Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-11-15
tions. in the forms stated in this letter. was
contained in the offer we made, we have
NJ 81 TO bot \

contained in the offer we made. we ha
no occasion to s,bstantiatc them. But '
are prepared to produced the evidence
the truth OF Our own statement, and ev.
p to 90 further; to show not only that TO
Paine 'die,la drunken. cowarlly. and bca.
ly death. but that for many years pre-,
Gus. and up to that event he lived drum
en- and beastly life" .E
In order to refresh your memory as
what you had published. l call your atte
, ton to the follo"ing.which appeared in ii
Ncw Io,k Obscrrc1' the 10Th of July 1877
PIT DOWN TIE MONEY.
"Col. Boz; Inrersoll. in a speech full ,
ribaldly and hlaSp!lcmy. made in San Frau
cisco recently. said:
Il will give Sl.G00 in gold coin to an
clergyman who can ssbStantiate that til
death of Noltaire was not as peaceful 4
the dawn: and of Tom Paine whom the
assert died in fear and agony. friglltenc
by the clanhing chains of devils-in fac
frightened to death by God. | will Civ
Si'o"@ likewise to any one who can sub
stan!iatc This absurd story-a story with
or; 4 word OF truth in it,
We have published the testimony. an,
j'N Witnesses are on hand to prove tha
Tom Paine died a drunken. cowarlly ant
f,&@;!y death. Let the Colonel t.euosit tn,
!"'heE with any honest man. and The alb
,uri story. as he terms it, shall be sl.Ow1
a hl ~ n nl. 4,.I,n t.,1n p,+ L.
il. His talk is Iniidel .bunconbe' anf
noting more
On The 3lst OF August sent you my
letter. and on The 27ill OF September YOU
say in your paper: "As not one of the f:
iirnntions in the form stated in this letter
was contained in the offer we made, We
have no occasion t" Substantiatc them
" hat were the affilInations conta;ne,l in
the offer You made: had offered Il tllo,,s-
ana dollars in gold 70 any one who would
substantive 'the absurd story that Tom
Paine died in fear and agony. frightened
by the cHnhh.ng chains of levils-;n fact
frightened to death by God.
In response to this offer Won said: ..Let
the Colonel deposit the money with any
honest MAN and Tie absurd story as lie
terms it. shall be Shown to be an socr
true tale But lie won't do it. His talk is
in!idel 'b"ncOnlbe' and nothing more"
Did yoa not o;iei. TO prove tiat Paine
died in fear and agony, fri ghtened by the
'lanking chains OF devils: Did you not
ask me TO deposit the money that you
might prove the ";i)>rrb story" TO be an
''o'cr true tale and obtain the money?
Did ron not in yn;r paper of the eth of
in effect deny tAat YOU had Off
prd to prove this .absur.! story AS
soon as | offered to deposit the gold
inu give bonds besides to cover costs, did
you not pubiS'. ftlsel.ool?
You have eaten yonr own words. and,
foT my part, would rather have dincd
with Ezekiel t'tan with yoI.
on have not met the issue. You have
knowingly avoided ii. The question was
lot as to tie personal habits Of Paine. The
eal question WAS and is. whether Paine
VAS filled with fear and horror ut the time
If his death on account of his religious
opinions. That is the question. You
void this. In effect, you abandon that
.hargc and make others.
TO you belongs the honor Of having
made the most cruel and infamous charges
against Thomas Paine that hare ever been
made. OF what you have said you cannot
Grove the truth of one word.
You say that Thomas Paine died Il
cowarlly and beastly death.
pronounce this charge to be a coward
Y and bcastly %alsehood.
Have You any evidence that he was in a
lrunkcn condition when he d,cd?
What did he say or do Of cowardly
haractcr just before, or at about the time
If his death?
In what way was his death cowardly?
!, OH must answer these questions, and give
Our proof or all honest men will hold
-ou in abh0rrence. You have made these
harSes. The man against whom you
make them is dead. He cannot answer
'ou. | can. lie cannot compel yOn to
'roduce your testimony. or admit by your
Hence that you have cruelty slandeied the
eftnseless dead. l can. and will. You
ay that his death was cowardly. In what
espect? Was it cowardly in him to hold
he Thirty Nine Articles in contempt?
Vas it cowar,lly not to call on your Lord
Vas it cowarlly not to be afraid? You
ay that his death was beastly. Again
SIX. in what respect? Was it beastly to
ubmit to the inevitable with tranquility !?
Vas it beastly to look with composure up
n the approach of death? Was it beastly
8 Il Without complaint. without MUIR
l,it-to pass from life without fear?
DID THOMAS PAINE RECAST:
Mr Paine had prophesied that fanatics
;ould crawl and and cringe around him
hat they would put Il lie in the mouth of
)eatll.
When the shadow Of the coming disso-
ltion was upon him. two clergymen,
iessrs. Milledol!ar and Cunningham called
, annoy the dying man. Mr.. Cunning
am had the politeness to say, You have
ow full view Of death-you cannot live
,ng. and whosoever does not believe in
ne Lord Jesus Christ will assuredly be
Mr.. Paine replied, "Let me
ave none Of your popish stuff. Get away
.ith you. Good morning"
On another occasion Methodist minis
r. obtruded himself when Willet Hicks
as present. The minister declared to MIR.
aine THAT unless he repcnted of his un-
.lef he would be damned" Paine. al
lough at the door Of death, rose in his
ii, and Indignantly requested the clergy
an to leave his room. On another occa-
on. two brothers by the name of PigOtt,
'ught to convert him. He was displeased
I'd requested their departure. Afterwards,
hOmas Nixon and Captain Daniel PeltOn
L. a Al | 4