date

1819 Aug. 13 ult Fallacy Ch | | Logical
1819 Aug. 13 ult

Fallacy Ch | | Logical Highfliers

5

1. Exposition

O/I/n all these occasions /instances,/ including not only these three appellatives, but the four appellatives brought to view in the first instance, two objects, bearing to each other the sort of relation designated /expressible/ by the words the foul spot, and the cover, may be distinguished /may be observed/ nearer to, and the cover, or to use the common proverb the cap being such as fits the foul place more exactly than in those others.

1. Influence it is that affords the instance by which this exactness of fitting seems most plainly to be exemplified.

Foul spot, corruption: corruption considered whether in it applications by the Monarch to the so styled Representatives of the people, or by persons, endeavouring to place themselves among those Representatives, to any of the small number of individuals among the people who in the appointment of these Representatives are admitted to act in the character of representatives: corruption, including that particular mode of it which stands distinguished /prominent/ under the name of bribery: corruption, not to speak of that mode of seduction which though as yet so much less noticed is so much more mischievous than the foulest of every thing to which the name of corruption has ever been applied. Foul spot, say the corruption: cover or cap, influence

Influence is then distinguishable into legitimate and illegitimate or sinister. Legitimate influence is influence of understanding on understanding in all cases: influence moreover of will on will in other cases nut not in this: influence on all those cases in which power of which influence is a modification and that generally speaking /on the whole/ a milder /softer/ one, but not in

this. this.
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    An instance of this sort of special cloak is afforded by the thing called corruption - parliamentary corruption - and the word - the so commonly useful word - influence. How decorous! how graceful! how every way becoming - the cloak made out of it! /which it affords!/
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    The fallacy consists in making use of a name of lax import without applying to it those /such/ limitations as would be necessary to confine what is said /predicated/ of it with the pale of truth: and on that account wherever /on every occasion on which/ the language affords a name by the use of which that which is predicated would be confined within the pale of truth, avoiding the use of this /such/ precisely proper term.

    By this expedient, by lumping under the same more extensive name objects that are indefensible /plainly favourable/, it /which under their precise and appropriate/ presents them to view as innoxious. In this case, what the object for which there is a precise name is a sort of fouls spot, the lax name serves as a sort of cloak to it.

    Examples Foul shot, tyranny; cloak, Order foul spots, Election corruption, and Election terrorism; cloak, influence.

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    In all these several cases two objects may be distinguished: one which may be termed the foul spot; namely, according to the extent of it, abuse in this or that particular shape, or the whole system of abuse: the other, the cloak: the cloudy appellative employed as a cloak or cover for the abuse.

    As to the foul spot it may be determinate and thence apparent, or indeterminate, and thence unapparent and undistinguishable.

    So accordingly, on the other hand the cloak may be either a general or a special one: a general one, applying to abuse in all its forms; a special one, applying to abuse in this or that particular form, more particularly or even exclusively with reference to all others.

    For example, turn to the above list. For cloaks, you will see, the words Government, Law, Constitution (meaning the English Constitution) English Institutions, Forms, Order, alias Good Order and Social Order, Religion. Among the works of Government are all the good arrangements that can be seen any where established; as /so/ likewise /and along[?] with them/ all the bad ones. By the undiscriminating eulogy bestowed on Government, the word Government is made or endeavoured to be made, to serve as a cloak to the bad ones: and no sooner does a man bring to view any of the badness of any of the bad ones, than he becomes an enemy to Government.

    Among the works of Law in like manner are all the good laws that can be seen any where established, so likewise all the bad ones: here then are laws another cloak for the bad ones: and another of the sacred things to which the reformist is an enemy.