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society will slide down this incline by the mere force of
things, and by the natural workings of the established
mechanism. 
But what is this incline that is indicated by Mr. Louis
Blanc? Does it not lead to an abyss? (No, it leads to happiness.)
If this is true, then why does not society go there of its own
choice? (Because society does not know what it wants; it must be
propelled.) What is to propel it? (Power.) And who is to supply
the impulse for this power? (Why, the inventor of the machine—
in this instance, Mr. Louis Blanc.)
The Vicious Circle of Socialism
We shall never escape from this circle: the idea of passive
mankind, and the power of the law being used by a great man to
propel the people.
Once on this incline, will society enjoy some liberty? (Cer-
tainly.) And what is liberty, Mr. Louis Blanc?
Once and for all, liberty is not only a mere
granted right; it is also the power granted to a person
to use and to develop his faculties under a reign of jus-
tice and under the protection of the law.
And this is no pointless distinction; its meaning is
deep and its consequences are difficult to estimate.
For once it is agreed that a person, to be truly free,
must have the power to use and develop his faculties,
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then it follows that every person has a claim on society
for such education as will permit him to develop him-
self. It also follows that every person has a claim on
society for tools of production, without which human
activity cannot be fully effective. Now by what action
can society give to every person the necessary educa-
tion and the necessary tools of production, if not by
the action of the state?
Thus, again, liberty is power. Of what does this
power consist? (Of being educated and of being given
the tools of production.) Who is to give the education
and the tools of production? (Society, which owes
them to everyone.) By what action is society to give
tools of production to those who do not own them?
(Why, by the action of the state.) And from whom will
the state take them?
Let the reader answer that question. Let him also notice
the direction in which this is taking us.
The Doctrine of the Democrats
The strange phenomenon of our times—one which will
probably astound our descendants—is the doctrine based on
this triple hypothesis: the total inertness of mankind, the
omnipotence of the law, and the infallibility of the legislator.
These three ideas form the sacred symbol of those who proclaim
themselves totally democratic.
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The advocates of this doctrine also profess to be social. So
far as they are democratic, they place unlimited faith in
mankind. But so far as they are social, they regard mankind as
little better than mud. Let us examine this contrast in greater
detail.
What is the attitude of the democrat when political rights
are under discussion? How does he regard the people when a
legislator is to be chosen? Ah, then it is claimed that the people
have an instinctive wisdom; they are gifted with the finest per-
ception;  their will is always right; the general will cannot err;
voting cannot be too universal.
When it is time to vote, apparently the voter is not to be
asked for any guarantee of his wisdom. His will and capacity to
choose wisely are taken for granted. Can the people be mis-
taken? Are we not living in an age of enlightenment? What! are
the people always to be kept on leashes? Have they not won
their rights by great effort and sacrifice? Have they not given
ample proof of their intelligence and wisdom? Are they not
adults? Are they not capable of judging for themselves? Do they
not know what is best for themselves? Is there a class or a man
who would be so bold as to set himself above the people, and
judge and act for them?  No, no, the people are and should be
free. They desire to manage their own affairs, and they shall do
so.
But when the legislator is finally elected—ah! then indeed
does the tone of his speech undergo a radical change. The peo-
ple are returned to passiveness, inertness, and unconsciousness;
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the legislator enters into omnipotence. Now it is for him to initi-
ate, to direct, to propel, and to organize. Mankind has only to
submit; the hour of despotism has struck. We now observe this
fatal idea: The people who, during the election, were so wise, so
moral, and so perfect, now have no tendencies whatever; or if
they have any, they are tendencies that lead downward into
degradation
The Socialist Concept of Liberty
But ought not the people be given a little liberty?
But Mr. Considerant has assured us that liberty leads
inevitably to monopoly!
We understand that liberty means competition. But accord-
ing to Mr. Louis Blanc, competition is a system that ruins the
businessmen and exterminates the people. It is for this reason
that free people are ruined and exterminated in proportion to
their degree of freedom. (Possibly Mr. Louis Blanc should
observe the results of competition in, for example, Switzerland,
Holland, England, and the United States.)
Mr. Louis Blanc also tells us that competition leads to
monopoly. And by the same reasoning, he thus informs us that
low prices lead to high prices; that competition drives produc-
tion to destructive activity; that competition drains away the
sources of purchasing power; that competition forces an increase
in production while, at the same time, it forces a decrease in con-
sumption. From this, it follows that free people produce for the
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