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eafter exerted only through a voluntary relationship of producer to producer； or apprentice to journeyman。
Alone among European powers； France cheerfully accepted the task of civilizing the Orient； and began an invasion which was quite apostolic in its character；so joyful and high…minded do noble thoughts render our nation！ But diplomatic rivalry； national selfishness； English avarice； and Russian ambition stood in her way。 To consummate a long…meditated usurpation； it was necessary to crush a too generous ally： the robbers of the Holy Alliance formed a league against dauntless and blameless France。 Consequently； at the news of this famous treaty； there arose among us a chorus of curses upon the principle of property； which at that time was acting under the hypocritical formulas of the old political system。 The last hour of property seemed to have struck by the side of Syria； from the Alps to the ocean； from the Rhine to the Pyrenees； the popular conscience was aroused。 All France sang songs of war； and the coalition turned pale at the sound of these shuddering cries： 〃War upon the autocrat； who wishes to be proprietor of the old world！ War upon the English perjurer； the devourer of India； the poisoner of China； the tyrant of Ireland； and the eternal enemy of France！ War upon the allies who have conspired against liberty and equality！ War！ war！ war upon property！〃
By the counsel of Providence the emancipation of the nations is postponed。 France is to conquer； not by arms； but by example。 Universal reason does not yet understand this grand equation； which； commencing with the abolition of slavery； and advancing over the ruins of aristocracies and thrones； must end in equality of rights and fortunes； but the day is not far off when the knowledge of this truth will be as common as that of equality of origin。 Already it seems to be understood that the Oriental question is only a question of custom…houses。 Is it； then； so difficult for public opinion to generalize this idea； and to comprehend； finally； that if the suppression of custom…houses involves the abolition of national property； it involves also； as a consequence； the abolition of individual property？
In fact； if we suppress the custom…houses； the alliance of the nations is declared by that very act； their solidarity is recognized； and their equality proclaimed。 If we suppress the custom…houses； the principle of association will not be slow in reaching from the State to the province； from the province to the city； and from the city to the workshop。 But； then； what becomes of the privileges of authors and artists？ Of what use are the patents for invention； imagination； amelioration； and improvement？ When our deputies write a law of literary property by the side of a law which opens a large breach in the custom… house they contradict themselves； indeed； and pull down with one hand what they build up with the other。 Without the custom… house。 literary property does not exist； and the hopes of our starving authors are frustrated。 For； certainly you do not expect； with the good man Fourier； that literary property will exercise itself in China to the profit of a French writer； and that an ode of Lamartine； sold by privilege all over the world； will bring in millions to its author！ The poet's work is peculiar to the climate in which he lives； every where else the reproduction of his works； having no market value； should be frank and free。 But what！ will it be necessary for nations to put themselves under mutual surveillance for the sake of verses； statues； and elixirs？ We shall always have； then； an excise； a city…toll； rights of entrance and transit； custom…houses finally； and then； as a reaction against privilege； smuggling。
Smuggling！ That word reminds me of one of the most horrible forms of property。 〃Smuggling；〃 you have said； sir；＇1＇ 〃is an offence of political creation； it is the exercise of natural liberty； defined as a crime in certain cases by the will of the sovereign。 The smuggler is a gallant man；a man of spirit； who gaily busies himself in procuring for his neighbor； at a very low price； a jewel； a shawl； or any other object of necessity or luxury； which domestic monopoly renders excessively dear。〃 Then； to a very poetical monograph of the smuggler； you add this dismal conclusion；that the smuggler belongs to the family of Mandrin； and that the galleys should be his home！
＇1＇ Lecture of Jan。 15； 1841。
But； sir； you have not called attention to the horrible exploitation which is carried on in this way in the name of property。
It is said；and I give this report only as an hypothesis and an illustration； for I do not believe it；it is said that the present minister of finances owes his fortune to smuggling。 M。 Humann； of Strasbourg； sent out of France； it is said； enormous quantities of sugar； for which he received the bounty on exportation promised by the State； then； smuggling this sugar back again； he exported it anew； receiving the bounty on exportation a second time； and so on。 Notice； sir； that I do not state this as a fact； I give it only as it is told； not endorsing or even believing it。 My sole design is to fix the idea in the mind by an example。 If I believed that a minister had committed such a crime； that is； if I had personal and authentic knowledge that he had； I would denounce M。 Humann； the minister of finances； to the Chamber of Deputies； and would loudly demand his expulsion from the ministry。
But that which is undoubtedly false of M。 Humann is true of many others； as rich and no less honorable than he。 Smuggling； organized on a large scale by the eaters of human flesh； is carried on to the profit of a few pashas at the risk and peril of their imprudent victims。 The inactive proprietor offers his merchandise for sale； the actual smuggler risks his liberty； his honor； and his life。 If success crowns the enterprise； the courageous servant gets paid for his journey； the profit goes to the coward。 If fortune or treachery delivers the instrument of this execrable traffic into the hands of the custom…house officer； the master…smuggler suffers a loss which a more fortunate voyage will soon repair。 The agent； pronounced a scoundrel； is thrown into prison in company with robbers； while his glorious patron； a juror； elector； deputy； or minister； makes laws concerning expropriation； monopoly； and custom…houses！
I promised； at the beginning of this letter； that no attack on property should escape my pen； my only object being to justify myself before the public by a general recrimination。 But I could not refrain from branding so odious a mode of exploitation； and I trust that this short digression will be pardoned。 Property does not avenge； I hope； the injuries which smuggling suffers。
The conspiracy against property is general； it is flagrant； it takes possession of all minds； and inspires all our laws； it lies at the bottom of all theories。 Here the proletaire pursues property in the street； there the legislator lays an interdict upon it； now； a professor of political economy or of industrial legislation；＇1＇ paid to defend it； undermines it with redoubled blows； at anothertime； an academy calls