"[76] - Through the
transformation of lower social classes into middle class conditions we
restore human dignity, and out of the proletarian, the valet and the
workman, we begin to liberate the citizen.
VII.
Repression of Egoism. - Measures against farmers, manufacturers and
merchants. - Socialist projects. - Repression of Federalism. -
Measures against the local, professional and family spirit.
Two leading obstacles hinder the development of civism, and the first
is egoism. Whilst the citizen prefers the community to himself, the
egoist prefers himself to the community. He cares only for his own
interest, he gives no heed to public necessities; he sees none of the
superior rights which take precedence of his derived right; he
supposes that his property is his own without restriction or
condition; he forgets that, if he is allowed to use it, he must not
use it to another's detriment.[77] This even the middle or low class,
who possess goods essential for survival, will do. The greater the
demand for these goods the higher they raise their prices; soon, they
sell only at an exorbitant rate, and worse still, stop selling and
store their goods or products, in the expectation of selling them
dearer.
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