LE DROIT A L ASSISTA NCK. — WILLIAM GODWIN
1. Eden lui-même explique comme suit (livre II, ehap. i) que l'État soit intéressé à l'accomplissement de la fonction d'assistance publique : « Thaï, in ivscuing the Infant Poor from beg«ary and want, the sources of useful population are augmented ; that, in a ready care and cure of the Sirk Poor iby the restoration of whose health, industry recovers lier best meansi, the productive capital of the nation is increased; and that a bare subsistenee f or the Ayed Poor, is no more than the fair right of Ihose who bave spent their Ih*sI days, and exhausted their streugth, in the service of the Public ». — Sur la loi des pauvres comme consacrant le droit à la subsistance et h; droit au travail, v. même ouvrage, vol. I, pp. 467 sqq. — C'est à un point de vue un peu différent que se plaçait le
(Pp. 102-106) NOTES. 323
Dr. Woodward, évèqnc de Cloyne, dans son <r Address to the Public, on the Inexpedieney of a régula r Plan for the Maintenance and Government of the Poor in Ireland », lorsqu'il voyait dans l'assistance publique un moyen pour faire du contrat originel une réalité, et non plus une fiction. * However Hattering to the love of libcrty the idea of an original compact inay be, and however uscful to ascertain the rights and duties of magistrale and subject, yet, in reality, every man is adopted, by compulsion, into the society of which his parents were citizens, entitled only to that portion <>f the public wealth winch accrues to him by inheritance, and precluded from ail right of occupancy over any other ; that, consequently, if his parents were so poor as to transmit no patrimony to him, lie is l»orn the inhabitant of a land, every spot of which is appropriated to soine other person ... How- can they (the Richi justify their exclusive property in the cwnmon heritaye of mankind, unless they consent, in return, to provide for the subsistence of the Poor, who were excluded from those cominon rights by the laws of the Kich, to which they were ne\er parties? » (Cité par Edcn, Siate of tiw Poor, vol. ï, pp. 413-441).
2. Arthur Young, The question of Svarcity plaint y stated, and Remédies considered (publiée en 1800). — Allusion au <r cow System » ap. Th. Paine, Agrariun Justice, etc.: With this aid theycould buy a cow and impleinents to cultivate a few acres of land; and, instead of becoming burdens upon society, which is always the case, where children are produced faster tlien they ean be fed, would lie put in the way of becoming useful and profitable citizen*.
3. Hiyhts of Man, Part II, chap. v. W'ays and Means of improving the condition of Europe, etc.
4. Ayrarian Justice, opposed to Ayrarian Law and to Ayrarian Monopoly ; being a plan for meliorating the condition of man, by creating in every nation a national fund, to pay to every person, when arrived at the âge of twenty one years, the sum of fifteen pounds sterling, to enable him, or her, to begin in the world ; and also ten pounds sterling per annum during life to every person non living, of the âge of fifty years, and to ail others when they shall arrive at that âge, to enable them to livein old âge without wretehedness, and go decently out of the world, 17%.
5. Poi.Just. Book VIII, of Property. Beaucoup plus développé dans la seconde édition que dans la première, où le chapitre II fait défaut et le chapitre 1 er se présente sous une forme abrégée. Le droit de propriété avait été fondé directement sur la considération de l'utilité sociale, avant Godwin, par Priestley, An Essay, etc. sec. II. Political Liberty (édit. 1771 , pp. 4M2) : The sum of what hath been advanced upon this head, is a maxim, thau which nothing is more true, that every yovernment, in Us original prin- Hpk's, and antécédent to its présent form y is an equal republic ; and, cousequently, that every man, when he cornes to be sensible of lus
324 NOTES. (Pp. 107-113)
natural rights, and to feel liis own importance, will consider himself as fully equal to any other person wliatever. The considération of riches and power, however acquired, uiust I>e entirely set aside, when \ve coine to thèse first principles. Thevery idea of property, or right of any kind, is founded upon a regard to the gênerai good of the society, under whose protection it is enjoyed; and nothing is properly aman's own, but what gênerai rules, which hâve for theirobject the good of the whole, give to liim. To whomsoever the society delegates its power, it is delegated to Iheni for the more ensy management of public, affairs, and in order to make the more effee tuai provision for the happiness of the whole. Whoever enjoys property or riches in the state, enjoys thera for the good of the state, as wellas for himself; and whenever those powers, riches or rights of any kind, are abused, to tlie injury of the whole, that awful and ultimate tribunal, in which every citizen hath an equal "voiee, may demand the résignation of them ; and in circumstances, where régulai* commissions from tliis abused public cannot l>e had, every man who lias power, and wlio is actuated with the sentiments of the public, may assume a public character, and bravely redress public wrongs. — Sauf la théorie des a règles générales » et la théorie du « droit de résistance », c'est la doctrine de Godwin. La théorie de Godwin sur ce point a été excellemment analysée par Anton Menger, Dus Recht auf den vollen Arbeitserlrafi p. 141 sqq.
