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Editorial
June 30, 1801
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
This editorial critiques how party-political disputes and religious polemics cause societal harm by emphasizing words over substance, inciting opposition, and using rhetoric to obscure truth and confuse the public.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
A thought on Party Disputes.
The disputes of party-politicians, and the controversies of polemical divines, generally do more harm than good, because they are oftener about words than things: both tend to raise a spirit of opposition in mankind, and disturb the peace of society. They perplex weak minds with nice distinctions, refined speculations and sophistical arguments; and employ all the subtleties of logic, and the flowers of rhetoric, to embellish the features of error, and to darken the complexion of truth.
The disputes of party-politicians, and the controversies of polemical divines, generally do more harm than good, because they are oftener about words than things: both tend to raise a spirit of opposition in mankind, and disturb the peace of society. They perplex weak minds with nice distinctions, refined speculations and sophistical arguments; and employ all the subtleties of logic, and the flowers of rhetoric, to embellish the features of error, and to darken the complexion of truth.
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Party Disputes
Religious Controversies
Social Harm
Sophistry
Opposition Spirit
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Party Disputes And Religious Controversies
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Divisive Disputes
Key Arguments
Disputes Of Party Politicians And Polemical Divines Do More Harm Than Good
They Are Often About Words Rather Than Things
They Raise A Spirit Of Opposition And Disturb Societal Peace
They Perplex Weak Minds With Nice Distinctions, Refined Speculations, And Sophistical Arguments
They Employ Logic And Rhetoric To Embellish Error And Obscure Truth