New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31

| the situation. The moment Monroe demanded the
release OF Paine the prison doors flew open "ic''
| shows that the French Government had Deeh
waiting for its cue from Washington
We are inclined TO suspect that in all thiS
foggy story Of intrigue and conspiracy Nj OoH-
way allows TOO little weight 10 Palnes VANITY
which constantly led him to assume an amount
of importance not conceded TO him, as rule oy
the ma jority of his contemporaries OF the great
ness Of his services and the brlliancy OF DIS
talents there ought net to be two opinions but
his scf-estimate was counterbalanced ny IN" 90
trusion which led Linn to reegate his personal
interests TO the second rank, and one consequence
of this was that men OF the world were apt 10
regard him as "a crank 1t was, however, nOJ
possible for the author OF The Rights OF Man
and THE Age Of Reason TO avoid persecution
or 10 live a happy life. OF the last-nam"d WORK
Mr. Conway furnishes an elaborate analysis III Is
sufficient to say that the charge OF athelsh, 50
long and obstinatey preferred against Paine ials
10 the ground completely under a bare sta'euiehV
of his own language; and that there Is III HIS
negative attacks upon the false dccretlohs Oh
Christianity nothing 10 be compared for moment
with those infinitely serious positions oil
the Dutch and German Schools which caused SO
much controversy early in the century.
Thomas Paine i'll no sense an ATHEIST
lie a pronounced DtlSt, anu H' WIN 40
favor of Christian reform of character which
has been proceeding ever since LIS time why
I've was attacked so ferociously was because he
was both political and religious reiormer'
and the enemies he made on either side united
against him The British Government hated him
for the Rights Of Man. and stirred up til.
cergy to pursue him for The Age of Reason
and the coincidence of political. governmental
and ecclesiastical rapcor produced an Onslaught
in which all idea of equity, veracty and SILL
respect was cast to the Winds and Paine legend
was invented which has, for nearly hundrcd
years. misguided opinion. highly interesting
chapter is devoted by Mr.. Conway TO Paine's per
sonality and TO exanfDaton of the calumnes
invented against the philosopher. The Old view
of Tom Paine is that of a dirty, drunken, I'M
moral wretch, whose tongue was set on IRE OIL
hell. and who lived only TO do as much deVlllsh
mischief as possible Candid and impartial H.
oury shows that this view is purely fabulous
A mass Of evidence is adduccd proving that
Paine lived a clearly life, @lat he dressed and
comportcd himself gentleman, that he was
temperate in his habits, drinking really less than
the average man of his time, that his manners
were courty and polished, that men of the highest
mark Intellectually and socially, courted his
society.
Nor is this all. 1t is seen that he was per
fectly consistent in his life His philanthropy
was genuine 1t was his rule of life. lie was
always helping the DISTRESSED at his own expense
lie cared nothing for his own comfort. Luxury
he would not have. Had he been what is called
a prudent manager, hc might have secured
decent provision i'll his old age. But his bcnevo-
lcnce exposed him to the Vaccinations OF scOun-
drels, and he knew not how 10 defend himself
Considering the treatment no experienced at Tie
hands of his countrymen during his last years.
there woul1 have been some excuse for him had the
bitterness OF his soul tempted him TO some
excuses. But while his heart breaking, lle
retained his sei-respect, and nNcd dccorously
and Simply.
Mr. Conways book il well and hon
estly done. In a work Of vndication, such
as this unavodably is, it is difficult. perhaps i'm
possible, 10 avoid some appearance OF partla 'ity
Yet we discern little of this in these volumes
the exhibition of the truth which transfgureJ
him. The life of such man is full Of pathos.
a. is the case with all reformcrs and all who
seek to be bcncfactors of their kind and the
less worldly such man IT, the more hercely
will the world turn upon and rcnd him.