The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-30
TOM PAINE'S BIRTHDAY.
SPEECHES BEFORE THE MANHATTAN
LIBERAL CLUB

Moncure n. Conway and Col. noh Isesrsen
Fay TrabWse 20 the Asthsr sr che Aes
OF Reason "-Coi. Ingerson Says resse
wouis Ne ~ uaitarisn u Me Were alive.
The Manhattan Liberal Clubs celebration OF
the birthday Of Thomas Paine filled CHECKER
ing Hall to the doors last night. and people
fought for places near the stage. Mr.. Moncure
d. Conway. Paine's latest btographer was the
speaker OF the evening and Col. Bob Ingersoll
was the attraction. One Of the two authentic
portraits OF Thomas Paine taken from life
stood on the platform. Mr.. Conway said
some things about Paine which he said
were not generally known. Paine was the FIRST
abolitionist In America. He wrote the first
emancipation proclnmat ion-that Of Pennsyl-
vanid. He first proposed arbitration to take
the place OF war. He first explained how steam
could be used for navigating boats. He In
vented tho first iron bridge. He wrote his
Age OF Reason" twice. Tho FIRST time 1t was
suppressed. He completed It the second time
the evening before he was put into prison
In France. Paine. Mr.. Conway said. was hitting
ut an altogether different God from that
Christians Worship now. He was hitting ut
God OF terror and OF revenge and Of every
thing except love. He hit so hard and his hits
were 80 unanswerable. that It came to pass
before he died that either Jehovah or Paine had
"
He has recanted hell fire. predestination. and
total depravity. and is still rccanting.
Col. Ingcrsoll was received with cheers and
shouts. lie began by saying that It was his
happy privilege to help rescue the reputation
Of great and noble man from the ISLANDERS
OF ignorance and hypocrisy Then among
other things he said that there used to be two
ideas Of governments One Idea was that all
power to govern came from tho clouds. and
was invested in kings and continued down to
tho LOWEST officers In that government
The poor peasants had to work and
slave. to endure poverty and privation. and
suffering to support that government. Tho
kings and queens and lords and ladies were
entitled to all tho happiness in this world and
they got all the happiness BY the suffering OF
the governed. The governed were, to be re.
warded for all their pain in this world by hay.
ns harp when aoS
ne second IDEA va that thS n9W We 81 q
consent Of the governed; The, basis q gov
Se ns 81 psns than any
other man that ever rSd the western Hn
HS'Sns1 said sails other Sy
way. The question came up whic Church
sG aay 'i the Ga 81 T0as
Episcopalians Or tho Quakers or any other de-
10 hs that n"Ts il
brides were willing that State should remain
and sst Msy aS9 sy o M Il u4e
I!eyed." said the Colonel further on. that 70.
the helief II some being somewhere hadn't
writ tho ten eommandme nts we wouldn't have
to %ss
W SSsiy to re et . sn aone Now vqF w0
owns strip of iand and plants il with pota.
toes, and watches and cares for the vegeta-
'ss 'e hoso p os the
man who sits on the fence and watches him
tell US that. Again. in a country Where the
o sE o ne Sbest
Human affecsiGn hama nj tntelisenHe applied
Pc 20 moro perisSt religion Imagined BY Tho
msnty. ana What the Church sats creeas are
destined oil to fade away The syk will
a molay hs u sky viii ah shGe
|Thomas Paine, was not what would be
s wo%ld cSt me- dead he we're alive he Would
r. f. IL With TIE Iniisrlans; Iss believed sbso
making the world. for all the volcanoes,
plaques. and famines Of the world. He may
do not believe that he was right. Two facts.
or at least one fact and an alleged fact. are In
sonsists,nNt, tin. in my mind. l can't harmonic
Paine wanted to get rid, OF the middle man
said the Gsonf wanted
had with the Deity himself. and not through q
gentleman pretending to be the agent OF some
mower above tho clouds"
The Colonel closed with a description OF a
heaven he would like mankind to be assured
OF. and the applause that greeted it was ire
mendous.