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1819 Aug. 21
Disfranchisement
Apology for the Borough-mongers, or Defence of Reform ag st. Ed gh. Review
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In an indirect way the word corruption as applied to Parliamentary Election, will upon reflection be found to have been productive of mischief in a shape which could not in the first instance have been anticipated. By this word the censure cast on the abuse has been placed on a ground that covers but a part of it: but a part of it and that the least noxious part: that which is by far the most noxious namely terrorism not being comprized in it.
From this scantiness has resulted the inference, that where there is no corruption, there is no abuse
Several causes may be assigned why this scantiness /deficiency/ has had place has taken place and been continued.
It is only when it excels in this shape, that the evil has been such as to admitt of the metaphor /figure/ in question for the expression of it. The figure is of the number of those by which digust is naturally excited: the idea of animal[?] food, or something else which by putridity is converted from an object of desire into an object of loathing and disgust stands associated with it.
The dislike to Election imposture in this form is thus placed upon the footing of taste: it is stated as an object of natural disgust: which being admitted, the epithet disgusting, because one of the favourites of the day, can not but be acknowledged to be applicable to it With all men of bad morals, taste is a favourite basis or standard for morality, for approbation or disapprobation on a question belonging to the field of morals that of politics included. Why? Because it places the standard of right and wrong compleatly in their power, warranting them in giving /applying/ the appellation of right to whatsoever suits their momentary humour or interests; that of wrong to whatsoever happens to thwart it.
[marginal insertion:] {With all the participators in and supporters of arbitrary power – with all literary coxcombs /shallow literators/ who have learnt /acquired/ or think they have acquired the art of playing of the current phrenology[?] of the subject with advantage, without any clear insight into principles.}
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Title: [1819 Aug. 21 Disfranchisement]Description: 1819 Aug. 21 Disfranchisement Apology for the Borough-mongers, or Defence of Reform 2 behold[?] this delusion is dissipated, all conception[?] will be inadequate inefficient[?] To all those whose power has /terrorism/ for its sole or principal ground terrorism, it is manifest how acceptable this delusion – and thence the phrases which is /are/ /the figure and the phrases which are/ the vehicle of it can not but be: in proportion as it prevails, it points the whole force of reform against their rivals, leaving their own power untouched. It suits them as possessors of landed opulence; it suits them as men of taste: for pretensions to taste, i.e. to a share in the monopoly of /exclusive possession of the endowment of/ good taste, is one of the features of aristocracy, and naturally not to say necessarily accompanied with insolence and intolerance: with those antisocial vices for the display of which the word serves as a pretence. Being associated with the ideas of stench and putrefaction – with the idea of putrefaction, and thence with that of stench, it excites disgust: and it is in consideration of this disgust that it is condemned: condemned by many a man, who so it were not mischievous to himself and his own circle, would care little or nothing in what degree it were mischievous to the community at large. to any body else
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Title: [1819 July 3 Defence II Indirect]Description: 1819 July 3 Defence II Indirect attacks 2 4 Unhappily throughout the whole field of moral including political science an antipathy of the strongest kind has place by which with whatsoever benefit to practical and useful knowledge the use of them may be attended men are rendered averse to the use of new expressions. Where the subject is completely frivolous or belongs to the field of taste so far from being offended they are rather pleased with it. When it belongs to the field of physical science so it do but afford a promise of adding to the stock of clear conception or useful knowledge they are in like manner pleased with it. But in so far as it presents itself as belonging to the field of moral including political science, the distaste and aversion […?], it is little less than universal. Even in the field of morals taken in its utmost extent, of a new word in so far as its tendency is to inculcate any correspondently new opinion the effect is to produce a sensation which can not generally speaking be otherwise than of the most unpleasant kind. It calls upon them to make /institute/ inquiry into the whole stock of those opinions which they have been imbibing from earliest infancy, amongst them opinions of the utmost impertinence, and in the adherence to which they have been in the constant habit of regarding themselves as most secure from error and practical inconvenience: opinions in a word in their adherence to which they have been confirmed whether perhaps by adoptive prejudice perhaps by inborn weakness, perhaps by sinister interest, perhaps without any perception of the origin of it, by interest-begotten prejudice. But in the case of that part of the field of morals which is within the department of politics, interest operating /acting/ in full force will, in the case of all men to whom political power has been an object of ambition, be adding its seductive force to all those which have place and operate in the field of morals at large. An expression which has for its object the helping to shew that this or that good thing to the attainment of which all his exertions have been directed ought not to have existence – where is the man to whom it can be a source of any more agreable emotions[?] than those of terror /horror/ and disgust?
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Title: [[clx. 393] 1822 Sept. 29 Constitut]Description: [clx. 393] 1822 Sept. 29 Constitut. Code Public Opinion Tribunal Sanction Social Aristocratic Section Devices 2 Opinions Taste Sanction Social - Tribunal - Aristocratical Section of it - their Devices Use of the words ridicule and disgusting: ridicule, French; disgusting, English In the use they make of this word disgusting, as being at the [...?] of superlative, they are not aware that they are thus furnishing arms against themselves: gaining over the members of the democratical to the side of the aristocratical: substituting the principle of taste to the greatest happiness principle. Allow taste to be a proper arbiter of excellence and depravity, the station of the greatest number is in the very sink of depravity For the rich and powerful will always be the arbiters of taste what is an object of disgust to them will by those who follow this principle be an object of disgust likewise. But that the poor, labouring and non-labouring - all those who can not afford a clean shirt every day and a suit of clothes every three months are to the men of the [...? ...?] objects of disgust, is altogether beyond dispute.
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