, 1879-07-17
THOMAS PAINE.

THOMAS PAINE.
Tho Notion TINT lIc yyns tho Author OF the
Declaration of Independence.
NEW YonK. July 12.-To the Editor OF ths Nev
1ork San: Probably no man who piarcd an in-
portant part in the American cyolutohlssollttlo
known to the great n.nss Of tho American pco-
pic rs fs Thotnas palac. Paino was uos only tho
Intimate friend If Franklin (wl,o induced him 10
CONF 10 Amcrien), Int also OF Jcncrson ard
Washington. Ilo accompanied Washington IN
severnl campafgns, md was warmly inriicd to
visit him after tho close o: tic war lie was
also tho personal md political friend of Jeifer.
son; anil ,vhilo Jefferson MAS President he
urgently Invited PaIne to return to thn United
States from France. where ho then resided. and
ordered q national vessel TO convey him to
Amorica4
Thonlns Paipc was tho first person to publicly
and boldly advocate the complete separation Of
tho American colonies from The mother coun-
try. Through nll the troubles preceding the
year l716, nothing further was asked or ct-
pcctcd by the people Of the colonies than tho
concession Of what they considered thclr rights
as British subjects. Palnc's pamphlet. entitled
sCommon sensc," advocating separation and
independent government, appcarcd III 1175,
MID was tho first public advocacy Of absolute
independence. His arguments In favor OF
separation were we'll received, because, as hat!
been saId. "ttcy Expressed what NIL men
thought, but nono dared to. spenk.n This
pamphlet Ind mn enormous circulation for that
time, and mntnly contributed to ptcpare the
public mind for tho Declaration Of Independence
un the following Fourth of July.
The fact that Talpe accompanied Washington
In some Of the campaigns Of the Revolution Is
he rtT1 At rtoJ
what capacity lie Was attached to tile army does
not clearly appear. We know, however, that
his sttrrln: addresses, BY meuns Of his pamphlets
entitled "1lle Crisis" Published from time to
thne during the tlurketa days OF the RoyolutlDn-
art struggle. did much to intimate the army
null encourage tile people generally to hopc for
successful Issue ol the WIT. Tl1esa pau, nhlets,
thirteen numbers In al, were published Mt In
war to its tcrminal!un,--ilc last congratnlatlnE
the country on the achievement OF Independence.
Totally ronted In .hc battle. Of Long Island,
driven out Of New York, and closely pursued
SO icnoralfzcd ami d!sheartencd that it vas
with great difficulty It could bs kept together ut
all. AZ ths critical tunctnro appeared the tIsst
number Of The Crisis," opening with these
Try mems souls! The summer soldier and the
sunshine patriot will III this crisis desert the
service Of his country; but he wlo stands BY It
now deserves the thanks Of man and woman,
We have this consolation with us" etc.
The effect Of this addrcss on te arrny is de-
scrIbed rs electric. The soldiers were rraut-
mated With li"pe. dcscrtcrs and straEglers re.
Joined their commands, and tile first SUCCESS Of
rhc war soon followed In the crossing Of the
Delaware and capture Of the 1lcssnns ut .Treu.
ton. As the successire numbers Of 1.-THE
Crisis" appeared, 1t is said tllnt they wcrc, by
Washtngton's orders, regularly read to every
company in the armr. Some writers llnye oven
declared tlnt tho pen 1T Patnc contributed rs
| much to tile succcss Of the Revolution as the
sword OF Washington
any positive evidence in regard to the author
ship Of tic Declaration Of Independence, but
the strongest probabilities urc In favor Of
Thomas Paine. His reputation as q forcibIe
his pamphlet Of the preceding year, "common
| senso." lie mas tho friend OF Jefferson, and It.
IL In every way probable TINT Jefferson would
| hayn been as anxious to receive tho assistance
accord It. Thcrc ~ nothing moro natural tnan
| that JeiTcssnn should call Psfne to flts aid, or
! even request him to undertake tho work Of
| writing tho document, Every literary man
TINT many, persons got the credit of wsit!nrs
which nre tho productions Of others. We'll, then,
suppose Paine did producs tho required docl-
mcnt, nnd Jctierson copied it. aud it was duly
fcrson's handwriting. From flint moment 1t
became point OF honor With both Jefferson
und Paine to Keep the matter eectct. 4.
It may be Thought tt,at when the Declaration
asd some glory attacaed to Its authority, Paine
| would naturally haye claimed tho honnr OF Its
paternity. 1t ts well known t!Iut rafnc never
sought my personal honor or prolt from any
rcnss odss n 10 II. II oeen
tons. Tho "1ttghts Ut Niau !" Is said 10 hayc
| had much lnrger circulation than any book
ever issued uo e that time. and,, In faet, va,
sued: but Paine bestowed The whole Of his share
OF The profits Of the publication In charity.
| That rhomns Paine was the real author of the
Declaration OF Independence few candid read
IDENTIFY deny. The similarity Of tile language ot
that document to other writings Of Paine la re-
| n,arkabs0; 50 much no. indeed, NJ to render 1t
morally certain that they arc ensanations OF the
Declaration OF lnlependenee which are identical
| with phrases IN thu 'Rghts Of Mani; Alld, III
| fact, tho Declaration OF Independence may hg
said to ba the "Rgbts OF Man" In conccn
That Thomas Jefferson was a man Of great
ability Is freely conceded; but his rust oi
thought was philosophical and ratocinasiyc
lnsne, On thu contrary, Wus original. darling
1oaa as could and would write just such tlocu
| ment as tic Declaration Of 1ndepcudcnce. Tile
language pf tho Declaration n not NJ all In lief
tersnn's STYLE while "coMfnon Sense" ''Iht
| Nll6lef Auu y lHo rl2utS Oh MAu,'' spltkle Will
precisely similar expressions to thosc found i.
| tllat document.
That Thomas Ia!ne had tile ability to produce
such a writing Us the Declaration OF 1ndepund
euce his most bitter enemies will not venture tt
depY. 1l.a tnnn who did not shrink from meas
urlng swords with Edmund burke In pol.ttca
dieeusslon, md with the bishop Of LlaildaK II
religious coutroycrsI,-a yanqulahcl both O
tslesc eintucnt antagonists III tlla enCuunters,-
and who placed otmseif IN tho vanguard u
freedom, not only IN America, but also III En-
gland and Frkncc. Wa the man pru.etnincntly
qualified TO give the world the Immortal Decla
ratton Of Independence.
THoMAs T. PnAHopI.
Niagara Fal1s OF . pcrsl'irntlon.
| N<mphis Apdiunchs.
Robert g. Pillow, u sou OF the late ox.Con