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It has been pretended that M。 Lamennais； preaching now a theocracy； now universal democracy； has been always consistent； that； under different names； he has sought invariably one and the same thing；unity。 Pitiful excuse for an author surprised in the very act of contradiction！ What would be thought of a man who； by turns a servant of despotism under Louis XVI； a demagogue with Robespierre； a courtier of the Emperor； a bigot during fifteen years of the Restoration； a conservative since 1830； should dare to say that he ever had wished for but one thing；public order？ Would he be regarded as any the less a renegade from all parties？ Public order； unity； the world's welfare； social harmony； the union of the nations；concerning each of these things there is no possible difference of opinion。 Everybody wishes them； the character of the publicist depends only upon the means by which he proposes to arrive at them。 But
why look to M。 Lamennais for a steadfastness of opinion； which he himself repudiates？ Has he not said； 〃The mind has no law； that which I believe to…day； I did not believe yesterday； I do not know that I shall believe it to…morrow〃？
No； there is no real superiority among men； since all talents and capacities are combined never in one individual。 This man has the power of thought； that one imagination and style； still another industrial and commercial capacity。 By our very nature and education； we possess only special aptitudes which are limited and confined； and which become consequently more necessary as they gain in depth and strength。 Capacities are to each other as functions and persons； who would dare to classify them in ranks？ The finest genius is； by the laws of his existence and development； the most dependent upon the society which creates him。 Who would dare to make a god of the glorious child？
〃It is not strength which makes the man；〃 said a Hercules of the market…place to the admiring crowd； 〃it is character。〃 That man； who had only his muscles； held force in contempt。 The lesson is a good one； proletaires； we should profit by it。 It is not talent （which is also a force）； it is not knowledge； it is not beauty which makes the man。 It is heart； courage； will； virtue。 Now； if we are equal in that which makes us men； how can the accidental distribution of secondary faculties detract from our manhood？
Remember that privilege is naturally and inevitably the lot of the weak； and do not be misled by the fame which accompanies certain talents whose greatest merit consists in their rarity； and a long and toilsome apprenticeship。 It is easier for M。 Lamennais to recite a philippic； or sing a humanitarian ode after the Platonic fashion； than to discover a single useful truth； it is easier for an economist to apply the laws of production and distribution than to write ten lines in the style of M。 Lamennais； it is easier for both to speak than to act。 You； then； who put your hands to the work； who alone truly create； why do you wish me to admit your inferiority？ But； what am I saying？
Yes； you are inferior； for you lack virtue and will！ Ready for labor and for battle； you have； when liberty and equality are in question； neither courage nor character！
In the preface to his pamphlet on 〃Le Pays et le Gouvernement；〃 as well as in his defence before the jury； M。 Lamennais frankly declared himself an advocate of property。 Out of regard for the author and his misfortune； I shall abstain from characterizing this declaration； and from examining these two sorrowful performances。 M。 Lamennais seems to be only the tool of a quasi… radical party； which flatters him in order to use him； without respect for a glorious； but hence forth powerless； old age。 What means this profession of faith？ From the first number of 〃L'Avenir〃 to 〃L'Esquisse d'une Philosophie；〃 M。 Lamennais always favors equality； association； and even a sort of vague and indefinite communism。 M。 Lamennais； in recognizing the right of property； gives the lie to his past career； and renounces his most generous tendencies。 Can it； then； be true that in this man； who has been too roughly treated； but who is also too easily flattered； strength of talent has already outlived strength of will？
It is said that M。 Lamennais has rejected the offers of several of his friends to try to procure for him a commutation of his sentence。 M。 Lamennais prefers to serve out his time。 May not this affectation of a false stoicism come from the same source as his recognition of the right of property？ The Huron； when taken prisoner； hurls insults and threats at his conqueror；that is the heroism of the savage； the martyr prays for his executioners； and is willing to receive from them his life；that is the heroism of the Christian。 Why has the apostle of love become an apostle of anger and revenge？ Has； then； the translator of 〃L'Imitation〃 forgotten that he who offends charity cannot honor virtue？ Galileo； retracting on his knees before the tribunal of the inquisition his heresy in regard to the movement of the earth； and recovering at that price his liberty； seems to me a hundred times grander than M。 Lamennais。 What！ if we suffer for truth and justice； must we； in retaliation； thrust our persecutors outside the pale of human society； and； when sentenced to an unjust punishment； must we decline exemption if it is offered to us； because it pleases a few base satellites to call it a pardon？ Such is not the wisdom of Christianity。 But I forgot that in the presence of M。 Lamennais this name is no longer pronounced。 May the prophet of 〃L'Avenir〃 be soon restored to liberty and his friends； but； above all； may he henceforth derive his inspiration only from his genius and his heart！
O proletaires； proletaires！ how long are you to be victimized by this spirit of revenge and implacable hatred which your false friends kindle； and which； perhaps； has done more harm to the development of reformatory ideas than the corruption； ignorance； and malice of the government？ Believe me； at the present time everybody is to blame。 In fact； in intention； or in example； all are found wanting； and you have no right to accuse any one。 The king himself （God forgive me！ I do not like to justify a king）；the king himself is； like his predecessors； only the personification of an idea； and an idea； proletaires； which possesses you yet。 His greatest wrong consists in wishing for its complete realization； while you wish it realized only partially；consequently； in being logical in his government； while you； in your complaints； are not at all so。 You clamor for a second regicide。 He that is without sin among you；let him cast at the prince of property the first stone！
How successful you would have been if； in order to influence men； you had appealed to the self…love of men；if； in order to alter the constitution and the law； you had placed yourselves within the constitution and the law！ Fifty thousand laws； they say； make up our political and civil codes。 Of these fifty thousand laws； twenty…five thousand are for you； twenty…five thousand against you。 Is it not clear that your duty is to oppose the former to the latter； and thus； by the argument of contradiction； d