ause! was $**ense) here was a (ost (ea!er $n!ee!, but worse was to 'o*e when the a#ost(e of Just$'e #rea'he! the r$"ht of for'e $n the (ast of h$s "reat treat$ses, War and %eace+ 6he ar"u*ent of th$s (en"thy essay on $nternat$ona( (aw $s s$*#(e enou"h+ 6he "reat "oo! of hu*an so'$ety $s e4u$($br$u* as a 'onse4uen'e of the ru(e of 8ust$'e, but for'e has $ts r$"hts, wh$'h ha%e to be a((owe! for before a 8ust e4u$($br$u* 'an be rea'he!+ 2oreo%er, $n war *an !e%e(o#s h$s #ersona($ty an! (earns $n!$s#ensab(e (essons of so'$a( or"an$sat$on@ there are #assa"es to the "(ory of war wh$'h wou(! be $n #(a'e $n a s#ee'h by Herr yon Pa#en, an! Prou!hon, who ha! atta'/e! h$s fe((ow-ra!$'a(s for the$r 8$n"o$s*, a##eare! as a !efen!er of war when, at (on" (ast, the &ren'h (eft #art$es were turn$n" #a'$f$st> It $s true that the a"e of war $s asserte! to be o%er, that .war, for e%ery attent$%e *$n!, has he(! $ts (ast ass$0e fro* . D to 1815 + 6he 'onst$tut$ona( syste*, e1#ress$on of the #o($t$'s of $nterest, 'oro((ary of the fa*ous treat$es of 1815, ha%e "$%en $t not$'e to 4u$t+++ -urse!

then be the nat$on wh$'h, for"ett$n" herse(f, sha(( as/ fro* war what on(y s'$en'e, wor/ an! ($berty 'an "$%e+. ,ut the 'on'(us$ons of the boo/ are not a(to"ether $n a''or!an'e w$th $ts s#$r$t+ In h$s enthus$as* for the or!ea( by batt(e, Prou!hon be'o*es a %$'t$* of what 2r+ J+ ,+ S+ Ha(!ane has 'a((e! .,ayar!$s*.+ He ob8e'ts to strate"y an! !e'e$t $n war+ 6he ob8e't of batt(e $s to !$s'o%er wh$'h of the two #art$es to a !$s#ute $s the stron"er+ If, by a strata"e* or tr$'/ the (ess stron" s$!e w$ns, the who(e ob8e't of war $s nu(($f$e!, s$n'e what *atters $s the re(at$%e stren"th an! a %$'tory of the wea/er s$!e o%er the stron"er $s a !e#(orab(e fa(s$f$'at$on of 8u!"*ent+ War and %eace $s a natura( #en!ant of Justice) $t $s an atte*#t to !$s'o%er how, $n fa't, r$"hts ha%e been 'reate! $n the #ast+ 6hat *u'h of what we ta/e to to be our nat$ona( r$"hts has been 'reate! by war) that for'e has f$"hts as we(( as #ossess$on) are truths that sent$*enta( !e*o'rats so*et$*es ne"(e't, but, as usua(, Prou!hon was better $n 'r$t$'$s* than $n 'onstru't$on, an! h$s #$'ture of honourab(e war "$%$n" #(a'e $n the new so'$ety to e4ua((y honourab(e for*s of #ea'efu( 'o*#et$t$on, $s !e'$!e!(y Uto#$an+ H$s e1$(e 'a*e to an en! $n a *ost 'hara'ter$st$' way+ Ha%$n" refuse! to ta/e a!%anta"e of an $*#er$a( a*nesty, Prou!hon was ($%$n" $n ,russe(s $n a !$"n$f$e! e1$(e, when an art$'(e wh$'h he ha! wr$tten see*e! to a!%o'ate the anne1at$on of ,e("$u* to &ran'e+ 6he &ree*asons, a''or!$n" to Prou!hon, were at the botto* of the a"$tat$on wh$'h *a!e ,e("$u* too hot to ho(! h$*, for he o##ose! the e%a'uat$on of Ro*e by the &ren'h "arr$son+ :hate%er the 'ause, he hurr$e!(y too/ refu"e $n &ran'e on De'e*ber 1B, 18FD) h$s wan!er$n"s were o%er an! h$s !o'tr$ne, $n the *a$n, 'o*#(ete+ He ha! been an $n!efat$"ab(e wr$ter !ur$n" h$s e1$(e an! ha! ha! the tr$u*#h of w$nn$n" a #r$0e offere! by the Sw$ss -anton of Eau! for the best essay on ta1at$on+ 6hat the free Sw$ss, that a state shou(! thus honour the e1$(e, !e($"hte! h$*, an! $((ustrate! a"a$n the fo((y of the &ren'h+ 9''or!$n" to Prou!hon ta1at$on $s s$*#(y the share ea'h '$t$0eny has to #ay of the 'ost of #ro%$!$n" state ser%$'es+ 6he state, ($/e any $n!$%$!ua( or 'or#orat$on, ou"ht to se(( $ts ser%$'es at 'ost #r$'e+ Of these ser%$'es so*e '$t$0ens w$(( use a b$""er share than others, the r$'h w$(( "et *ore than the #oor, so ou"ht to #ay *ore+ ,ut, a(thou"h an $n'o*e ta1 see*s 8ust at f$rst s$"ht, $t $s a!!e! to the 'ost of "oo!s, an! so $s s#rea! o%er the 'o**un$ty, ($/e an or!