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interrupting the banker。 〃The right to pay in kind might have been
granted in 1790； now； if we attempted to carry such a law； we should
risk a revolution。〃
〃Therefore； as I was about to say； the proletary draws to himself the
money of the country；〃 resumed Grossetete。 〃Now the peasant has no
other passion； desire； or will； than to die a land…owner。 This desire；
as Monsieur Clousier has well shown； was born of the Revolution； and
is the direct result of the sale of the National domain。 A man must be
ignorant indeed of what is going on all over France in the country
regions if he is not aware that these three million families are
yearly hoarding at least fifty francs； thus subtracting a hundred and
fifty millions from current use。 The science of political economy has
made it an axiom that a five…franc piece； passing through a hundred
hands in one day； is equivalent to five hundred francs。 Now； it is
perfectly plain to all of us who live in the country and observe the
state of affairs； that every peasant has his eye on the land he
covets； he is watching and waiting for it； and he never invests his
savings elsewhere； he buries them。 In seven years the savings thus
rendered inert and unproductive amount to eleven hundred million
francs。 But since the lesser bourgeoisie bury as much more； with the
same purpose； France loses every seven years the interest of at least
two thousand millions；that is to say； about one hundred millions； a
loss which in forty…two years amounts to six hundred million francs。
But she not only loses six hundred millions； she fails to create with
that money manufacturing or agricultural products； which represent a
loss of twelve hundred millions； for； if the manufactured product were
not double in value to its cost price； commerce could not exist。 The
proletariat actually deprives itself of six hundred millions in wages。
These six hundred millions of dead loss （representing to a stern
economist a loss of twelve hundred millions； through lack of the
benefits of circulation） explain the condition of inferiority in which
our commerce； our merchant service； and our agriculture stand； as
compared with England。 In spite of the difference of the two
territories； which is more than two thirds in our favor； England could
remount the cavalry of two French armies； and she has meat for every
man。 But there； as the system of landed property makes it almost
impossible for the lower classes to obtain it； money is not hoarded；
it becomes commercial； and is turned over。 Thus； besides the evil of
parcelling the land； involving that of the diminution of horses；
cattle； and sheep； the section of the Code on inheritance costs us six
hundred millions of interest； lost by the hoarding of the money of the
peasantry and bourgeoisie； and twelve hundred millions； at least； of
products； or； including the loss from non…circulation； three thousand
millions in half a century！〃
〃The moral effect is worse than the material effect；〃 cried the
rector。 〃We are making beggar…proprietors among the people and half…
taught communities of the lesser bourgeoisie； and the fatal maxim
'Each for himself；' which had its effect upon the upper classes in
July of this year； will soon have gangrened the middle classes。 A
proletariat devoid of sentiment； with no other god than envy； no other
fanaticism than the despair of hunger； without faith； without belief；
will come forward before long and put its foot on the heart of the
nation。 Foreigners； who have thriven under monarchical rule； will find
that； having royalty； we have no king； having legality； we have no
laws； having property； no owners； no government with our elections； no
force with freedom； no happiness with equality。 Let us hope that
before that day comes God may raise up in France a providential man；
one of those Elect who give a new mind to nations； and like Sylla or
like Marius； whether he comes from above or rises from below； remakes
society。〃
〃He would be sent to the assizes；〃 said Gerard。 〃The sentence
pronounced against Socrates and Jesus Christ would be rendered against
them in 1831。 In these days as in the old days； envious mediocrity
lets thinkers die of poverty； and so gets rid of the great political
physicians who have studied the wounds of France； and who oppose the
tendencies of their epoch。 If they bear up under poverty； common minds
ridicule them or call them dreamers。 In France； men revolt in the
moral world against the great man of the future； just as they revolt
in the political world against a sovereign。〃
〃In the olden time sophists talked to a limited number of men； to…day
the periodical press enables them to lead astray a nation；〃 cried the
/juge de paix/； 〃and that portion of the press which pleads for right
ideas finds no echo。〃
The mayor looked at Monsieur Clousier in amazement。 Madame Graslin；
glad to find in a simple /juge de paix/ a man whose mind was occupied
with serious questions； said to Monsieur Roubaud； her neighbor； 〃Do
you know Monsieur Clousier？〃
〃Not rightly until to…day； madame。 You are doing miracles；〃 he
answered in a whisper。 〃And yet； look at his brow； how noble in shape！
Isn't it like the classic or traditional brow given by sculptors to
Lycurgus and the Greek sages？ The revolution of July has an evidently
retrograde tendency；〃 said the doctor （who might in his student days
have made a barricade himself）； after carefully considering
Grossetete's calculation。
〃These ideas are threefold；〃 continued Clousier。 〃You have talked of
law and finance； but how is it with the government itself？ The royal
power； weakened by the doctrine of national sovereignty； in virtue of
which the election of August 9； 1830； has just been made； will
endeavor to counteract that rival principle which gives to the people
the right to saddle the nation with a new dynasty every time it does
not fully comprehend the ideas of its king。 You will see that we shall
then have internal struggles which will arrest for long periods
together the progress of France。〃
〃All these reefs have been wisely evaded by England；〃 remarked Gerard。
〃I have been there； I admire that beehive； which sends its swarms over
the universe and civilizes mankind；a people among whom discussion is
a political comedy； which satisfies the masses and hides the action of
power； which then works freely in its upper sphere； a country where
elections are not in the hands of a stupid bourgeoisie； as they are in
France。 If England were parcelled out into small holdings the nation
would no longer exist。 The land…owning class； the lords； guide the
social mechanism。 Their merchant…service； under the nose of Europe；
takes possession of whole regions of the globe to meet the needs of
their commerce and to get rid of their paupers and malcontents。
Instead of fighting capacities； as we do； thwarting them； nullifying
them； the English aristocratic class seeks out young talent； rewards
it； and is constantly assimilating it。 Everything which concerns the
action of the government； in the choice of men and things； is prompt
in England； whereas with us all is slow； and yet the English are slow
by nature； while we are impat