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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 sacraments which
they refuse to accept。
In the last place； even when the rulers do not subordinate the
interests of the institution to their passions； to their theories； or
to their own interests； even when they avoid mutilating it and
changing its nature； even when they loyally fulfill； as well as they
know how； the supererogatory （distributive） mandate which they have
adjudged to themselves； they infallibly fulfill it badly； at least
worse than the special and spontaneous bodies for which they
substitute themselves； for the structure of these bodies and the
structure of the state are different。 … Unique of its kind； alone
wielding the sword； acting from above and afar by authority and
constraints； the State acts over the entire territory through uniform
laws； through imperative and minute regulations； by a hierarchy of
obedient functionaries； which it maintains under strict instructions。
Hence； it is not adapted to business which； to be well done； needs
springs and processes of another species。 Its springs； wholly
exterior； are insufficient； too weak to support and push undertakings
which require an internal motor like private interest； local
patriotism； family affections； scientific curiosity； charitable
instincts； and religious faith。 Its wholly mechanical processes； too
rigid and too limited； cannot urge on enterprises which demand of
whoever undertakes them delicate and safe handling； supple
manipulation； appreciation of circumstances； ready adaptation of means
to ends； constant contrivance； the initiative； and perfect
independence。 On this account the State is a poor head of a family； a
poor commercial or agricultural leader； a bad distributor of labor and
of subsistence； a bad regulator of production； exchanges； and
consumption； a mediocre administrator of the province and the commune；
an undiscerning philanthropist； an incompetent director of the fine
arts； of science； of instruction； and of worship。＇8＇ In all these
offices its action is either dilatory or bungling； according to
routine or oppressive； always expensive； of little effect and feeble
in returns； and always beyond or apart from the real wants it pretends
to satisfy。 The reason is that it starts from too high a point
therefore extending over too vast a field。 Transmitted by hierarchical
procedures； it lags along in formalism； and loses itself in 〃red…
tape。〃 On attaining its end and object it applies the same program to
all territories alike a program devised beforehand in the Cabinet； all
of a piece； without experimental groping and the necessary
corrections；
* a program which； calculated approximately according to the average
and the customary； is not exactly suited to any particular case；
* a program which imposes its fixed uniformity on things instead of
adjusting itself to its diversity and change；
* a sort of model coat； obligatory in pattern and stuff； which the
government dispatches by thousands from the center to the provinces；
to be worn； willingly or not； by figures of all sizes and at all
seasons。
V。 Final Results of Abusive Government Intervention
Other consequences。 … Suppressed or stunted bodies cease to grow。 …
Individuals become socially and politically incapable。 … The hands
into which public power then falls。 … Impoverishment and degradation
of the social body。
And much worse。 Not only does the State do the work badly on a domain
not its own； roughly； at greater cost； and with smaller yield than
spontaneous organizations； but； again； through the legal monopoly
which it deems its prerogative； or through its unfair competition； it
kills and paralyzes these natural organizations or prevents their
birth； and hence so many precious organs； which； absorbed； curbed or
abandoned； are lost to the great social body。 … And still worse； if
this system lasts； and continues to crush them out； the human
community loses th