$nary ta1 on 'onsu*#t$on+ He atta'/s a #ro"ress$%e $n'o*e ta1 as tyrann$'a( an! fut$(e, for a(( ta1es be'o*e $n!$re't ta1es on 'onsu*#t$on, the .resu(t $s 0ero.+ 9 ta1 on (an! %a(ues, e%en $f the state too/ on(y a th$r! of the re%enue fro* th$s sour'e, wou(! #ay a(( (e"$t$*ate e1#enses of "o%ern*ent+ In a we((-or"an$se! state, "o%ern*ent ser%$'es shou(! not be *ore than a tenth of the "ross re%enue of the 'o**un$ty, but unt$( that ha##y !ef(at$on of the state $s a'h$e%e!, *ost ta1es shou(! be (eft a(one for *ost refor*s are f$'t$t$ous> 6here 'an be no rea( 8ust$'e $n ta1at$on $n a so'$ety wh$'h #er*$ts e'ono*$' $ne4ua($ty, there $s the root of the *atter+ 6here are, of 'ourse, ob%$ous $*#ro%e*ents to be *a!e $n !eta$() the !ut$es on w$nes shou(! be re!u'e!, but those on toba''o /e#t, ;Prou!hon was fon! of w$ne an! a nons*o/er<) houses shou(! be ta1e!, so as to brea/ u# the "reat towns+ It was, $n!ee!, an e*$nent(y 'onser%at$%e essay) a#art fro* $ts host$($ty to state a't$on an! $ts h$nts of e4ua($ty as a re*e!y, there $s noth$n" $n $t to a(ar* the *ost t$*$!+ One other wor/ of th$s (ast #er$o! showe! Prou!hon.s reso(ute $n!e#en!en'e, for ($%$n" by h$s #en, he atta'/e! the '(a$*s for #er#etua( or (en"thy 'o#yr$"ht *a!e by h$s fe((ow-authors, w$th a 0ea( *ore natura(, as N*$(e &a"uet says, $n a #ub($sher than $n an author+ Literar# Entails $s, $f not of f$rst-'(ass $*#ortan'e as a 'ontr$but$on to the theory of #ro#erty $n $!eas, at (east worthy of Prou!hon.s s#$r$t+ In!ee!, he re#eate!(y "a%e #roofs of !$s$ntereste!ness of a *ore $**e!$ate(y #ra't$'a( ty#e than h$s assau(t on 'o#yr$"ht+ :$th the en!$n" of h$s 8ourna($st$' 'areer, h$s *eans of ($%e($hoo! be'a*e %ery ($*$te!+ He thou"ht of "o$n" ba'/ to bus$ness, but that #ro8e't 'a*e to noth$n"+ He wor/e! for a #ro8e'te! ra$(roa!, but the 'on'ess$on went by fa%our, an! Prou!hon refuse! 'o*#ensat$on for h$s (ost t$*e+ H$s own hea(th an! that of h$s w$fe an! 'h$(!ren was not "oo!, an! ser$ous #r$%at$on, $f not a'tua( star%at$on, 'a*e %ery '(ose+ He ho#e! to be ab(e to "$%e h$s two sur%$%$n" !au"hters dots, but, shou(! they ha%e to fen! for the*se(%es, they wou(! ha%e the benef$t of a se%ere tra$n$n") they were to e1#e't e%eryth$n" fro* wor/, noth$n" fro* fa%our+ :hen

they were st$(( 'h$(!ren of about ten, he saw s$"ns $n the* of .!$ss$#at$on, %an$ty an! $*#ert$nen'e.-%$'es to be sta*#e! out an! when we((-*ean$n" fr$en!s sent the* too han!so*e -hr$st*as #resents they were rebu/e! for s#o$($n" the*> ,ut Prou!hon was e4ua((y se%ere on h$*se(f, an! was hurt by "$fts of w$ne fro* a!*$rers, "$fts he $ns$ste! on #ay$n" for an!, $f he un!erest$*ate! the r$s/s run by (en!ers, he *ay ha%e for"otten that not a(( *en ha! h$s horror of !ebt or h$s 0ea( $n re#ay$n" *oney on(y borrowe! un!er the #ressure of !$re ne'ess$ty> In h$s f$na( years, Prou!hon a"a$n atte*#te! to (ea! the wor/ers of Par$s $nto the true re%o(ut$onary #ath+ Ha%$n" *a!e e*b$ttere! ene*$es $n the #ast by h$s w$(($n"ness to 'o-o#erate w$th the e*#$re, he now (e! the *o%e*ent for r$"$! abstent$on fro* #o($t$'a( ($fe as (on" as the $*#er$a( a!*$n$strat$on fa(s$f$e! the wor/$n" of un$%ersa( suffra"e+ He w$she! the #arty of the Re%o(ut$on to #rotest a"a$nst the syste* by absta$n$n" fro* %ot$n" or by 'ast$n" b(an/ ba((ot #a#ers+ 6he e(e't$on of !e#ut$es was a ta'$t a##ro%a( of the $*#er$a( rI"$*e an!, as 'an!$!ates ha! to ta/e an oath to the E*#eror, the 'r$*e e$ther of #er8ury or of treason to the re%o(ut$onary 'ause, was *a!e $ne%$tab(e+ 6o a't$%e #o($t$!ans, an1$ous to *a$nta$n a un$te! front a"a$nst the "o%ern*ent #arty, Prou!hon was as b$" a nu$san'e as he ha! been $n 18A8 for he ne%er wrote better than he !