If the reader will carry forward in his mind what I have already said on style and the object for which Mr. Paine and Junius wrote, it will greatly aid me in reducing the size of this book. I shall act on the principle of this suggestion, and while I give new matter upon new subjects, the reader will find the parallels greatly strengthened by what has already been said. The reader will also apply the facts already brought forward to the passages I shall hereafter present, so that, like a two-edged sword, it may be made to cut both ways. And first of _avarice_ and the _miser_:
"Could I find a miser whose heart never felt the emotion of a spark of principle, even that man, uninfluenced by every love but the love of money, and capable of no attachment but to his interest, would and must, from the frugality which governs him, contribute to the defense of the country, or he ceases to be a miser and becomes an idiot."
"Of all the vices avarice is most apt to taint and corrupt the heart."--Let. 27.
"As for the common _sordid views_ of avarice," etc.--Let. 53.
"The miser himself seldom lives to enjoy the fruits of his _extortion_."--Let. 20, note.
"Every passion that acts upon mankind has a peculiar mode of operation. Many of them are temporary and fluctuating; they admit of cessation and variety. But avarice is a fixed, uniform passion. It neither abates of its vigor nor changes its object."--Crisis, x.
"I could never have a doubt in law or reason that a man convicted of a high breach of trust and of a notorious corruption in the execution of a public office, was and ought to be incapable of sitting in the same parliament."--Let. 20.
I call attention to that pride of character and personal honor, so conspicuous in both Paine and Junius:
"A man who has no sense of honor, has no sense of shame."--Let. to Cheetham.
"Honor and honesty must not be renounced, although a thousand modes," etc.--Let. 58.
"Knowing my own heart, and feeling myself, as I now do, superior to all the skirmish of party, the inveteracy of interested, or mistaken opponents, I answer not to falsehood or abuse."--R. M., part ii.
"Junius will never descend to dispute with such a writer as Modestus."--Let. 29.
"Fortified with that proud integrity, that disdain to triumph or to yield, I will advocate the rights of man."--Do.
