The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-03-20
A Reply to AlIquis and Others.

To the Editor Of the Hacaiian Gazette:
SIR,-There was published in the Aduertiser, few
weeks since, article signed "Aliquis'' wishing to
inform the friends of Thomas Paine of the life he
lived, and the death he died. You admit that he had
done great service toward gaining the independence
of the United States, during the revolutionary war
with England. But such services he forfeited be.
cause, as you statc he died poor miserable drunk
ard which statement is notoriously incorrect as has
been shown already in previous statements published
here. Paine's belief was " believe in the equality
of man, and believe that religious duties consist in
doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to
make our fellow creatures happy. believe in one
God and no more, and hope for happiness beyond
this life. My religion, and the whole of it, is the
fear and the love of the Deity and universal phian-
thropy. The world is my home to do good is my
religion" will ask you, do you think such utter
anees ever came from the lips of drundard? Thos.
Paine did not believe that the Bible was written by
inspiration, but, the Quakers believe it was no.
thing nor less than history of the times He
had perfect right to publish his religious belief
and because it conflicts with yours and perhaps
weakens the of your maintenance you would
rejoice to all his good forfeited, his good
name sink into oblivion, and pray to God to curse
and scatter his religious works to the four winds of
Heaven. When a mans prejudices lead him to
stoop to such low means in defence, support his
own belief, the least can say is, he is to be ped.
You have the unbushng and bare-faced audacity to
compare Thomas Paine's character with Benedict
Arnold's. Arnold was guilty of treason, he was
traitor to his country, and, by the laws of such,
would have to pay the penalty with his life. Did
Paine ever commit any criminal act? The charges
you bring against him (admit them to be true,, do
not make him amenable to the law in the least And
yet you undertake to prove to his friends here that he
stands on the parallel with Arnold, who is
guilty of one of the backest of crimes. How prepos
ferrous Drunkenness and beastly appearance is the
first charge you make against him. The second is,
that he reeanted his belief of religion before his
death. 1 will take the first charge-Drunkenness
will refer to the Bible Noah the only good and
righteous God could find after coming out of the
Ark, committed the very act which you Paine
of, and lay, exposing his person, in a most beastly
manner. His own son, being shocked at his dis
gustng appearance, attempted 10 throw some cover
ing over him, aud for doing received salutation
OF curses from him. For authority, you will admit
that the Bible stands good as the New York OBJ
server. 1t has been asserted that he was defaulter
He did not fly from England. lie came to America,
not a furgitive, but free man. He came with
letter of introduction signed by another infdel-
Benjamin Franklin. He came as a soldier of free.
dom, apostle of liberty. Moses, one of your
Bible heroes las the Book states), looked this way
and that way, and, when saw him, he slew
the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. He fed
his country for his life, for committing cswardly
murder. This Moses afterwards made the
Bible secretary to God, and the laws, in which
it states Thou shalt do murderI Has Moses for
fsited all his good acts? Do You condemn and dis
card all his religious works? mol His name is
hearlded forth from all the churches in the world as
the meek and lowly Moses. Again; take King
David, another Bible hero. A after Gods own
heart (the Bible God, mean). He planned to have
Urah placed in the front ohe battle have him slain
in order get possession of his wife, to crafty his
lust. Did Paine ever commit villainous act like
this? What death did King David die will re-
fer you to the Household Physicians work publish
ed by DR.. Warren, of Boston, where be traces the
origin of syphilis back King David where he says
My loins stink, and my friends stand aloof from
mel 1t is now almost universally believed that he
stricken by the hand Of the Almighty with this
lothsome disease for bis lcentiousness with which
be died. Now. sir. which of the two died beastly
death. the after Gods own heart or Thomas
Paine, the hero Of our revolution Did not Peter,
to whom the keys of Heaven were given. deny his
Lord and Master with curses; tell one Of the most
shameful lies on record Did the Saviour speak
these worde-Whomsoever denies me on this earth,
the will deny before the Angels in Heaven
consider Paine's chance quite as good as Peters.
The comparison Of Arnold with your Bible heroes
parallels. But for anyone to undertake to publish