It was remarked, that during the most distressing period, the popular expenses of mere fancy had not diminished.

The small theaters, the fighting lists, the public houses, and tobacco depots, were as much frequented as in prosperous times.

In the inquiry, the operatives themselves explained this phenomenon thus: "What is the use of pinching?
Who knows what will happen to us?
Who knows that interest will not be abolished?
Who knows but that the State will become a universal and gratuitous lender, and that it will wish to annihilate all the fruits which we might expect from our savings ?" Well! I say, that if such ideas could prevail during two single years, it would be enough to turn our beautiful France into a Turkey--misery would become general and endemic, and, most assuredly, the poor would be the first upon whom it would fall.
Workmen! They talk to you a great deal upon the _artificial_ organization of labor;--do you know why they do so?
Because they are ignorant of the laws of its _natural_ organization; that is, of the wonderful organization which results from liberty.

You are told, that liberty gives rise to what is called the radical antagonism of classes; that it creates, and makes to clash, two opposite interests--that of the capitalists and that of the "proletaires." But we ought to begin by proving that this antagonism exists by a law of nature; and afterwards it would remain to be shown how far the arrangements of restraint are superior to those of liberty, for between liberty and restraint I see no middle path.

Again, it would remain to be proved, that restraint would always operate to your advantage, and to the prejudice of the rich.