$! $n h$s #rotest of the Non+&uring Democrats, an! $n h$s a!%o'a'y of a !e'(arat$on of #o($t$'a( $n!e#en!en'e by the wor/$n"-'(asses, the .anifesto of the Sixt#, a '(a$* for wor/$n"-'(ass re#resentat$on, a !en$a( of the re#resentat$%e 'hara'ter of the bour"eo$s ra!$'a(s+ He (eft, $n h$s (ast 'o*#(ete! wor/, The %olitical a(acit# of the Wor2ing+ lasses, an e1#os$t$on of the sa*e the*e+ 6he Re%o(ut$on ha! torn the wor/er out of a strat$f$e! so'$ety) $t ha! #(a'e! h$* o##os$te the bour"eo$s$e+ :hat !oes th$s '(ass of wa"e earners br$n" to the #rob(e*s of state5 It br$n"s a so(ut$on of the #rob(e* of 8ust$'e an! e4ua($ty) the *a"$' for*u(a of *utua($ty w$(( so(%e the e'ono*$' #rob(e*, not 'o**un$s*@ fe!era($s* w$(( so(%e the #o($t$'a( #rob(e*, not the fantas$es of the #rofess$ona( !e*o'rats w$th the$r #ar($a*ents an! ar*$es of %oters+ ,ut $f the wor/$n"-'(ass $s 'a((e! to a 'ons'$ousness of $ts *$ss$on, $t $s #rea'he! at as we(( as #ra$se!+ Its fon!ness for str$/es $s %$"orous(y atta'/e!, an! so are the outra"eous '(a$*s of the tra!e un$ons to $nterfere w$th wor/sho# *ana"e*ent> 9n a(($an'e w$th the bour"eo$s$e $s a!%o'ate!) an! the wor/ers are re*$n!e! that they ha%e been too busy w$th the$r own wron"s to un!erstan! the sorrows of the *$!!(e '(asses+ On(y a wor/$n"-'(ass whose *ora( 'hara'ter frees the* fro* *ere #ass$on 'an ($%e u# to $ts *$ss$on+ 6he (ast for*a( *essa"e of the "reat 'ontra!$'tor was thus har*ony, but Prou!hon !$! not ($%e to see the boo/ throu"h the #ress+ He !$e! on January 1 , 18F5+ 6he $*#er$a( "o%ern*ent, an1$ous to fr$"hten the -hur'h, #er*$tte! Prou!hon.s funera( to be *a!e a "reat ant$-'(er$'a( !e*onstrat$on, but sent the #ub($sher an! #r$nter of h$s #osthu*ous 'nnotated Gos(els to #r$son, a 'ontra!$'t$on worthy of Prou!hon h$*se(f+

&H' T(! . TH( )$*L#($&( "* !"#DH"$

If there are rea( $n'ons$sten'$es $n Prou!hon.s wor/- an! there are not a few- there are *ore a##arent ones+ H$s te*#er was too hot) he wrote too *u'h un!er the $nf(uen'e of $**e!$ate e%ents) an! these e%ents "a%e h$s #ro#het$' #owers the ($e too often) for h$* to es'a#e ha%$n" to 'urse what

he ha! b(esse! an! to b(ess what he ha! 'urse!+ He 8u!"e! e%ents, an! *en, by the$r f$tness to a$! $n the wor/ of the Re%o(ut$on an! h$s 8u!"*ent of what would a$! the Re%o(ut$on was too eas$(y affe'te! by $rre(e%ant '$r'u*stan'es of #ersona( $*#ortan'e+ He was, $n short, a *an, not a th$n/$n" *a'h$ne+ ,ut he was fun!a*enta((y %ery 'ons$stent, a(thou"h he 'on'ea(e! h$s 'ons$sten'y un!er %erba( e1tra%a"an'es+ He "rew, $t $s true, *ore 'onser%at$%e as he "rew o(!er, (ess s'ornfu( of bour"eo$s %$rtues on'e he ha! be'o*e a bour"eo$s h$*se(f, an! *ore $n'($ne! to s'e#t$'$s* of the %$rtues of a #o#u(a'e wh$'h #a$! so ($tt(e attent$on to the a!%$'e he "a%e $t+ 6hen h$s refusa( to un!erstan! what h$s o##onents *eant so*et$*es ha! sur#r$s$n" resu(ts+ 6o rea! $n War and %eace that e%en .$f #ro!u't$on $s !oub(e!, #o#u(at$on w$(( not be (on" $n be$n" !oub(e! $n $ts turn, wh$'h *eans there $s no 'han"e. -an! to ref(e't that th$s #ess$*$s* 'o*es fro* a wr$ter who use! the na*e of 2a(thus as a ter* of abuse, $s to sus#e't $n'ons$sten'$es+ ,ut Prou!hon ha! ne%er been rea((y %ery far away fro* 2a(thus) $t was the $ne4ua($ty of wor/$n" the (aw of #o#u(at$on $n the #resent so'$ety, not $ts truth, that he ha! atta'/e!+ 6he *ost 'o**on 'ause of h$s a##arent %ar$at$ons was h$s s#$r$t of 'ontra!$'t$on+ He *ay not ha%e been the 2e#h$sto#he(es wh$'h 2a00$n$ 'a((e! h$*, but he was 'erta$n(y a !en$er+ :hat was usua((y a te*#era*enta( re(u'tan'e to a"ree w$th the truths or fa(sehoo!s $n 'o**on '$r'u(at$on, was ere'te! by Prou!hon $nto a syste* of !