New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-18

penned no word for personal fame cared not ior
the morrow Of his own reputation. III ms
were true In the full meaning of the woTns 'heh
the man might have been expected to preserve
stoical silence after popularity fastened upon
him. But he did not He was as eager as any
else could have been to remind the pubic OF
his success. When he joined in the attack on
Silas Deane after the latters return from france,
he did so in papers that were signed common
Sense; and he took great pleasure in telling inc
people that Mr.. Deane and his friends objected
to the Of this familiar title. After the mint,
Their reas sons for doing may. think. be
easily guessed at" he added. THE signature has,
| believe, an extensive reputation. and which, l
trust. will never be forfeited while in my pos
session" He reminded Messrs. Deanc Jay and
Gerard in one OF his controversial articles that
the sale Of the pamphlet. Common Sense. was
the most rapid and extensive OF anything that
was ever published in this country or perhaps.
any other" In this case he spoke IN anger; but
he does rot appear to have been avcrse to speak
ing of his success on other occasions. While he
cannot then be readily absolved from literary
vanity might be inferred from Mr.. Conveys
words. yet a foible which is almost universal
can hardly be laid up an offence in him.
On the other hand, Mr.. Conway makes claim
not borne out by the array of essays in this
volume. He says of these writings that in them
the course of political events from 1774 to 1871
may be followed almost from hour 10 hour" The
fact is that only thorough familiarity with the
course of events as related elsewhere can make
much of Paine's writing comprehensive. Ills
narratives Of military events have the excellence
that may be looked for ia the work or pra"-
tiSed writer. but they are fraGmcnary ana must
be connected b. links which others furnish
The popular response to an essay Ike common
Sense" shows that II marked an epoch Even
now that paper explains itself But as much can
hardly be said for THE Forester's Letters"
These were acrimonious and personal replies To
equally bitter letters by the Rev. Dr. William
Smith, Tory clergyman of Philadelphia. on the
subject of reconciliation with Great Britain.
But there is so much in them merely personal
that is apt to lose sight OF the relations
which the controversy bore to the approaching
Declaration Of Independence. The series Of
papers entitled "The American Crisis " Is nearest
among Paine's writings tn historical continuity.
Besides these there is a letter to Franklin in the
year us which is history in the briefest form.
and three papers on the affairs Of Siias Deane
in Paris which must be looked on az furnishing
only material for the historian. From THE
Pennsylvania Magazine or American Museum
Mr.. Conway has selected a number Of short
articles. written in 1915. which he thinks belong
TO Paine. But he gives no reasons beyond the
inconclusive fact that Paine was then the editor
Of the magazine. They are Of no particular sig
nifcance. But what Mr. Conway calls Painc's
first essay public letter against negro slavery.
seems to have had historical import since II was
an outward sign Of agitation which resulted In
the formation of the Society for the Relief OF
Free Negroes unlawfully held In bondage In 1875.
In this paper. as in Common Sense. he was
more outspOknn than native Americans We're
likely 10 be Thus he has the credit OF being
one of the earliest advocates Of emancipation.
This essay as well as the papers relating 10 the
Deane controversy are here first added to a col
lection OF Paines essays. Taking all toget her.
this first volume of Paine's collected works will
not give the reading world any sharp twlngeS
about lost writings. What made Paine famous
and kept him already accessible in a
variety Of forms The other pieces may be
full to the antiQuary or the historian. hut they
of little significance TO the general
reader.