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THAT PROPERTY IS IMPOSSIBLE.
The last resort of proprietors,--the overwhelming argument whose invincible potency reassures them,--is that, in their opinion, equality of conditions is impossible.

"Equality of conditions is a chimera," they cry with a knowing air; "distribute wealth equally to-day--to-morrow this equality will have vanished." To this hackneyed objection, which they repeat everywhere with the most marvellous assurance, they never fail to add the following comment, as a sort of GLORY BE TO THE FATHER: "If all men were equal, nobody would work." This anthem is sung with variations.
"If all were masters, nobody would obey." "If nobody were rich, who would employ the poor ?" And, "If nobody were poor, who would labor for the rich ?" But let us have done with invective--we have better arguments at our command.
If I show that property itself is impossible--that it is property which is a contradiction, a chimera, a utopia; and if I show it no longer by metaphysics and jurisprudence, but by figures, equations, and calculations,--imagine the fright of the astounded proprietor! And you, reader; what do you think of the retort?
Numbers govern the world--mundum regunt numeri.

This proverb applies as aptly to the moral and political, as to the sidereal and molecular, world.

The elements of justice are identical with those of algebra; legislation and government are simply the arts of classifying and balancing powers; all jurisprudence falls within the rules of arithmetic.