$a(e't$') he #ushe!, he asserte!, a thes$s to $ts u(t$*ate 'on'(us$on, then rebu$(t on a soun! foun!at$on what he ha! !estroye!+ 6hus he ann$h$(ate! #ro#erty an! then "a%e $t a rea( ($fe $n the for* of *utua($ty+ So*et$*es th$s e1#(anat$on 'o%ers the fa'ts, so*et$*es $t !oes not+ 9ny assert$on was ($/e(y to #ro%o/e Prou!hon to 'ontra!$'t$on an! to %$o(ent 'ontra!$'t$on at that, but, at heart, he was *o!erate, 'onser%at$%e $n a(*ost a(( *atters, s'e#t$'a( of fun!a*enta( $*#ro%*ents $n hu*an ($fe an! w$(($n" to ta/e ha(f a (oaf, or e%en (ess, as an $nsta(*ent of 8ust$'e+ Out of h$s (ros an! cons $t $s #oss$b(e to 'onstru't any nu*ber of syste*s an! $*#oss$b(e to e1#(a$n the who(e of hu*an $nst$tut$ons an! so'$a( h$story+ Prou!hon $s a 4uarry, not one of the r$%a( sy**etr$'a( bu$(!$n"s for the future res$!en'e of *an/$n! that are !e'(are! to ha%e been bu$(t by 2ar1) an!, 'onse4uent(y, Prou!hon, other !$ff$'u(t$es a#art, 'ou(! not 'o*#ete w$th 2ar1 as a foun!er of a s'hoo(+ In!ee!, he rese*b(e! su'h #rea'hers of "en$us as -obbett an! PI"uy, ;$n substan'e as we(( as $n for*<, rather than systern-*a/ers ($/e 2ar1+ Prou!hon.s $nf(uen'e was 'ons$!erab(e, but $t was the $nf(uen'e of h$s s#$r$t rather than of any 'ons$stent bo!y of !o'tr$ne that *a!e h$* $*#ortant $n the h$story of re%o(ut$onary Euro#e $n the years fo((ow$n" h$s !eath+ 6here $s one #oss$b(e e1'e#t$on to th$s %$ew of Prou!hon.s $*#ortan'e+ He was, as Hro#ot/$n sa$! .the father of anar'hy.+ 6he anar'h$sts at (east #reser%e! h$s *e*ory an! '$r'u(ate! h$s wr$t$n"s) as was f$tt$n", for anar'hy, as a #os$t$%e !o'tr$ne of free or!er, was for*u(ate! by h$*+ 6he $**e!$ate 'onne't$on between Prou!hon an! anar'hy as a *o%e*ent was furn$she! by ,a/un$n, who was (a%$sh $n #ra$se of h$s *aster an! !e%e(o#e! so*e of the Prou!hon$an theses w$th a r$"our wh$'h was fore$"n to the essent$a((y 'o*#ro*$s$n" s#$r$t of the$r author+ In the &$rst Internat$ona(, the '(ea%a"e between the anar'h$sts an! the 2ar1$sts see*e! to 'arry an o(! 4uarre( beyon! the "ra%e an!, !ea!, Prou!hon.s na*e was #owerfu( enou"h to ser%e as a ra((y$n" 'ry for the ene*$es of the author$tar$an !o'tr$nes of 2ar1+ On th$s ro'/, $n!ee!, the Internat$ona( s#($t) an! there see*e! for a t$*e to be a 'han'e that the so'$a($st *o%e*ent wou(! re*a$n sun!ere! by the !o'tr$na( !$fferen'es of the 'o**un$st an! anar'h$st s'hoo(s+ 6he -o**une of Par$s was, $n %erba( for*, a Prou!hon$an r$s$n"+ H$s $!eas were #owerfu( $n "$%$n" to the #atr$ot$' an! so'$a( $n!$"nat$on of the Par$s$an wor/ers, a fe!era($st for*) an! the 'o**e*orat$on of the *artyrs of the .:a(( of the &e!era($sts. $s a tr$bute to one s$!e of Prou!hon.s tea'h$n"+ On the other han!, the ortho!o1 2ar1$an 'r$t$'$s* of the ta't$'s of the -o**unar!s $s se%ere on the #art #(aye! by Prou!hon.s !$s'$#(es) the$r (ower *$!!(e '(ass su#erst$t$ons about r$"ht an! (e"a($ty, $t $s asserte!, ru$ne! whate%er 'han'e of su''ess the re%o(t ha!+ 6he 'rush$n" of the -o**une !ro%e anar'h$st #ro#a"an!a un!er"roun!) an!, when $t was ab(e to 'o*e out $nto the o#en a"a$n, the f$e(! ha! been o''u#$e! by the ortho!o1 so'$a($sts+ 6o the &ren'h anar'h$sts, 2ar1$an (ea!en ($/e 3ues!e an! 7afar"ue were !e'e$%$n" the wor/ers, (ea!$n" the* $nto the o(! #o($t$'a( #aths where they ha! been (e! an! betraye! by the *en of 18A8+ Des#$te ener"et$'

