date

1819 Aug. 15 9 Fallacies Ch | | Logical
1819 Aug. 15 9

Fallacies Ch | | Logical Highfliers

3

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.
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    Among the several cloudy appellatives which have been mentioned already as being commonly employed as cloaks one of them presents a claim to special notice, in respect of the peculiar nature of the foul /a special/ spot, to which it is peculiarly adapted /in a peculiar degree/ to serve as a covering.

    The cloak in question is /composed/ the word Order: the foul spot it is in so peculiar a degree adapted to the purpose of covering is tyranny

    At first sight other words may present themselves as being in an equal degree capable of being employed as claoks for the same foul spot: namely Law, and Government. 1[?] But for the covering of a spot so preeminently foul, the most cloudy appellative that can be found - the appellative of which the import is most loose and indeterminate and lax is manifestly preferrable to every other. Now[?] Order is more extensive than Law or even than Government: for the works of law[?] we have no others than laws: to the extension of such measures or arrangement of government as do not some under that denomination: and if /when[?]. measures or arrangements of government are spoken of, the word government may be apt to present itself as putting an exclusion upon the idea of laws: as meant to bring to view such measures or arrangements of government as are not laws
  • Title: [1819 Aug 16 10 Fallacies Ch | | Logical]
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    Fallacies Ch | | Logical Highfliers

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    2. Exposure

    3. Among the features of the Constitution, along with the good ones we may have likewise, supposing it possible there should be any, all the bad ones: and thus in the word Constitution we have another cloak for the bad ones: and another sacred object of the reformist's enmity.

    4. Among the fruits or works of Government, Law, and the Constitution are Institutions: and if the import belonging to that word is more or less loose, and therefore occasionally comprehensive it serves but the better for a cloak. By the limitative adjunct English the amplitude of the cloak is not to any practical purpose narrowed: for such abuses as are English as the only abuses for which any cover is in demand, and by the word English thus employed intimation is given to every true Englishman that nothing that is English can be short of perfection, consequently that among English institutions there can not be any bad ones. Thus supposing there were any, it is manifest how excellent a cover for them these words English Institutions would make: and how proper an object for enmity he is who by indication given of any thing that s amiss in any institution that can be called an English one demonstrates himself an enemy to those objects to which, whatever they are or may be no attachment can be too indiscriminating, too blind, or too fond. -
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 17 15 Fallacies Ch. |]
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    Fallacies Ch. | | Logical HighFlyers

    9 Influence

    Mention has been made of a case in which the cloak may be termed a special one: it is the more special, the more exactly it fits to the foul spot to the abuse. As the looseness of the cloak has its advantages, so has the close-fittingness: the looser the greater in number and extent the foul-spots, the abuses, for which it may be made a cover: but the closer to shape, the less the suspicion excited by the use of it.

    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!/