The Basis for Stable Government

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　Law is justice. In this proposition a simple and enduringgovernment can be conceived. And I defy anyone to say how even thethought of revolution, of insurrection, of the slightest uprisingcould arise against a government whose organized force was confinedonly to suppressing injustice.

　　Under such a regime, there would be the most prosperity -- and itwould be the most equally distributed. As for the sufferings that areinseparable from humanity, no one would even think of accusing thegovernment for them. This is true because, if the force of governmentwere limited to suppressing injustice, then government would be asinnocent of these sufferings as it is now innocent of changes in thetemperature.

　　As proof of this statement, consider this question: Have thepeople ever been known to rise against the Court of Appeals, or mob aJustice of the Peace, in order to get higher wages, free credit, toolsof production, favorable tariffs, or government-created jobs? Everyoneknows perfectly well that such matters are not within thejurisdiction of the Court of Appeals or a Justice of the Peace. Andif government were limited to its proper functions, everyone wouldsoon learn that these matters are not within the jurisdiction of thelaw itself.

　　But make the laws upon the principle of fraternity -- proclaimthat all good, and all bad, stem from the law; that the law isresponsible for all individual misfortunes and all social inequalities-- then the door is open to an endless succession of complaints,irritations, troubles, and revolutions.