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barracks。
Naturally； under the democratic regime； the maintenance and service of
this house becomes more and more costly；＇38＇ for； owing to the
additional centimes； it is the rich and well…to…do minority which
defrays the larger portion of the expense。 Owing to universal
suffrage； the poor or half…poor majority which dominate the elections
so that the large majority with impunity can overtax the minority。 At
Paris； the parliament and the government； elected by this numerical
majority； contrive demands in its behalf； force expenditure； augment
public works； schools； endowments； gratuities； prizes； a
multiplication of offices to increase the number of their clients；
while it never tires in decreeing； in the name of principles； works
for show； theatrical； ruinous； and dangerous； the cost of which they
do not care to know； and of which the social import escapes them。
Democracy； above as well as below； is short…sighted； it seizes
whatever food it comes across； like an animal； with open jaws and head
down； it refuses to anticipate and to calculate； it burdens the future
and wastes every fortune it undertakes to manage； not alone that of
the central state； but； again； those of all local societies。 Up to the
advent of universal suffrage； the administrators appointed above or
elected below； in the department or in the commune； kept tight hold of
the purse…strings； since 1848； especially since 1870； and still later；
since the passage of the laws of 1882； which； in suppressing the
obligatory consent of the heaviest taxed； let slip the last of these
strings； this purse； wide open； is emptied in the street。 … In
1851；＇39＇ the departments； all together； expended 97 millions； in
1869； 192 millions； in 1881； 314 millions。 In 1836； the communes； all
together； save Paris； expended 117 millions； in 1862； 450 millions； in
1877； 676 millions。 If we examine the receipts covering this
expenditure； we find that the additional centimes which supplied the
local budgets； in 1820； with 80 millions； and； in 1850； with 131
millions； supplied them； in 1870； with 249 millions； in 1880； with 318
millions； and； in 1887； with 364 millions。 The annual increase；
therefore； of these superadded centimes to the principal of the direct
taxes is enormous； and finally ends in an overflow。 In 1874；＇40＇ there
were already 24 departments in which the sum of additional centimes
reached or surpassed the sum of the principal。 〃In a very few years；〃
says an eminent economist；＇41＇ 〃it is probable that； for nearly all of
the departments；〃 the overcharge will be similar。 Already； for a long
time； in the total of personal taxation；＇42＇ the local budgets raised
more than the state； and； in 1888； the principal of the tax real
property； 183 millions； is less than the total of centimes joined with
it； 196 millions。 Coming generations are burdened over and beyond the
present generation； while the sum of loans constantly increases； like
that of taxation。 The indebted communes； except Paris； owed；
altogether； in 1868； 524 millions francs＇43＇ ； in 1871； 711 millions；
and in 1878； 1322 millions francs。＇44＇ Paris； in 1868； already owed
1326 millions； March 30； 1878； it owed 1988 millions。 In this same
Paris； the annual contribution of each inhabitant for local expenses
was； at the end of the first Empire； in 1813； 37 francs per head； at
the end of the Restoration；＇45＇ francs； after the July monarchy； in
1848； 43 francs； and； at the end of the second Empire； in 1869； 94
francs。 In 1887；45 it is 110 francs per head。 ＇46＇
VIII。 Final result in a tendency to bankruptcy。
Such； in brief； is the history of local society from 1789 down to
1889。 After the philosophic demolition of the Revolution and the
practical constructions of the Consulate； it could no longer be a
small patrimony； something to take pride in； an object of affection
and devotion to its inhabitants。 The departments and communes have
become more or less vast lodging…houses； all built on the same plan
and managed according to the same regulations one as passable as the
other； with apartments in them which； more or less good； are more or
less dear； but at rates which； higher or lower； are fixed at a uniform
tariff over the entire territory； so that the 36；000 communal
buildings and the 86 department hotels are about equal； it making but
little difference whether one lodges in the latter rather than in the
former。 The permanent taxpayers of both sexes who have made these
premises their home； have not obtained recognition for what they are；
invincibly and by nature； a syndicate of neighbors； an involuntary；
obligatory and private association； in which physical solidarity
engenders moral solidarity； a natural； limited society whose members
own the building in common； and each possesses a property right more
or less great； according to the greater or lesser contribution he
makes to the expenses of the establishment。 Up to this time no room
has yet been found； either in the law or in minds； for this very plain
truth； its place is taken and occupied in advance by the two errors
which； in turn or both at once； have led the legislator and opinion
astray。
Taking things as a whole； it is admitted up to 1830 that the
legitimate proprietor of the local building is the central state； that
it may install its delegate therein； the prefect； with full powers；
that； for better government； he consents to be instructed by the
leading interested and most capable parties on the spot； that he
should fix the petty rights he concedes to them within the narrowest
limits； that he should appoint them； that； if he calls them together
for consultation； it is from time to time and generally for form's
sake； to add the authority of their assent to the authority of his
omnipotence； on the implied condition that he shall not give heed to
their objections if he does not like them； and not follow their advice
if he does not choose to accept it。 … Taking things as a whole； it is
admitted that； since 1848； the legitimate proprietors of the building
are its adult male inhabitants； counted by heads； all equal and all
with an equal part in the common property； comprising those who
contribute nothing or nearly nothing to the common expenditure of the
house； the numerous body of semi…poor who lodge in it at half price；
and the not less numerous body to whom administrative charity
furnishes house comforts； shelter； light； and frequently provisions；
gratuitously。 … Between both these contradictory and false
conceptions； between the prefect of the year VIII； and the democracy
of 1792； a compromise has been effected； undoubtedly； the prefect；
sent from Paris； is and remains the titular director； the active and
responsible manager of the departmental or communal building； but； in
his management of it he is bound to keep in view the coming elections；
and in such a way as will maintain the parliamentary majority in the
seats they occupy in parliament； conseq