(ea!ers, the anar'h$st a"$tat$on, *o%$n" far fro* the $!eas of the (ater Prou!hun, fa$(e! to w$n a #er*anent #(a'e for $tse(f+ 6here was so*e truth $n the 2ar1$st 'r$t$'$s* of the fo((owers of Prou!hun $n the &$rst Internat$ona( that they were *ost(y wor/ers $n the Par$s (u1ury tra!es, #aras$tes - as the$r ene*$es $ns$ste!- on the 'a#$ta($st so'$ety they #rofesse! to w$sh to !estroy+ In!ee!, Prou!hun was ne%er '(ose(y $n tou'h w$th the new $n!ustr$a( #ro(etar$at+ 9#art fro* %a"ue syn!$'a($st so(ut$ons, he ha! ($tt(e to say to the wor/er who was not a #oss$b(e #easant #ro#r$etor or #oss$b(e *aster of h$s own wor/sho#+ He !$! not ($/e, an! !$! not un!erstan!, (ar"e-s'a(e $n!ustry) an! he ha!, by h$s host$($ty to str$/es, (eft the wor/ers $n su'h $n!ustr$es he(#(ess unt$( the far-!$stant !ate when the #resent syste* shou(! ha%e been re#(a'e!+ Natura((y enou"h, the *en who were $n re%o(t a"a$nst the wron"s of the syste* of $n!ustry, wh$'h was !a$(y stren"then$n" $ts ho(! on so'$ety, 'ou(! har!(y be e1#e'te! to wa$t on the u(t$*ate !e($%eran'e of the Prou!hon$an re%o(ut$on, an! went o%er to 2ar1$an so'$a($s* or to a *ore a't$%e anar'hy, to .#ro#a"an!a by the !ee!.+ In h$s youth, Prou!hon h$*se(f ha! !rea*e! of a w$(! 8ust$'e e1er'$se! by a se(e't an! %$rtuous *$nor$ty who shou(! #un$sh the $nnu*erab(e un#un$she! 'r$*es of the #resent so'$a( or!er but a(thou"h h$s te*#er o''as$ona((y bo$(e! u#, he be'a*e *ore s'e#t$'a( of the *er$ts of th$s #r$%ate #un$sh*ent, an! he !e%ote! a #art of, Justice to 'onfut$n" the !efen!ers of tyrann$'$!e+ It was not enou"h that the tyrant shou(! !eser%e !eath) the assass$n h$*se(f shou(!, *ora((y, be abo%e re#roa'h, an! $n a 'orru#t so'$ety, where are su'h *en to be foun!5 :here $n s$1teenth-'entury Ita(y wou(! you f$n! a *an worthy to s(ay a ,or"$a5 2oreo%er, tyrann$'$!e $s as ($/e(y to f$n! $ts %$'t$*s a*on" the worthy as a*on" the unworthy+ :$(($a* the S$(ent an! Henr$ Ouatre were %$'t$*s not of ba! *en, but of "oo! *en, of sa$nts $n!ee!> So h$"h a stan!ar! of #o($t$'a( *ora($ty was $n'o*#at$b(e w$th a "oo! !ea( of (ater anar'h$st a't$%$ty, w$th *ur!ers an! robber$es 'o**$tte! by *en who were (ess than #erfe't, by *en who were s'ornfu( of bour"eo$s *ora($ty) an! $t $s unfa$r to both s$!es to *a/e Prou!hon the $ns#$rer of Ea$((ant or Ra%a'ho(+ 6he e'($#se of Prou!hon see*e! 'o*#(ete by the en! of the n$neteenth 'entury, e1'e#t $n an anar'h$st *o%e*ent of !e'reas$n" #ra't$'a( $*#ortan'e+ 6he ortho!o1 &ren'h so'$a($sts were $n'($ne! to re*e*ber Prou!hon.s $n!$s'$#($ne $n the 'r$s$s of 18A8, an! s#o/es*en for 2ar1$an !o'tr$nes were #atron$s$n", $f not host$(e, to the unta*e! "en$us who ha! *$s(e! the &ren'h wor/ers for so *any years+ It was a new "enerat$on that restore! Prou!hon to h$s #r$!e of #(a'e+ 6he $ne%$tab(e re%o(ut$on was (ess $**$nent $n 18 0 than $n 1880+ 6en years ha! been "$%en the o(! or!er by a 0ea(ot $n 1880) the ten years ha! e(a#se!) the re%o(ut$on was now far off -an! re%o(ut$onary 0ea( ha! 'oo(e! off+ So'$a($sts sent to #ar($a*ent as a *eans of #ro#a"an!a, were be"$nn$n" to !e*onstrate the #sy'ho(o"$'a( truth (ater to be for*u(ate! by Robert !e Jou%ene(+ .6here $s *ore $n 'o**on between two *e*bers of #ar($a*ent, one of who* $s a re%o(ut$onary, than between two re%o(ut$onar$es, one of who* $s a *e*ber of #ar($a*ent+. 2$((eran!, who ha! use! Prou!hon$an ar"u*ents a"a$nst the ,an/ of &ran'e, 'a*e to re#resent the 'orn#ro*$s$n" ne'ess$t$es of #ar($a*entary #o($t$'s+ In h$s s#ee'h at Sa$nt-2an!I $n 18 F, he re#eate! the s$!e-tra'/$n" of the Re%o(ut$on a"a$nst wh$'h Prou!hon ha! #roteste! $n 18A8) when he entere! the 'ab$net to .!efen! the re#ub($'., the #ara((e( w$th the .Ja'ob$ns. of f$fty years before was e%$!ent+ 6he re#ub($' was sa%e!, so'$a($st !$s'$#($ne $*#ro%e!, an! #o($t$'s an! #arty un$ty, tw$n e%$(s a"a$nst wh$'h Prou!hon ha! #roteste!, see*e! enthrone!