form of government, the principle of authority, and the nature of
right; that all sail hap-hazard upon a shoreless and bottomless
sea, abandoned to the guidance of their private opinions which
they modestly take to be right reason. And, in view of this
medley of contradictory opinions, we say: "The object of our
investigations is the law, the determination of the social
principle. Now, the politicians, that is, the social scientists,
do not understand each other; then the error lies in themselves;
and, as every error has a reality for its object, we must look in
their books to find the truth which they have unconsciously
deposited there."

Now, of what do the lawyers and the publicists treat? Of
jUSTICE, EQUITY, LIBERTY, NATURAL LAW, CIVIL LAWS, &c. But
what is justice? What is its principle, its character, its
formula? To this question our doctors evidently have no reply;
for otherwise their science, starting with a principle clear and
well defined, would quit the region of probabilities, and all
disputes would end.

What is justice? The theologians answer: "All justice comes
from God." That is true; but we know no more than before.

The philosophers ought to be better informed: they have argued so
much about justice and injustice! Unhappily, an examination
proves that their knowledge amounts to nothing, and that with
them--as with the savages whose every prayer to the sun is simply
_O! O!_--it is a cry of admiration, love, and enthusiasm; but
who does not know that the sun attaches little meaning to the
interjection O! That is exactly our position toward the