The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-31
Tom Paine's Celebrations MRS. Roses
Speech ON PoIi,ics and Religion.

Speech ON PoIi,ics and Religion.
The followers ard admirers Of tho life and
writings Of tn 2 fam as Tom Pane, the antnor Oh
"Common Sense,'' Rights of Man." "Tho Ago
of Reason" and otho celebrated brochures political
and deis.ical, celebrated the one hundred and lf
teosth anniversary Of his birth day on Thursday
evening, by b all and supper at the City Assem-
bly, Rooms When supper WAS concluded, the
President, Mr. Jam 8 Thompson, having called the
Assembly TO order, said-N1y friends, allow mo to
ask you question. Why ME we bore this night
What potent charm mas brought together so varied
an assembly | see around mo men who differ
widely their habits of life, in their opinions on
abs,rac. theories, and even on those mcrtoriou'
subjects which now gtate tho human mind through
out tas world Here ere many warm friends and
ardent admirers of that philanthropi, and truly
good and honest n an, Robert Owen, (applausc)
who believed that by association alone cosld the
condition of ma kind be essentially improved.
Hero are others who believe that right distribu-
ten of tho surface of tho earth amongst the inha.
bitaats thereof is necessary (app!ause) to benefit
the condition Of man. Here are many others who
believe that good governments, and individual
exertion are alone wanting to render man that be.
ing which nature designed he should be; but how
ever widely we may differ on o.hor subjects, there
il one sentiment on which We all agree In opinion
and that is as to tina necessity OF liberty Of thought
and freedom from superstition for tho progress OF
men. (Applaues And why | ask why arc we
hero this night Does not every heart and tongue
respond, ITO DO bonor to the memory OF one
of ths noblese champions Of Aborty tina,
ever graced this EARTH Great applause.
A man who toiea not 70 convert others TO his
opinions, but to give freedom 70 ell, AID this, my
friends, 10 the eyes of priests and blSots, was hi
never to be forgiven ain. They can look with
gapfa ami
breaches against form OF superstition, provided
that he or che but advocate some othar. But woe
to the memory Of tie man whose noble mind, cast.
ing ASIDE all sectional feeling, exclaimed, " my
heart knows no bounds but the human race--the'
world is my country 10 do good my religion -and
truly did his actions in lire bear witness % the
sincerity Of his opinions. Ie tho down tzodten
victim of oppression ever iriand, 20 tyranny and
fraud IN unyeilding foe And, my friends. while
we honor the momoTy of Thomas Paine, let rs mover
Forge. n.s noble sentiments, '.he world ID my coun-
Try, anu TO do good my religion ANA when tao mis-
erabstyfaDt OF France, his scarcely less infamous
brother, tyrant of Naples Gad Austria. strike down
enc OF the unfortunate liberals Of those countries for
daring to essert his rights TO that liberty Thoughts
whish alone raises man above the brute, let US feel
that brother has been foUiy slain, and tas as 90
all IN our power to revenge his death by spread
irg abroad the noble prime ies for which he died.
w Quarrel with man on account d his res'gicn
We f:eeiv accord TO all the right 10 pTcnuigato
that which we deem error Nay, ve can even say
to the priest, @ will take thy medium when thou
hast shown to me that It is good bat thou shalt
not drive mo Ike o horse" As ! trust and hope
tha. this country Is able to assert and, Il nsad be,
TO give active aid 70 establish the gr3a. political
principle that every natio. shall b. lree to govern
Itself 80 trust that tho common sense Of man.
kind will, ere long, determine that every man shall
be free 70 follow the bent Of his mind % religious
as well as on all other subjects, without lot or him
ORANGE from his fellow men Mr. Thompson then
announced the first regular toast
The day celebrate Endesred 10 every iove- Of
d TIA. n. =
ar come when Il WI be marked on the calendar as
universe! festival.
The second regular toast was
Oar revolutionary Wort hes - Prompted by the purest
patriotism their object The public good sslfshaess was
not in their creed.
The third regular toast was
The Democratic Central Committee Of Europe May
they sucoeed ia establishing governments accordance
with the principles OF pure epu6licgniSm.
The fourth regu II toaat was
Education : In the formation Of character, ruling
influence; to the friends OF progress pJ!Ar atar,
The 18th regular toast was-
The Pgeas An unshachet press the terror OF desTot
ISM. the hope OF the Oppressed
Six;d regular toast
The Llborals throug hout the World Men una~sa by
the threats Of superstition tsd hJ its influence
wSe suiitd b. tie principle of moral recuae higotry
Eay csasu2e, lat reason VAL net con4enn.
MIR Il. 5. SMITH respslded-'' The liberals
throuchout the world tfod knows they are few
enough, bat they those noble and brave hearts
who come out II defiance of the prejudices hrricd
against them. ard assert the aatural an3 in,lien
aols righ. OF man 10 life, liberty, and his oan
opinion. It is vel, thst tbore IRE few liberals
II this city. and they 81 ould esther here once
year, that thy have the good sense % honor tee
memory OF sucb man Thomas Paine Never
was there man whose feelings aud affections uefe
more extended aud vide. spread than chat 40 much
yiifed character, Thomas Paine lie was man
whose liberalism was not confined 70 one sccs or
creed, nor was he e.. sirey original, either in his
opposing superstition, for Pope, on one occasion,
said
so ~ alaa, -
Ills oaa't be wrong whoae lie is a the right.
And Thomas Paine was that man.
Tbs seventh regular toast was
Ihs Ciergy-Geneialiy in the rrar OF progress they
hurry on or be thrown oil tie trscA. Preserved
Or HUE YVES called on to respond He said no
vas bound to say few sentences, # It was only TO
get rid Of the matter. The subject Of the clergy
undergoes cAnngeG, from age to eye. The iniie''ty
or hoseiod0xy OF too becomes the orthodoxy Of
20 morrow. There - great daeron,e between
the religion Of TO dap snd that OF fifty years ego.
Now, occasionally, though very seldom indeed,
little common sense was to be found IN the dis
courses OF clcrgymep, which Wa not tho case ia
tho tines OF Cotton Mather, in New England; and,
If they went ch to the dark ages they could aot
discover spaih Of Life ia religion. But sha clergy
have undergone great change. and are improving,
though thee still f. J. IN the rear Of progress
though they cannot, y ~ means, escape is in
tueicc-and i appea. % me That, II things con-
tinue Is thoy have done, The clergy viii improve
a!so as they bnve done within the last twenty fro
years-tAey will become he authorized eachors
IL science, morality, and useful knowledge CA
Noice-lt il time tbey werc)
The CHAIRMAN then announcsd tho eighth re-
grsr tea3,
Womeu-sa-ouyh her influence nun pl-took Of the
- oWle5re Though drsea from te sardsa where
II gree ceued knonledse enough 70 make an Eden
wherever SIS may ee.
Mrs Rosr, Polish lady, resident n this city, in
respopd!nF 20 this toast delivered the following eio
tha rs,nk a II 4