+ ,ut e%ents fou"ht for Prou!hon$an $!eas+ 6he o(! or!er was not !y$n" eas$(y+ 6he 'on'entrat$on of #ro#erty $n a few han!s ha! not "one far enou"h to 'reate, auto*at$'a((y, a un$f$e! wor/$n"-'(ass, rea!y to e1#ro#r$ate the e1#ro#r$ators+ 6he Dreyfus 'ase ha! shown that there was ($fe $n the o(! ($bera( !o'tr$nes of the r$"hts of *an) that the #r$n'$#(es of the &ren'h Re%o(ut$on were st$(( thou"ht to be worth f$"ht$n" about+ 6he $!ea of a wor/$n"-'(ass, 'ons'$ous of $ts *$ss$on, not t$e! to any a'a!e*$' ortho!o1y, but 'reat$n" $ts own wea#ons of 'o*bat an! s#ontaneous(y #ro!u'$n" $ts own (ea!ers, sus#$'$ous of state so'$a($s* an! of #arty 'ree!s, foun! $ts %eh$'(e $n the syn!$'a($st *o%e*ent an! $ts #ro#het $n 3eor"es Sore(+ 9"a$nst the 'urrent su#erst$t$ons, Sore( !e'(are! war+ He atta'/e! the .un($*$te! 'onf$!en'e $n the

e'ono*$' 'a#a'$t$es of the state.+ .6he !e*o'rats a((ow the*se(%es to be tra##e! by !$a(e't$' + + + a'a!e*$' *an$#u(at$ons of abstra't$ons $ns#$re the* w$th an e1tre*e 'onf$!en'e be'ause su'h e1er'$ses ser%e to !e'e$%e the #eo#(e wh$'h !oes not un!erstan! what $t $s be$n" (e! to a##(au!+. 6he 2ar1$an '(ass war was asserte! to be an $nte((e'tua( 'onstru't$on an! $ts #rea'hers thou"ht the*se(%es free fro* any ob($"at$on to e1#(a$n further what they *eant by $t $n a "$%en s$tuat$on+ Sore( was an enthus$ast$' an! $nf(uent$a( a!%ert$ser of Prou!hon, but he was h$*se(f, $n h$s $ntu$t$ons($st #h$(oso#hy, o##ose! to the for*a( rat$ona($s* of Prou!hon+ ,ut $n h$s $ns$sten'e on the %a(ue of $!eas wor/e! out, for the wor/ers by the wor/ers, he $s $n the s#$r$t of The %olitical a(acit# of the Wor2ing+ lasses+ Prou!hon wou(!, #robab(y, ha%e been (ess $n!$fferent to the .*yth$'a(. 'hara'ter of the "enera( str$/e) (ess w$(($n" to (et the wor/ers test the$r w$((-#ower w$thout a 'oo( e1a*$nat$on of the for'es they wou(! ha%e to 'o*bat, not a(( of the* for'es wh$'h 'ou(! be a(tere! by a *ere effort of w$(($n"- howe%er har!> ,ut $n the $ns$sten'e of Sore( an! h$s !$s'$#(es on effort) on the refusa( to awa$t the $ne%$tab(e wor/$n" of h$story) $n the $ns$sten'e on the ro(e of the w$(( $n so'$ety) the a#ost(es of sya!$'a($s* were $n the ($ne of !es'ent fro* Prou!hon+ Other theses of Prou!hon "a$ne!, fro* the ne'ess$t$es of the t$*e, a *ore res#e'tfu( hear$n" than ha! see*e! ($/e(y when the f$rst 2ar1$an wa%e swe#t o%er &ran'e+ 6he $ns$"ht $nto the fee($n"s of the &ren'h #easant, wh$'h was one of Prou!hon.s 'h$ef assets, was 8ust$f$e! by the $n'reas$n" s'e#t$'$s* w$th wh$'h *ere $n!ustr$a( so'$a($s* was #rea'he! to #easants, who were not $n the (east an1$ous to !estroy #ro#erty, as (on" as they ha! a 'han'e of a'4u$r$n" so*e the*se(%es+ Prou!hon ha! !e'(are! that no one who /new the &ren'h #easant wou(! th$n/ of try$n" to 'o**un$se h$* an!, $n!ee!, there $s har!(y any (ess tra'tab(e hu*an raw *ater$a( for ortho!o1 'o**un$s* than a &ren'h #easant ho#$n" to be'o*e a 2ula2+ 9s a #rea'her of .so'$a($s* for #easants., Prou!hon be'a*e res#e'tab(e $n &ren'h so'$a($st '$r'(es an! h$s %$o(ent host$($ty to 'o((e't$%$s* was for"otten or watere! !own+ 6he war, the Russ$an Re%o(ut$on an! the estab($sh$n" of Party ortho!o1y of the /$n! Prou!hon !eteste!, ha%e a"a$n e'($#se! Prou!hon+ It $s true that, $n a "a((ant atte*#t to ($n! a 'o**on "roun!, &ren'h So'$a($st orators a##ea( to the !o'tr$nes of Prou!hon, but as they a(so a##ea( to the !o'tr$nes of Sa$nt-S$*on an! are re(u'tant to aban!on the$r '(a$*s on 2ar1, the %a(ue of th$s #ra$se $s not "reat+ Nee!(ess to say, the re"u(ar 'o**un$sts $n &ran'e #ay not e%en ($# ser%$'e to the "reat heret$' whose e'ono*$' !o'tr$ne $s the .New E'ono*$' Po($'y. *a!e #er*anent an! whose host$($ty to re%o(ut$ons, run fro* a safe !