Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/271

trary, he means that an absolute and dictatorial power should only exist in society, and not in the state, in this case he merely denies the antithesis and affirms the antithesis by denying liberty and affirming the omnipotence of communism. In either case, where is the adjustment of things? where is the synthesis? Mr. Proudhon is only successful when he is satisfied with being the personification of modern rationalism, which is in its nature absurd and contradictory; and he is only impotent when, wishing to display his individuality, he ceases to be a personification to become a person.

I have carefully examined the theories of Mr. Proud hon under every aspect, and I am satisfied that the salient characteristic of his intellectual physiognomy is a contempt of God and man. Never has any man sinned more deeply against humanity and the Holy Ghost. Whenever this chord of his heart resounds, it is always in an eloquent and vigorous strain. He himself does not then speak, but another speaks for him, who possesses him, and who causes him to fall into epileptic convulsions. He is then under the power of another who is greater than he, and who constrains him to sustain a perpetual dialogue. What he says at times is so extraordinary, and expressed in so strange a manner, that the soul remains amazed, not knowing if he who speaks is man or demon, or if he is in earnest or in jest. So far as Mr. Proudhon is concerned, if it rested with him, he would rather be regarded as demon than man. Man or devil, it is equally certain that upon his shoulders three ages of reprobation rest with crushing weight.