Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
Brief Mention of Old WORTHLESS Paine
and His Compatriots.
Benjamin Vests First Landscape-A
Quaint and Ancient Rock.
4 Bankrupt Act Proposed he South
Its Own Conqncrer.
nv Mail aud Telegraph,

who, in l5T6, was rich merchant aud
manufacturer of Lancaster, Pa. He
supplied the patriot army of the revo.
luton with food and clothing, and his
hospitality and generosity are celehra-
ted in chronicles OF his time. Tom
Paine, Ben Franklin, Rlltenhouso.
the Newtons of America, and Robert
Fulton, the great American inventor,
Were frequent guests at the home of
Mr.. Henry. The first landscape ever
painted by the immortal artist was
produced Tor Mr., Henry. tulton,
known. the world over as first of me.
chaniclnns and first TO apply steam to
practical mechanical uses, was u painter
of no mean ability. IL he had never
made a steam engine he might have
won fame like West, "a an artist. He
painted Mr.. Hcnry's portrait on ivory,
and was most sSillml in making pistol
iirelocks in Hcnrys nile factory.
Here, too, IN Lancaster and in
the library of Mr. Henry, Tom
Paine wrote that remarkable
paper, his Fifth Crisis.n
surely, whether man, devil or god, he
was inspired, IL there had loen no
Tom Paine there would have been no
revolution, people and pulpits and his
hhlltS llNNt Nil FsAlN WINS NfNtl lilNNs
idence. In any event when the faith
crs of the republic, TINT was, framed
the constitution, they referred its ORR
gin neither L. Paine mon any higher
power But Paine and franklin and
Jefferson and Rittcnhouse and Benia-
min West, afterwards artist 10 his roy
al majesty, King George, aud Fulton,
all were wont To rest beneath the roof
of the old Henry homestead at Lam
caster. There the continental
congress once sat, and I.ancas,
ter is made memorable In
old aud modern Amerlcan history
10y the lnmc and genius of the grand
historic men who sauntered, like perl
palette philosophers of Old, among its
modest, moss-covorcd dwelling places.
The picture which | have before me
hears all the marks lett by that of one
hundred and twonty-one wears. IL X
infinitely described In Calls Life OF
West. published In 1915, with the six
pen drawings of West, illustrating the
life OF Christ. hut isn't II queer that
West, while asspriating with Rltlenf
house, Franklin aud Tom Paine aud
Fulton, irec.thinkeis all, should have
devoted leisure hours tothe production
of these illustrations OF the deeds of
him who spake as never man spnke?
TnE LUTHERAN CENTENARY.
Protestant Churches, throughout
Chrlstcndom, rcsoundcd yesterday
with dcuunciatious OF Romanisn or
with criticisms upon It's deeds and
creed. There are, of course, too many
of these crceda for u participant Ia
practical affairs to master. We can
only "senrch the scriptures aud make
up each his own creed. Hut while
listening 10 these sermons nhUut I.uth-
er, ! find in an antiquarian book store
beneath my apartments "a sadly dllnp-
dated volume whose archaeological
aspect wogld delight swantc Paine,
the admirable scholar who represents
the Swedish government nj tie capital
of Texas. The book h entitled ~
Nindication of the Lutheran Religion
from the charge of Popory. wherein
Lutheran principles are explained
and conformcd aud several vulgar
errors corrected aud large historical
account giving their prosecutions and
suflarings written originally for the
Lutheran reformation, by llnlthnzar
MentZer, pnstor Augustan Church,
London, aud now translated by n Pres
nyter of the Church of England. Lon
don; printed by Darby liivinglon "
Co., MDCCNN.
The last hundred pages Of This hook,
abandoning the argument and quota
tons nom the fathers of the Church,
are devoted 10 the description ofsuiier-
ings and prosecutions 10 which Luth-
er's followers were subjected Ia differ
ent countries. The book Is simply
hidcous. lis venerable years and black
letters and quaint modes OF expression
fall to redeem ita absolute ghastliness.
Who would have or read H.
InE BANKnupr ACT PROPOSED.
The commpn people of the United
States, the great multitude, would
have no bankrupt law. Again and
again has congress enacted such n code,
and again and again hub II been 70
paaled. It's results were almost wholly
evil, and 40 nefnflolis were Official
practices and pursuits under these laws
That IL was detrimental 10 the fame Of
an honest man IL he awaited himself
of the relief given by them Jilsi
after the war. when ne
whole population of the South were
bankrupt and bankrupt hcl Nd;
Judged all accounts and made old
scores soon, nobody objected, nnd HE
south went 70 WOTk, lIteu ny NV pifhh-
rupt law from prosecutions and perse-
cuilons Of creditors. Old Midas stew
art used TO publish annually a black
list fall those who robbed him by re-
sorting 10 lie bnnkfnpts' court and
rode; but IL signiiied nothing and
harmed nobody.
State lava, however, varied in
provisions, and Ia the practice
under them have operated
more satisfactorily than these federal
codes which urc always made in the
interest Of the rich and in hostility %
the poor, In promotion OF the greed OF
Dives rather than Of the blessedness OF
Lazarus. The senate gives birth 10
bills, and the house, the pop
lIlar branch Of congress, defeats them,
and even SO Will II ever he, and s-pe.
cially just before presidential cleo
ton.
Boston and New York bankers and
eyince anxiety in behalf Of