JB_162_168.xml

Title: [[clxii. 168] 1820 May 23 Emancipation]

Description: [clxii. 168]

1820 May 23

Emancipation Spanish

' 7 Rulers gainers

'. 4. Factitious dignity

Every man possessed of a title is the author of injury to every man /untitled man/ who but for the title would have obtained more respect that the titled man would have obtained /may behold a/ the titled man is the author of injury, one who robs him of his due.

Whatever good is done by titles, that and more can be done and is done much better without titles

Take away titles every man is judged of according to his works. Establish titles /Suffer titles to arise/ Keep titles on foot every man is judged of according to his title.

With the single exception of the military class (the naval included) under a government maintained /supported/ by corruption, a title instead of being /so far from being good/ evidence of meritorious service is as far as it is evidence of any thing evidence of ill-desert, of ill desert exemplified /manifested/ // exercised[?]// by subserviency in some shape or other to the system of misrule: of some act or acts by which the sacrifice of universal to particular and sinister interest is in some way or other facilitated[?] and /or/ encreased.

Suppose even that real service - service really meritorious[?] really conducive to the public interest has been rendered by every individual by whom the title in question is possessed /borne/. Even in this case it does more harm than good: it places the least meritorious on a level with the most meritorious. Though /While/ as between the persons possessed of it it establishes a distinction such as it is, with reference to all those who are not possessed of it, yet as between one and another of those who are possessed of it, it obliterates all distinctions

When thus judged according to his works, the judgment given is given in the way of universal suffrage; and this with that genuiness which can not have place without secresy of suffrage.

When the judgment is thus given according to his works, in this case to the utmost benefit which such a certificate can confer, nothing but correspondent publicity is wanting. In a state of society in which no signs of thought but those evanescent ones called words

spoken, are in use, this publicity is proportionably limited: from the invention and use of writing it receives encrease from the invention of printing it receives the maximum of increase, with no other deduction than [...?] such as in each creation /use/ by the government of the country made from it by the restraints imposed on the liberty of the press.

JB_162_178.xml

Title: [[clxii. 178] 1820 May 23 Emancipation]

Description: [clxii. 178]

1820 May 23

Emancipation Spanish

'. 7. Rulers gainers

'. 4 Rulers gainers

Factitous dignity

[...?] of parasite[?] Lord Wellington, of despotism, Lord Banks.

To deprive men of these titles to /efficient causes of/ respect spurious as they are would be a harsh measure, and what is more not a possible one. Of power a man may be deprived: but of factitious dignity - and in particular of factitious dignity manufactured by this instrument, a man can not be deprived. Events that have had place you can not cause not to have had place: a man who instead of a Mister [...? [...?] with his surname after it has been in use to be spoken to by a Sir with his /a/ Christian name after it you can not cause him not to have been so spoken to

But though in a direct way /mode/ this could not be done there is an indirect way /mode/ in which it might be done. Only by means of being an evidence /a cause/ of distinction, an attribute /a possession/ peculiar to a certain class of man Take away the distinction, you take away the factitious dignity: you have the possession of it a possession of no greater nor other quantity of respect than what his conduct and character suffice of themselves to cover /invest/ him with. /bestow upon him./ In England if all men[?] past and future were created baronets, there would be an end of baronetcy. In England, or In Spain if all men present and future were rendered Dukes, there would be an end of Dukedoms If all men were created Grandees of the first class there would be an end of Grandeeships of the first class. But the enoblement[?] it would be necessary should cover the whole field: otherwise what was taken from the class abolished /extinguished/ would be left and given to the classes not abolished and the people at large would be none the better for the change. If all men were made Grandees of the first class and the Grandeeship of the first class thus abolished, the Grandees of the second class would take their place. And this second state of the country would not be better than the first.

JB_162_177.xml

Title: [[clxii. 177] 1820 May 23 Emancipation]

Description: [clxii. 177]

1820 May 23

Emancipation Spanish

'. 7. Rulers gainers

Factitious dignity

If so it be that the operation of this instrument to purposes pernicious to the community /people/ is the general rule while the operation of it to the benefit of the community in any shape as matter of accident - the instances in which it has place forming exceptions and these rare ones, the stronger /more forcible/ the more efficient[?] the more irresistible the operation of it is, the more anxious and determined [...?] and strenuous ought to be the endeavours /efforts/ //exertions// of those whom it concerns all who are real friends of the people to rid the government and the country of every nuisance in these shapes