In response to the argument that the British have protected the colonies, Thomas Paine argues that while this is technically true, the British have only done so for their own economic gain--not out of a feeling of altruism.
Words like <em>never, always, everybody, </em>etc. are absolute nouns and adverbs. In argument, these are usually a sign of over-generalization. These words alone cannot be considered as any kind of appeal (emotional, logical or ethical) since these appeals are done depending on how you use these words, not on the meaning of words as stand-alone.
Answer:
a controlling statement, like a claim
It shows the readers that not all slave-owners was cruel.