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picked up in beggars' haunts； mostly stray workmen and loafers； in
short； 〃the most debauched； the most hot…brained； the most turbulent
people in an ardent； turbulent and somewhat debauched community。〃＇58＇
In this way； the anti…social class was utilized for the public good。
Let the reader imagine an ill…kept domain overrun by a lot of stray
curs that might prove dangerous： they are enticed and caught； a
collar； with a chain attached to it； is put on their necks and they
become good watch…dogs。 … In the second place； this institution
preserved to the subject the first and most precious of all liberties；
the full possession and the unrestricted management of one's own
person； the complete mastery of body and being。 This was assured to
him； guaranteed to him against the encroachments of the State。 It was
better guaranteed than by the wisest constitution； for the institution
was a recognized custom accepted by everybody。 In other words； it was
a tacit； immemorial convention；＇59＇ between the subject and the State；
proclaiming that； if the State had a right to draw on purses it had no
right to draft persons： in reality and in fact； the King； in his
principal function； was merely a contractor like any other； he
undertook natural defense and public security the same as others
undertook cleaning the streets or the maintenance of a dike。 It was
his business to hire military workmen as they hired their civil
workmen； by mutual agreement； at an understood price and at current
market rates。 Accordingly； the sub…contractors with whom he treated；
the colonel and captains of each regiment； were subject as he was to
the law of supply and demand； he allowed them so much for each
recruit；＇60＇ to replace those dropped out； and they agreed to keep
their companies full。 They were obliged to procure men at their own
risk and at their own expense； while the recruiting…agent whom they
dispatched with a bag of money among the taverns； enlisted
artillerymen； horsemen or foot…soldiers； after bargaining with them；
the same as one would hire men to sweep or pave the street and to
clean the sewers。
Against this practice and this principle comes the theory of the
Contrat…Social。 It declares that the people are sovereign。 Now； in
this divided Europe； where a conflict between rival States is always
imminent； sovereigns are military men； they are such by birth；
education； and profession； and by necessity； the title carries along
with it and involves the function。 Consequently； the subject； in
assuming their rights； imposes upon himself their duties； in his quota
（of responsibility） he； in his turn； is sovereign； but； in his turn
and in his person； he is a soldier。＇61＇ Henceforth； if he is born an
elector； he is born a conscript； he has contracted an obligation of a
new species and of infinite reach； the State； which formerly had a
claim only on his possessions； now has one on his entire body； never
does a creditor let his claims rest and the State always finds reasons
or pretexts to enforce its claims。 Under the threats or trials of
invasion the people； at first； had consented to pay this one； they
regarded it as accidental and temporary。 After victory and when peace
came； its government continues to enforce the claim； it becomes
settled and permanent。 After the treaties of Luneville and Amiens；
Napoleon maintains it in France； after the treaties of Paris and
Vienna； the Prussian government is to maintain it in Prussia。 One war
after another and the institution becomes worse and worse； like a
contagion； it has spread from State to State。 At the present time； it
has overspread the whole of continental Europe and here it reigns
along with its natural companion which always precedes or follows it；
its twin…brother； universal suffrage。 Each more or less conspicuously
〃trotted out〃 and dragging the other along； more or less incomplete
and disguised； both being the blind and formidable leaders or
regulators of future history； one thrusting a ballot into the hands of
every adult； and the other putting a soldier's knapsack on every
adult's back：
* with what promises of massacre and bankruptcy for the twentieth
century；
* with what exasperation of international rancor and distrust；
* with what waste of human labor；
* through what perversion of productive discoveries；
* through what perfection of destructive appliances；
* through what a recoil to the lower and most unwholesome forms of
old militant societies；
* through what retrograde steps towards brutal and selfish instincts；
* towards the sentiments； habits and morality of the antique city and
of the barbarous tribe
is only too well known。＇62＇ It is sufficient for us to place the two
military systems face to face； that of former times and that of to…
day： formerly； in Europe； a few soldiers； some hundreds of thousands ；
to…day； in Europe； 18 millions of actual or eventual soldiers； all the
adults； even the married； even fathers of families summoned or subject
to call for twenty…five years of their life； that is to say； as long
as they continue able…bodied men； formerly； for the heaviest part of
the service in France； no lives are confiscated by decree； only those
bought by contract； and lives suited to this business and elsewhere
idle or mischievous； about one hundred and fifty thousand lives of
inferior quality； of mediocre value； which the State could expend with
less regret than others； and the sacrifice of which is not a serious
injury to society or to civilization。 To…day； for the same service in
France； 4 millions of lives are taken by authority； and； if they
attempt to escape； taken by force； all of them； from the twentieth
year onward； employed in the same manual and murderous pursuit；
including the least suited to the purpose and the best adapted to
other purposes； including the most inventive and the most fecund； the
most delicate and the most cultivated； those remarkable for superior
talent （Page 232/526）who are of almost infinite social value； and
whose forced collapse； or precocious end； is a calamity for the human
species。
Such is the terminal fruit of the new Régime； military duty is here
the counterpart； and as it were； the ransom of political right； the
modern citizen may balance one with the other like two weights in the
scale。 On the one side； he may place his prerogative as sovereign；
that is to say； in point of fact； the faculty every four years of
giving one vote among ten thousand for the election or non…election of
one deputy among six hundred and fifty； on the other side； he may
place his positive； active service； three； four or five years of
barrack life and of passive obedience； and then twenty…eight days
more； then a thirteen…days' summons in honor of the flag； and； for
twenty years； at each rumor of war； anxiously waiting for the word of
command which obliges him to shoulder his gun and slay with his own
hand； or be slain。 He will probably end by discoverin