Outline of the Question

83. The timeliness and place of the question. Although we are still occupied with more general arguments, it nevertheless seemed good to append to the preceding question another, composed of two parts and sufficiently particular, but one which coheres with the principles handed down concerning legal and distributive justice, and after which it will no longer be necessary for us to treat either of these kinds of justice specifically. Moreover, the question is one of those which today never fail to keep minds in suspense and divided, so that it plainly corresponds to the intention of this work.

84. The treatment of the question. We shall now disclose in a few words how we intend to execute what has been proposed:

a) We shall in no manner examine what the present circumstances demand, or what system either of suffrages or of taxes, these circumstances having been observed, seems that it should be introduced into the laws; for this would be to act as a politician, which we utterly abhor;

b) Neither shall we rehearse those arguments which are ordinarily disputed in philosophical institutes and are sufficiently clear to Catholics; for we direct our attention specifically to present-day controversies;

c) But we shall inquire what the genuine character is both of the right of suffrage and of the obligation of paying taxes; then we shall define somewhat what parts justice claims for itself in this matter and what can be elicited from absolute principles concerning the manner of ordering the right of suffrage and the exactions of taxes.