[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.