ation
which oppresses it." We make monopoly "a capital crime;"[2180] we call
him a monopolist who "takes food and wares of prime necessity out of
circulation," and "keeps them stored without daily and publicly offering
them for sale." Penalty of death against whoever, within eight days,
does not make a declaration, or if he makes a false one. Penalty of
death against the dealer who does not post up the contents of his
warehouse, or who does not keep open shop. Penalty of death against
any person who keeps more bread on hand than he needs for his
subsistence.[2181] Penalty of death against the cultivator who does not
bring his grain weekly to market. Penalty of death against the dealer
who does not post up the contents of his warehouse, or who does not keep
open shop. Penalty of death against the manufacturer who does not verify
the daily use of his workable material.--As to prices, we intervene
authoritatively between buyer and seller; we fix the maximum price for
all objects which, near or remotely, serve to feed, warm and clothe man;
we will imprison whoever offers or demands anything more. Whether the
dealer or manufacturer pays expenses at this rate, matters not; if,
after the maximum is fixed, he closes factory, or gives up business, we
declare him a "suspect;" we chain him down to his pursuit, we oblige
him to lose by it.--This is the way to clip the claws of beasts of prey,
little and big! But the claws grow out again, and, instead of paring
them down, it would probably be better to pull them out. Some amongst us
have already thought of that; the right of pre-emption shall be applied
to every article; "in each department, national storehouse might be
established where farmers, land-owners and manufacturers would be
obliged to deposit at a fixed price, paid down, the surplus of their
consumption of every species of merchandise. The nation would distribute
this merchandise to wholesale dealers, reserving a profit of six per
cent. The profit of the wholesale dealer would be fixed at eight per
cent and that of the retailer at twelve per cent."[2182] In this way,
farmers, manufacturers, and merchants would all become clerks of the
State, appointed on a premium or a discount; unable to gain a great
deal, they would not be tempted to gain too much; they would cease to be
greedy and soon cease to be egoists.[2183]--Since, fundamentally,
egoism is the capital vice and individual proprietorship the food that
nourishes it, w