$stan'e by #rofess$ona( (ea!ers, wou(! 'erta$n(y not be !$*$n$she! by the assert$on that there was an $nfa(($b(e #arty $n 2os'ow on the 8ob, $n the #(a'e of h$s o(! ene*$es, the 7on!on e1$(es> Prou!hon ha!, $f not a s'e#t$'a(, a sus#$'$ous *$n!, an! that wou(! ha%e been enou"h to !$s4ua($fy as a "oo! #arty *e*ber+ Prou!hon was, $n!ee!, too %ar$ous a wr$ter to be a "oo! foun!er of a s'hoo(, Syn!$'a($st, anar'hhts, roya($sts, ha%e a(( been ab(e to f$n! su##ort for the$r %$ews so*ewhere $n Prou!hon+ None of these s'hoo(s 'an '(a$* the who(e of Prou!hon an!, as far as he has a s#$r$tua( he$r, $t $s 2r+ ,e((o' whose .!$str$but$s*. e1#resses #effe't(y the essent$a( e'ono*$' !o'tr$ne of Prou!hon+ 6o s#rea! #ro#erty $n fa$r(y e%en !oses, o%er *ost of the 'o**un$ty) to re"ar! e4ua($ty $n se#arate #ro#erty r$"hts, not $n 'o**on #ro#erty r$"hts, as the "oa( to be a$*e! at) an! to be s'e#t$'a( about the for*s of #ro!u't$on wh$'h are not eas$(y re!u'e! to $n!$%$!ua( e4ua( #ro#erty ho(!$n"s are Prou!hon$an re*e!$es for so'$a( e%$(s, as they are those of 2r+ ,e((o' an! the %$o(ent ant$'(er$'a($s* of Prou!hon.s (ater ($fe *ust not b($n! us to the !e"ree $n wh$'h he re#resente! &ren'h tra!$t$on+ He sa$! $n!ee!, that there was not enou"h re($"$on $n &ran'e to *a/e the 'ountry Protestant, but he ha! $n fa't ($tt(e or no sy*#athy w$th the Refor*at$on+ In h$s %$ews of the fa*$(y, of the #(a'e of wo*an, of se1ua( *ora(s an! of the rat$ona($ty of the un$%erse, he *$"ht ha%e a"ree! w$th h$s '(er$'a( ene*$es - $f on(y they wou(! ha%e a"ree! to #ut $**anent Just$'e $n the #(a'e of 3o! an! the Re%o(ut$on $n the #(a'e of the ,$b(e an! the -hur'h> It $s as a re#resentat$%e of the &ren'h #easant an! wor/er that Prou!hon $s of f$rst-rate $*#ortan'e+ H$s #ass$on for e4ua($ty) h$s sus#$'$on of any bon!s $*#ose! on the $n!$%$!ua(, e%en $n the f(atter$n" for* of a !o'tr$ne of fratern$ty or of asso'$at$on) h$s $n"ra$ne! sus#$'$on of su#er$or #eo#(e, whether the$r su#er$or$ty $s base! on wea(th, b$rth, or !o"*at$' $nfa(($b$ty) h$s w$(($n"ness to

sa'r$f$'e $**e!$ate *ater$a( "a$ns for $!ea( sat$sfa't$ons) h$s !e%ot$on to #r$n'$#(es rather than #a(#ab(e .refor*s. as the *ot$%e of h$s #o($t$'a( a't$on) a(( are 'o**on#(a'es of &ren'h ($fe+ In h$s sus#$'$on of author$t$es of a(( /$n!s) $n h$s 'on%$'t$on that they are a(*ost a(ways wron") $n h$s rea($sat$on that $f the state ;or the #arty< $s *a!e #owerfu(, $ts #ower w$(( be use! for the ru(ers a(ways - an! often a"a$nst the ru(e!) Prou!hon $s a "oo! ra!$'a( an! the ra!$'a( $s the ty#$'a( &ren'h*an+ In h$s fon!ness for %$o(ent e1tre*es of (an"ua"e, 'o%er$n" what $s often *o!erate or e%en t$*$! thou"ht, Prou!hon $s a"a$n a ty#$'a( &ren'h ra!$'a(+ He $s w$(($n" to 'o*#ro*$se, $n fa't $f not $n wor!s) he e%en offers at the en! of h$s "reat #o(e*$' a"a$nst the -hur'h, to *a/e a bar"a$n w$th $t> ,ut on one sub8e't he was ne%er rea!y to 'o*#ro*$se) he wou(! ne%er aban!on h$s be($ef that Just$'e was not on(y the f$rst of "oo!s, but was atta$nab(e+ He wou(! ha%e s'orne! the *ora( #ess$*$s* of the #ra't$'a( #o($t$'$an or of h$s a#o(o"$sts, w$th the$r be($ef that s$n'e the r$'h are sure to #(un!er the 'o**un$ty, the best the #o($t$'a( a"ents of the #oor 'an !o for the$r '($ents $s to "et a *ea"re share of the s#o$(+ Su'h a !o'tr$ne *ay /ee# a($%e the #arty *a'h$ne) $t *ay $n%$te the $n"en$ous a#o(o"et$' of .9(a$n.) but $t wou(! not be "oo! enou"h for Prou!hon+ He wou(! ha%e ha! 7a0arus star%e rather than (et h$* be bou"ht off by 'ru*bs fro* the r$'h *an.s tab(e+ Su'h s'e#t$'$s* he !eteste!