Représentant du Peuple

Proudhon Library

Le Représentant du Peuple: Specimen issues (October-November 1847)

June 20, 2026 Shawn P. Wilbur
Links: A New Proudhon Library [project page] Le Représentant du Peuple: misc. writings Prospectus of Le Peuple — published after May 20, 1847 In 1789, a famous publicist wrote: “What is the Third Estate? — Nothing. — What ought it to be? — Everything.” What Sieyès said in 89 regarding the bourgeoisie, we now say regarding the people and on behalf of the people. The people are everything in civilization: defenders of the homeland, creators of public wealth, revealers of science, poetry and art, supreme check on government. There is no idea, no seed, no fruit, no marvel that does […]
New Proudhon Library

Le Représentant du Peuple (February-August 1848)

February 23, 2026 Shawn P. Wilbur
No. 4 (April 4, 1848) Représentant du Peuple no. 4 ( April 4, 1848): 1-2. IDEAS AND FACTS. There are always, and at this moment more than ever, two politics standing face-to-face: the politics of interests and the politics of ideas. The former is just as entitled as the latter to the attention of influential figures; its mission is to reduce the suffering of all members of society to its barest minimum, to temper, as much as possible, the profound upheaval in which almost every life is currently immersed and, finally, to give life to all the principles that have […]