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objects； 38；000 parsonages； 4000 convents； over 40；000 parochial
churches； cathedrals and chapels。 Every morning； the man or woman of
the people； in whom the need of worship has revived； passes in front
of one of these buildings robbed of its cult； these declare aloud to
them through their form and name what they have been and what they
should be to…day。 This voice is heard by incredulous philosophers and
former Conventionalists；＇84＇ all Catholics hear it； and out of thirty…
five millions of Frenchmen；＇85＇ thirty…two millions are Catholics。
VII。 The Confiscated Property。
Reasons for the concordat。 … Napoleon's economical organization of the
Church institution。 … A good bargainer。 … Compromise with the old
state of things。
How withstand such a just complaint； the universal complaint of the
destitute； of relatives； and of believers？ … The fundamental
difficulty reappears； the nearly insurmountable dilemma into which the
Revolution has plunged every steady government； that is to say the
lasting effect of revolutionary confiscations and the conflict which
sets two rights to the same property against each other； the right of
the despoiled owner and the right of the owner in possession。 This
time； again the fault is on the side of the State； which has converted
itself from a policeman into a brigand and violently appropriated to
itself the fortune of the hospitals； schools； and churches； the State
must return this in money or in kind。 In kind； it is no longer able；
everything has passed out of its hands； it has alienated what it
could； and now holds on only to the leavings。 In money； nothing more
can be done； it is itself ruined； has just become bankrupt； lives on
expedients from day to day and has neither funds nor credit。 Nobody
dreams of taking back property that is sold； nothing is more opposed
to the spirit of the new Régime： not only would this be a robbery as
before； since its buyers have paid for it and got their receipts； but
again； in disputing their title the government would invalidate its
own。 For its authority is derived from the same source as their
property： it is established on the same principle as their rights of
possession and by virtue of the same accomplished facts
* because things are as they are and could not be different；
* because ten years of revolution and eight years of war bear down on
the present with too heavy a weight；
* because too many and too deep interests are involved and enlisted on
the same side；
* because the interests of twelve hundred thousand purchasers are
incorporated with those of the thirty thousand officers to whom the
Revolution has provided a rank； along with that of all the new
functionaries and dignitaries； including the First Consul himself；
who； in this universal transposition of fortunes and ranks； is the
greatest of parvenus and who must maintain the others if he wants to
be maintained by them。
Naturally； he protects everybody； through calculation as well as
sympathy； in the civil as in the military order of things；
particularly the new property…owners； especially the smaller and the
average ones； his best clients； attached to his reign and to his
person through love of property； the strongest passion of the ordinary
man； and through love of the soil； the strongest passion of the
peasant。＇86＇ Their loyalty depends on their security； and
consequently he is lavish of guarantees。 In his constitution of the
year VIII；＇87＇ he declares in the name of the French nation that after
a legally consummated sale of national property； whatever its origin；
the legitimate purchaser cannot be divested of it。〃 Through the
institution of the Legion of Honor he obliges each member 〃to swear；
on his honor； to devote himself to the conservation of property
sanctioned by the laws of the republic。〃＇88＇ According to the terms
of the imperial constitution＇89＇ 〃he swears〃 himself 〃to respect and
to enforce respect for the irrevocability of the sale of national
possessions。〃
Unfortunately； a cannon…ball on the battle…field； an infernal machine
in the street； an illness at home； may carry off the guarantor and the
guarantees。＇90＇ On the other hand； confiscated goods preserve their
original taint。 Rarely is the purchaser regarded favorably in his
commune； the bargain he has made excites envy； he is not alone in his
enjoyment of it； but the rest suffer from it。 Formerly； this or that
field of which he reaps the produce； this or that domain of which he
enjoys the rental； once provided for the parsonage； the asylum and the
school； now the school； the asylum and the parsonage die through
inanition for his advantage； he fattens on their fasting。 In his own
house； his wife and mother often look melancholy； especially during
Easter week； if he is old； or becomes ill； his conscience disturbs
him； this conscience； through habit and heredity； is Catholic： he
craves absolution at the last moment at the priest's hands； and says
to himself that； at the last moment； he may not probably be
absolved。＇91＇ In other respects； he would find it difficult to
satisfy himself that his legal property is legitimate property； for；
not only is it not so rightfully before the tribunal of conscience；
but again it is not so in fact on the market； the figures； in this
particular； are convincing； daily and notorious。 A patrimonial domain
which brings in 3000 francs finds a purchaser at 100；000 francs；
alongside of this a national domain which brings in just as much；
finds a purchaser only at 60；000 francs； after several sales and
resale； the depreciation continues and 40 ％ of the value of the
confiscated property is lost。＇92＇ A low； indistinct murmur is heard；
and reverberates from sale to sale； the muttering of private probity
protesting against public probity； declaring to the new proprietor
that his title is defective； it lacks one clause and a capital one；
that of the surrender and cession； the formal renunciation； the
authentic withdrawal of the former owner。 The State； the first seller；
owes this voucher to the purchasers； let it procure this and negotiate
accordingly； let it apply for this to the rightful party； to the
owners whom it has dispossessed； to the immemorial and legitimate
authorities； I mean to the ancient corporations。 These have been
dissolved by revolutionary law and have no longer a representative who
can sign for them。 Nevertheless； in spite of revolutionary law； one of
these corporations； with more vitality than the rest； still subsists
with its proper； if not legal； representative； its regular and
undisputed chief。 This chief is qualified and authorized to bind the
body； for； institutionally； he is supreme； and the conscience of all
its members is in his hand。 His signature is of the highest value； it
is very important to obtain this； and the First Consul concludes the
Concordat with the Pope。
By this Concordat； the Pope 〃declares that neither himsel