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ign wars； also lent their aid。 In Rome （where property held full sway）； these three means were employed so effectively； and for so long a time； that finally the empire found itself without inhabitants。 When the barbarians arrived； nobody was to be found； the fields were no longer cultivated； grass grew in the streets of the Italian cities。
In China； from time immemorial； upon famine alone has devolved the task of sweeping away the poor。 The people living almost exclusively upon rice； if an accident causes the crop to fail； in a few days hunger kills the inhabitants by myriads； and the Chinese historian records in the annals of the empire； that in such a year of such an emperor twenty； thirty； fifty； one hundred thousand inhabitants died of starvation。 Then they bury the dead； and recommence the production of children until another famine leads to the same result。 Such appears to have been； in all ages； the Confucian economy。
I borrow the following facts from a modern economist：
〃Since the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries； England has been preyed upon by pauperism。 At that time beggars were punished by law。〃 Nevertheless； she had not one…fourth as large a population as she has to…day。
〃Edward prohibits alms…giving； on pain of imprisonment。 。 。 。 The laws of 1547 and 1656 prescribe a like punishment； in case of a second offence。 Elizabeth orders that each parish shall support its own paupers。 But what is a pauper？ Charles II。 decides that an UNDISPUTED residence of forty days constitutes a settlement in a parish； but； if disputed； the new…comer is forced to pack off。 James II。 modifies this decision； which is again modified by William。 In the midst of trials； reports； and modifications； pauperism increases； and the workingman languishes and dies。
〃The poor…tax in 1774 exceeded forty millions of francs； in 1783… 4…5； it averaged fifty…three millions； 1813； more than a hundred and eighty…seven millions five hundred thousand francs； 1816； two hundred and fifty millions； in 1817； it is estimated at three hundred and seventeen millions。
〃In 1821； the number of paupers enrolled upon the parish lists was estimated at four millions； nearly one…third of the population。
〃FRANCE。 In 1544； Francis I。 establishes a compulsory tax in behalf of the poor。 In 1566 and 1586； the same principle is applied to the whole kingdom。
〃Under Louis XIV。； forty thousand paupers infested the capital ＇as many in proportion as to…day＇。 Mendicity was punished severely。 In 1740； the Parliament of Paris re…establishes within its own jurisdiction the compulsory assessment。
〃The Constituent Assembly； frightened at the extent of the evil and the difficulty of curing it； ordains the _statu quo_。
〃The Convention proclaims assistance of the poor to be a NATIONAL DEBT。 Its law remains unexecuted。
〃Napoleon also wishes to remedy the evil： his idea is imprisonment。 ‘In that way；' said he； ‘I shall protect the rich from the importunity of beggars； and shall relieve them of the disgusting sight of abject poverty。'〃 O wonderful man！
From these facts； which I might multiply still farther； two things are to be inferred；the one； that pauperism is independent of population； the other； that all attempts hitherto made at its extermination have proved abortive。
Catholicism founds hospitals and convents； and commands charity； that is； she encourages mendicity。 That is the extent of her insight as voiced by her priests。
The secular power of Christian nations now orders taxes on the rich； now banishment and imprisonment for the poor； that is； on the one hand； violation of the right of property； and； on the other； civil death and murder。
The modern economiststhinking that pauperism is caused by the excess of population； exclusivelyhave devoted themselves to devising checks。 Some wish to prohibit the poor from marrying； thus；having denounced religious celibacy；they propose compulsory celibacy； which will inevitably become licentious celibacy。
Others do not approve this method； which they deem too violent； and which； they say； deprives the poor man of THE ONLY PLEASURE WHICH HE KNOWS IN THIS WORLD。 They would simply recommend him to be PRUDENT。 This opinion is held by Malthus； Sismondi； Say； Droz； Duchatel； &c。 But if the poor are to be PRUDENT； the rich must set the example。 Why should the marriageable age of the latter be fixed at eighteen years； while that of the former is postponed until thirty？
Again； they would do well to explain clearly what they mean by this matrimonial prudence which they so urgently recommend to the laborer； for here equivocation is especially dangerous； and I suspect that the economists are not thoroughly understood。 〃Some half…enlightened ecclesiastics are alarmed when they hear prudence in marriage advised； they fear that the divine injunctionINCREASE AND MULTIPLYis to be set aside。 To be logical； they must anathematize bachelors。〃 （J。 Droz： Political Economy。）
M。 Droz is too honest a man； and too little of a theologian； to see why these casuists are so alarmed； and this chaste ignorance is the very best evidence of the purity of his heart。 Religion never has encouraged early marriages； and the kind of PRUDENCE which it condemns is that described in this Latin sentence from Sanchez；_An licet ob metum liberorum semen extra vas ejicere_？
Destutt de Tracy seems to dislike prudence in either form。 He says： 〃I confess that I no more share the desire of the moralists to diminish and restrain our pleasures； than that of the politicians to increase our procreative powers； and accelerate reproduction。〃 He believes； then； that we should love and marry when and as we please。 Widespread misery results from love and marriage； but this our philosopher does not heed。 True to the dogma of the necessity of evil； to evil he looks for the solution of all problems。 He adds： 〃The multiplication of men continuing in all classes of society； the surplus members of the upper classes are supported by the lower classes； and those of the latter are destroyed by poverty。〃 This philosophy has few avowed partisans； but it has over every other the indisputable advantage of demonstration in practice。 Not long since France heard it advocated in the Chamber of Deputies； in the course of the discussion on the electoral reform；POVERTY WILL ALWAYS EXIST。 That is the political aphorism with which the minister of state ground to powder the arguments of M。 Arago。 POVERTY WILL ALWAYS EXIST！ Yes； so long as property does。
The FourieristsINVENTORS of so many marvellous contrivances could not； in this field； belie their character。 They invented four methods of checking increase of population at will。
1。 THE VIGOR OF WOMEN。 On this point they are contradicted by experience； for； although vigorous women may be less likely to conceive； nevertheless they give birth to the healthiest children； so that the advantage of maternity is on their side。
2。 INTEGRAL EXERCISE； or the equal development of all the physical powers。 If this development is equal； how is the power of reproduction lessened？
3。 THE GASTRONOMIC REGIME； or； in plain English； the philosophy of the belly。 The Fourierists say； th