DUODECIMALS VERSUS DECIMALS. 
333 
But tlie principle of harmonian unity, which can only be discov- 
ered by the torch of analogy, has escaped them, and instead of 
raising to science a monument more lasting than brass, they will 
tinker up an arithmetical constitution which will live no longer 
than the political constitutions. Their system will hardly be es- 
tablished in all the capitals of the civilized world before it will be 
necessary to throw it away like an old cracked pot. It was, how- 
ever, a very easy and simple thing to have chosen the number 12 
as pivot of the metrical system. It was only necessary to com- 
pare the merits of the number 12 with those of its rival 10; and 
the first glance sufficed to show that 12 is not only that which con- 
tains the greatest possible number of factors under the smallest 
volume, but that it was, above all, the only one which in its love 
of harmony, of unity, and of order had the power to absorb the 
characterial angulosities and the refractory tendencies of the num- 
bers 5 and 7, 
Passion does not mislead ; on the contrary, when science is 
obliged to cast tongue to the dogs, it is passion which comes to 
its aid to give it the solution of the most difficult problems. Bring 
us the most insoluble problems of politics or of transcendent astron- 
omy, and we will abide the proof. 
What, indeed, is politics, if not the science of the government of 
the passions ? Political science consists in opening to our affec- 
tions the most unlimited field ; it is the art of developing, combined- 
ly and simultaneously, the action of the distributives. At the 
head of the harmonian charter is inscribed the famous precept, 
Love each other. To love ; it is to procure one's self all imagina- 
ble happiness without vexing any body ; since the liberty or free 
development of the passions of one should own as its limits only 
respect for the happiness and liberty of others. 'Now love, love 
alone gives the edifying example of conciliating liberty with au- 
thority ; love, which makes the captive bless his fetters, and fly 
with delight to meet the caprices of the being beloved. Were I 
government, I would calculate all my institutions on those of Love. 
I would engrave upon the buttons of my national guard an 
adorable love, to serve as the tract of union between Order and 
Liberty. 
