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M。 Janvier had compelled the attention of every one present。 No one spoke； for all the guests were thoughtful。 It was something new to hear such words as these in the mouth of a simple cure。
〃There is one serious error； M。 Janvier； among the truths to which you have given expression；〃 said Benassis。 〃As you know； I do not like to raise discussions on points of general interest which modern authorities and modern writers have called in question。 In my opinion； a man who has thought out a political system； and who is conscious that he has within him the power of applying it in practical politics； should keep his mind to himself； seize his opportunity and act； but if he dwells in peaceful obscurity as a simple citizen； is it not sheer lunacy to think to bring the great mass over to his opinion by means of individual discussions？ For all that； I am about to argue with you； my dear pastor； for I am speaking before sensible men； each of whom is accustomed always to bring his individual light to a common search for the truth。 My ideas may seem strange to you； but they are the outcome of much thought caused by the calamities of the last forty years。 Universal suffrage； which finds such favor in the sight of those persons who belong to the constitutional opposition； as it is called； was a capital institution in the Church； because （as you yourself have just pointed out； dear pastor） the individuals of whom the Church was composed were all well educated； disciplined by religious feeling； thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the same system； well aware of what they wanted and whither they were going。 But modern Liberalism rashly made war upon the prosperous government of the Bourbons； by means of ideas which； should they triumph； would be the ruin of France and of the Liberals themselves。 This is well known to the leaders of the Left； who are merely endeavoring to get the power into their own hands。 If （which Heaven forbid） the middle classes ranged under the banner of the opposition should succeed in overthrowing those social superiorities which are so repugnant to their vanity； another struggle would follow hard upon their victory。 It would not be very long before the middle classes in their turn would be looked upon by the people as a sort of noblesse； they would be a sorry kind of noblesse； it is true； but their wealth and privileges would seem so much the more hateful in the eyes of the people because they would have a closer vision of these things。 I do not say that the nation would come to grief in the struggle； but society would perish anew； for the day of triumph of a suffering people is always brief； and involves disorders of the worst kind。 There would be no truce in a desperate strife arising out of an inherent or acquired difference of opinion among the electors。 The less enlightened and more numerous portion would sweep away social inequalities； thanks to a system in which votes are reckoned by count and not by weight。 Hence it follows that a government is never more strongly organized； and as a consequence is never more perfect than when it has been established for the protection of Privilege of the most restricted kind。 By Privilege I do not at this moment mean the old abuses by which certain rights were conceded to a few； to the prejudice of the many； no； I am using it to express the social circle of the governing class。 But throughout creation Nature has confined the vital principle within a narrow space； in order to concentrate its power； and so it is with the body politic。 I will illustrate this thought of mine by examples。 Let us suppose that there are a hundred peers in France； there are only one hundred causes of offence。 Abolish the peerage； and all the wealthy people will constitute the privileged class； instead of a hundred； you will have ten thousand； instead of removing class distinctions； you have merely widened the mischief。 In fact； from the people's point of view； the right to live without working is in itself a privilege。 The unproductive consumer is a robber in their eyes。 The only work that they understand has palpable results； they set no value on intellectual laborthe kind of labor which is the principal source of wealth to them。 So by multiplying causes of offence in this way； you extend the field of battle； the social war would be waged on all points instead of being confined within a limited circle； and when attack and resistance become general； the ruin of a country is imminent。 Because the rich will always be fewer in number； the victory will be to the poor as soon as it comes to actual fighting。 I will throw the burden of proof on history。
〃The institution of Senatorial Privilege enabled the Roman Republic to conquer the world。 The Senate preserved the tradition of authority。 But when the equites and the novi homines had extended the governing classes by adding to the numbers of the Patricians； the State came to ruin。 In spite of Sylla； and after the time of Julius Caesar； Tiberius raised it into the Roman Empire； the system was embodied in one man； and all authority was centered in him； a measure which prolonged the magnificent sway of the Roman for several centuries。 The Emperor had ceased to dwell in Rome when the Eternal City fell into the hands of barbarians。 When the conqueror invaded our country； the Franks who divided the land among themselves invented feudal privilege as a safeguard for property。 The hundred or the thousand chiefs who owned the country； established their institutions with a view to defending the rights gained by conquest。 The duration of the feudal system was co…existent with the restriction of Privilege。 But when the leudes （an exact translation of the word GENTLEMEN） from five hundred became fifty thousand； there came a revolution。 The governing power was too widely diffused； it lacked force and concentration； and they had not reckoned with the two powers； Money and Thought； that had set those free who had been beneath their rule。 So the victory over the monarchical system； obtained by the middle classes with a view to extending the number of the privileged class； will produce its natural effectthe people will triumph in turn over the middle classes。 If this trouble comes to pass； the indiscriminate right of suffrage bestowed upon the masses will be a dangerous weapon in their hands。 The man who votes； criticises。 An authority that is called in question is no longer an authority。 Can you imagine a society without a governing authority？ No； you cannot。 Therefore； authority means force； and a basis of just judgement should underlie force。 Such are the reasons which have led me to think that the principle of popular election is a most fatal one for modern governments。 I think that my attachment to the poor and suffering classes has been sufficiently proved； and that no one will accuse me of bearing any ill…will towards them； but though I admire the sublime patience and resignation with which they tread the path of toil； I must pronounce them to be unfit to take part in the government。 The proletariat seem to me to be the minors of a nation； and ought to remain in a condition of tutelage。 Therefore； gentlemen； the word ELECTION； to my thinking； is in a fair way to cau