absence of economical equilibrium, is, according to Proudhon, the
ever real, though ever concealed, cause of war. The pages
devoted to this demonstration and to his theory of poverty, which
he clearly distinguishes from misery and pauperism, shed entirely
new light upon the philosophy of history. As for the author's
conclusion, it is a very simple one. Since the treaty of
Westphalia, and especially since the treaties of 1815,
equilibrium has been the international law of Europe. It remains
now, not to destroy it, but, while maintaining it, to labor
peacefully, in every nation protected by it, for the equilibrium
of economical forces. The last line of the book, evidently
written to check imperial ambition, is: "Humanity wants no more
war."

In 1861, after Garibaldi's expedition and the battle of
Castelfidardo, Proudhon immediately saw that the establishment of
Italian unity would be a severe blow to European equilibrium. It
was chiefly in order to maintain this equilibrium that he
pronounced so energetically in favor of Italian federation, even
though it should be at first only a federation of monarchs. In
vain was it objected that, in being established by France,
Italian unity would break European equilibrium in our favor.
Proudhon, appealing to history, showed that every State which
breaks the equilibrium in its own favor only causes the other
States to combine against it, and thereby diminishes its
influence and power. He added that, nations being essentially
selfish, Italy would not fail, when opportunity offered, to place
her interest above her gratitude.

To maintain European equilibrium by diminishing great States and