Lord R. made a dashing rejoinder to Mr. C., and devoted the whole of
his speech to answering Mr. C.'s questions and arguments.
Therefore Lord R. showed bad taste and temper, and wasted his own time
and the public's.
* * * * *
I have altered my opinion of many men since 1885.
Many men have altered their opinion of _me_ since that same date.
Therefore they are either fickle fools or idolatrous items.
* * * * *
I followed my Leader until 1881.
Some follow him still.
Therefore either they don't know what they do, or don't mean what they
say.
* * * * *
If any logical-minded reader should object that these so-called
syllogisms are not really syllogisms at all, we should agree with
him. But then they are not only the brief and formal expression of
long-winded so-called arguments, which are not really arguments at
all, but which, veiled in floods of verbiage, are duly presented to
the public, from platform and Press, as though they really were so.
_Moral_:--The clear analysis of stump-oratory generally takes the form
of a _reductio ad absurdum_.
* * * * *
MUTUAL ADVERTISEMENT BY THE COURT JESTER.
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