"Excepting the special arms, which will be recruited voluntarily like all other professions. You thus see the conscription abolished." "Be pleased, Sir, to use the word recruitment." "Ah! I had forgotten; how easy it is in some countries to perpetuate and hand down the most unpopular things by changing their names!" "Thus, _droits réunis_ have become _contributions indirectes_." "And _gendarmes_ have taken the name of _gardes municipaux_." "In short, you would disarm the country on the faith of a utopian theory." "I said that I should disband the army--not that I would disarm the country. On the contrary, I intend to give it invincible force." "And how can you give consistency to this mass of contradictions?" "I should call upon all citizens to take part in the service." "It would be well worth while to dispense with the services of some of them, in order to enrol all." "You surely have not made me a minister in order to leave things as they are. On my accession to power, I should say, like Richelieu, 'State maxims are changed.' And my first maxim, the one I should employ as the basis of my administration, would be this: Every citizen must prepare for two things--to provide for his own subsistence, and to defend his country." "It appears to me, at first sight, that there is some show of common sense in what you say." "Consequently, I should base the law of national defence on these two enactments: "'Art. 1st.--Every able-bodied citizen shall remain _sous les drapeaux_ for four years--namely, from 21 to 25--for the purpose of receiving military instruction.'" "A fine economy, truly! You disband four hundred thousand soldiers to create ten millions." "Listen to my second article: "'Art. 2d.--Unless it is proved that at 21 years of age he knows perfectly the platoon drill.'" "Nor do I stop here. It is certain that in order to get quit of four years' service, there would be a terrible emulation among our youth to learn the _par le flanc droit and the charge en douze temps_. The idea is whimsical." "It is better than that. For without bringing families to grief, without encroaching on equality, would it not secure to the country, in a simple and inexpensive manner, 10 millions of defenders capable of setting at defiance all the standing armies of the world?" "Really, if I were not on my guard, I should end with taking a serious interest in your conceits." _Utopian free-trader getting excited_. "Thank Heaven! here is my Budget relieved of 200 millions. I suppress the octroi. I remodel indirect contributions. I..." "Oh! Monsieur l'Utopiste!" _Utopian free-trader getting more and more excited_. "I should proclaim freedom of worship, freedom of teaching, and new resources. I would buy up the railways, pay off the public debtr and starve out stockjobbers." "Monsieur l'Utopiste!"