C. Let us now examine how Parliamentary assemblies work. For a long time it was believed that their principal function was that of arguing out the most important questions of social organisation, and, above all, those relating to the constitution. In such matters it is possible to proceed from first principles by way of deduction to clear and concise conclusions. Our forefathers excelled in this scholastic type of argument, which forms the luminous part of political discussions. Now that the question of the constitution is scarcely ever discussed, certain great laws still give rise to fine oratorical tournaments; thus on the question of the separation of the Church and the State, the professional expounders of first principles were heard and even applauded; it was the opinion of all that the debates had rarely reached so high a level, and this was because the question was one that lent itself to academic discussion. But when, as more frequently happens, commercial laws or social measures are discussed, then we see the stupidity of our representatives displayed in all its splendour; ministers, presidents, or rapporteurs de commissions,[1] specialists, vie with each other in displays of stupidity; the reason for this is that we are now dealing with economic questions, and the mind is no longer guided by simple rules; in order to be able to give an opinion worthy of consideration on these questions, one must have had a practical acquaintance with them, and our honourable members cannot be said to possess this kind of knowledge. Among them may be found many representatives of the little science; on July 5, 1905, a well-known specialist in venereal diseases[2]
- ↑ [Laws in France are discussed by a committee elected by the Chamber; they alter the text of the law, and it is the duty of the rapporteur, named by the committee, to defend the amended text in open discussion in the Chamber.—Trans. Note.]
- ↑ Doctor Augagneur was for a long time one of the glories of that
till then remained exceedingly obscure, and notably to show the exact value of certain important arguments used by Proudhon.