+ .:hen !oubt, se'ret(y awa/ene! $n the sou(s of *en, str$/es Just$'e@ when *an 'o*es to re"ar! (aws an! $nst$tut$o* as bon!s $*#ose! by for'e or ne'ess$ty, but w$thout roots $n h$s 'ons'$en'e) when $n #resen'e of so'$a( !efe'ts, $n're!u($ty sha/es re($"$on, then so'$ety $s !one for) $t $s on the way to !e'a!en'e an! 'an on(y re'o%er by a re%o(ut$on+ No one says to h$*se(f that there are *$sta/es $n the estab($she! or!er, $na!e4ua'y $n re'o#$se! r$"hts, that the $!eas beh$n! the (aws *ust be re't$f$e!, the for*u(as 'orre'te!, that *en *ust set the*se(%es bra%e(y $n sear'h of truth an! Just$'e, en!ur$n" the wh$(e, w$th res$"nat$on an! !e%ot$on, the effe't of e%$( $nst$tut$ons++++ No one has fa$th any (on"er $n the (e"$s(ator or $n *en) *en say to the*se(%es, as !$! ,rutus, that hu*an nature $s 'orru#t, that Just$'e $s but a wor!, s$n'e e1#er$en'e has shown her to be $ne4ua(, 'ontra!$'tory an! there $s no se'ur$ty that she w$(( be'o*e better+ 2en see $n the state hen'eforwar!, s$*#(y an arb$trary 'oust$tut$on, wh$'h #rof$ts on(y the a*b$t$ous an! the 'unn$n") *en see $n re($"$on on(y a 'on8ur$n" tr$'/, an $nstru*ent of !es#ot$s*+ E%ery *an /ee#s to h$*se(f, the "oo! %$rtuous(y, the ba!, an! the *en of no fa$th, se(f$sh(y ++++ So'$ety has #asse! $nsens$b(y fro* Just$'e to !es#a$r+. Near(y se%enty years ha%e #asse! s$n'e Prou!hon foresaw the *o!ern !$(e**a as a *ora( !$(e**a, as a 'r$s$s $n fa$th+ He set u# the banner of Just$'e as one to wh$'h a(( *en of "oo! w$(( shou(! ra((y) as a stan!ar! by wh$'h fa$ths, re($"$ous an! #o($t$'a(, shou(! be teste!+ It $s an unfash$onab(e banner an! the fa$th Prou!hon #rea'he! see*s to ha%e e%en fewer a!herents $n our t$*e than $t ha! $n h$s+ It *ay be that h$s truth was f$'t$on) that the surren!er of a be($ef $n eth$'a( %a(ues trans'en!$n" the e'ono*$' stru'ture an! the '(ass stru""(e an! the surren!er of ($berty $nto the han!s of $n!$%$!ua(s or #art$es, re*ote(y res#ons$b(e, $f at a((, to the *u(t$tu!es that they ru(e, are $ne%$tab(e #heno*ena of h$stor$'a( !e%e(o#*ent+ ,ut $n the *a/$n" of the bra%e new wor(!s of Russ$a an! Ita(y, sa'r$f$'es of truths ;or of $((us$ons< ha%e been *a!e that Prouahon wou(! ha%e thou"ht $((-'o*#ensate! for by #un'tua( tra$ns or abun!ant tra'tors+ :hat %a(ue th$s nosta("$a for the $((us$ons of .8 *ay ha%e $s a *atter of o#$n$on, but no one who $s sure he 'an se#arate Just$'e an! Re%o(ut$on, Just$'e an! So'$ety, w$(( f$n! *u'h of %a(ue $n Prou!hon+

B)BL)"1!' H2
6he 'h$ef sour'e for the ($fe of Prou!hon $s h$s orres(ondence #ub($she! $n fourteen %o(u*es after h$s !eath) *ore re'ent #ub($'at$ons ha%e a!!e! to th$s *ass of (etters an! others, st$(( un#ub($she!, are /nown to e1$st+ Prou!hon.s wor/s were #ub($she! after h$s !eath an! $n 1 D? a new an! a!*$rab(e e!$t$on was be"un un!er the e!$torsh$# of 22+ ,o""(I an! 2oysset+ 6h$s e!$t$on, %ery fu((y annotate!, $s $n!$s#ensab(e, but $t $s as yet on(y ha(f-f$n$she!+ So*e of Prou!hon.s wor/s ha%e

been trans(ate! $nto En"($sh un!er anar'h$st aus#$'es@ the f$rst two, .emoirs on %ro(ert# $n 18BF an! The S#stem of Economic ontradictions $n 1888, by ,en8a*$n 6u'/er+ The General Idea of the $evolution in the Nineteenth entur# was trans(ate! by John ,e%er(ey Rob$nson $n 1 D?+ 6he 'h$ef wor/s of Prou!hon are@ &irst .emoir on %ro(ert# Letter to ./ )lan0ui Warning to %ro(rietors The reation of !rder The S#stem of Economic ontradictions The onfessions of a $evolutionar# The General Idea of the $evolution The .anual of the Stoc2 Exchange S(eculator !f 7ustice in the $evolution and the hurch War and %eace The &ederative %rinci(le The %olitical a(acit# of the Wor2ing+ lasses 18A0 18A1 18AD 18A? 18AF 18A 1851 185? 1858 18F1 18F? 18F5 8(osthumous9