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complete： naturally； either through ambition or precaution； or through
theory or prejudice； on undertaking a new service it is tempted to
reserve to itself or delegate its monopoly。 Before 1789 there existed
one of these monopolies to the advantage of the Catholic Church；
through the interdiction of other cults； also another to the advantage
of each corporation of 〃Arts et Métiers；〃 through the interdiction of
free labor； after 1800； there existed one for the benefit of the
University through all sorts of shackles and constraints imposed on
the establishment and maintenance of private schools。 … Now； through
each of these constraints the State encroaches on the domain of the
individual； the more extended its encroachments the more does it prey
upon and reduce the circle of spontaneous initiation and of
independent action； which constitute the true life of the individual；
if； in conformity with the Jacobin program； it pushes its interference
to the end； it absorbs in itself all other lives；＇3＇ henceforth； the
community consists only of automata maneuvered from above； infinitely
small residues of men； passive； mutilated； and； so to say； dead souls；
the State； instituted to preserve persons； has reduced them to
nonentities。
The effect is the same with property when the State supports other
organizations than its own。 For； to maintain these； it has no other
funds than those of the taxpayers； consequently； using its collectors；
it takes the money out of their pockets； all； indiscriminately；
willingly or not； pay supplementary taxes for supplementary services；
whether this service benefits them or is repugnant to them。 If I am a
Protestant in a Catholic State； or a Catholic in a Protestant State； I
pay for religion which seems wrong to me and for a Church which seems
to me mischievous。 If I am a skeptic； a free…thinker； indifferent or
hostile to positive religions in France； I pay to…day for the support
of four cults which I regard as useless or pernicious。 If I am a
provincial or a peasant； I pay for maintaining an 〃Opéra〃 which I
never attend and for a 〃Sèvres〃 and 〃Gobelins〃 of which I never see a
vase or a piece of tapestry。 … In times of tranquility the extortion
is covered up； but in troubled times it is nakedly apparent。 Under the
revolutionary government； bands of collectors armed with pikes made
raids on villages as in conquered countries；＇4＇ the farmer； collared
and kept down by blows from the butt end of a musket； sees his grain
taken from his barn and his cattle from their stable； 〃all scampered
off on the road to the town；〃 while around Paris； within a radius of
forty leagues； the departments fasted in order that the capital might
be fed。 With gentler formalities； under a regular government； a
similar extortion occurs when the State； employing a respectable
collector in uniform； takes from our purse a crown too much for an
office outside of its competency。 If； as with the Jacobin State； it
claims all offices； it empties the purse entirely； instituted for the
conservation of property； it confiscates the whole of it。 … Thus； with
property； as with persons； when the state proposes to itself another
purpose than the preservation of these； not only does it overstep its
mandate but it acts contrary to its mandate。
IV。 Abuse of State powers。
It badly fills the office of the bodies it supplant。 … Cases in which
it usurps their powers and refuses to be their substitute。 … Cases in
which it violates or profits by their mechanism。 … In all cases it is
bad or mediocre substitute。 … Reasons derived from its structure
compared with that of other bodies。
Let us consider the other series of abuses； and the way in which the
State performs the service of the corporate bodies it supplants。
In the first place there is a chance that； sooner or later； it will
shirk this work； for this new service is more or less costly； and；
sooner or later； it seems too costly。 … Undoubtedly the State has
promised to defray expenses； sometimes even； like the Constituent and
Legislative assemblies； the revenues for this having been confiscated；
it has to furnish an equivalent； it is bound by contract to make good
the local or special sources of revenue which it has appropriated or
dried up； to furnish in exchange a supply of water from the grand
central reservoir； the public treasury。 … But if water becomes low in
this reservoir； if the taxes in arrears stop the regular supply； if a
war happens to open a large breach in it； if the prodigality and
incapacity of the rulers； multiply its fissures and leaks； then there
is no money on hand for accessory and secondary services。 The State；
which has adopted this service drops it： we have seen under the
Convention and the Directory how； having taken the property of all
corporations； provinces； and communes； of institutions of education；
art； and science； of churches； hospitals； and asylums； it performed
their functions； how； after having been a despoiler and a robber； it
became insolvent and bankrupt； how its usurpation and bankruptcy
ruined and then destroyed all other services； how； through the double
effect of its intervention and desertion； it annihilated in France
education； worship； and charity； why the streets in the towns were no
longer lighted nor swept； why； in the provinces； roads went to decay；
and dikes crumbled； why schools and churches stood empty or were
closed ； why； in the asylum and in the hospital； foundlings died for
lack of milk； the infirm for lack of clothing and food； and the sick
for lack of broth； medicines； and beds。＇5＇
In the second place； even when the State respects a service or
provides the means for it； there is a chance that it will pervert this
simply because it comes under its direction。 … When rulers lay their
hands on an institution it is almost always for the purpose of making
something out of it for their own advantage and to its detriment： they
render everything subordinate to their interests or theories； they put
some essential piece or wheel out of shape or place； they derange its
action and put the mechanism out of order； they make use of it as a
fiscal； electoral； or doctrinal engine； as a reigning or sectarian
instrument。 … Such； in the eighteenth century； was the ecclesiastical
staff with which we are familiar；＇6＇ court bishops； drawing…room abbés
imposed from above on their diocese or their abbey； non…residents；
charged with functions which they do not fulfill； largely…paid idlers；
parasites of the Church； and； besides all this； worldly； gallant；
often unbelievers； strange leaders of a Christian clergy and which；
one would say； were expressly selected to undermine Catholic faith in
the minds of their flocks； or monastic discipline in their convents。 …
Such； in 1791；＇7＇ is the new constitutional clergy； schismatic；
excommunicated； interlopers； imposed on the orthodox majority to say
masses which they deem sacrilegious and to administer s