The Humbugs of the World · Chapter
XXXIII explained
This chapter details the 'Miscegenation' hoax, a literary and political humbug orchestrated by three journalists from the World newspaper.
What happens
This chapter details the 'Miscegenation' hoax, a literary and political humbug orchestrated by three journalists from the World newspaper. The pamphlet advocated for racial blending and was designed to trick both abolitionists and Democrats into endorsing or attacking extreme views for political gain. The authors used pseudoscience, forged endorsements, and media manipulation to create a nationwide controversy.
Themes in this chapter
Definition and Nature of Humbug
The chapter defines the Miscegenation hoax as a 'literary sell' and 'political humbug,' detailing the deliberate deception and manipulation of public opinion.
Advertising and Showmanship
The authors used ingenious publicity stunts, such as planting false news stories and soliciting endorsements, to generate notoriety for the pamphlet.
Gullibility and Human Nature
Prominent reformers and newspapers were easily deceived into endorsing the pamphlet, demonstrating the susceptibility of even educated people to well-crafted hoaxes.
Hypocrisy and Moral Judgment
The hoax exposed the hypocrisy of politicians and reformers who were quick to embrace or condemn the pamphlet based on their own biases, without verifying its authenticity.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Theodore Tilton
Delivered a discourse at Cooper Institute that inspired the hoax; later suspected the pamphlet was a hoax and wrote a critical article in the Independent.
- Mr. Greeley
His Tribune published an article on the pamphlet; he was reportedly displeased with the publication.
- Mr. Bennett
Editor of the Herald; dismissed the pamphlet and those who wrote about it as 'asses.'
- Cuvier
Mentioned as an example of a scientist who could reconstruct an extinct animal from a single tooth, used to illustrate how journalists write on unfamiliar topics.
Key passages
“The design of 'Miscegenation' was exceedingly ambitious, and the machinery employed was probably among the most ingenious and audacious ever put into operation to procure the endorsement of absurd theories, and give the subject the widest notoriety.”
The plan for the Miscegenation pamphlet was very ambitious, and the methods used to get people to support its ridiculous ideas and make it famous were among the most clever and daring ever seen.
Summarizes the chapter's central claim about the hoax's sophistication.
“The object was to so make use of the prevailing ideas of the extremists of the Anti-Slavery party, as to induce them to accept doctrines which would be obnoxious to the great mass of the community, and which would, of course, be used in the political canvass which was to ensue.”
The goal was to exploit the extreme views of the Anti-Slavery party so that they would endorse ideas that most people would find offensive, which could then be used against them in the upcoming election.
Explains the political strategy behind the hoax.
“The word is as euphonious as 'amalgamation,' and much more correct in meaning. It has passed into the language, and no future dictionary will be complete without it.”
The new word 'miscegenation' sounds as pleasant as 'amalgamation' and is more accurate. It has become part of the English language, and every future dictionary will need to include it.
Highlights the lasting linguistic impact of the hoax.