The Republican journal., 1896-01-30

| Emancipation was at last accomplished
after the lapse of more than three quarters
OF century, and costly and sanguinary
civil war; international arbitration is still
question of dispute between the two
greatest nations of Christendom; the hui
name treatment of animals waited'for a
man OF the last generation to procure ade-
quate legislation to enforce it; and Miss
Anthony and Lucy Stone and the ''New
Woman may justly honor Thomas Paine
as the first advocate and prophet of their
cause on American soil. The cage of
Reason in matters pertaining to religion,
of which this enlightened man was the first
American prophet, has at last arrived and
the shades of superstition and the author
ity of creeds are lifted from the mind and
conscience of the Christian world. Paine
was chief representative of the higher
patriotism, the declaration of which is
not my party, right or wrong, nor "my
country right Or wrong" but Humanity,
and the rights of humanity against all op-
preston, injustice and tyranny
His was soul which no trial could dis
courage, no wrong embitter, no defeat
conquer He loved his fellowmen. and
served them with mind and heart Prof.
Peter Lesley of Philadelphia visited
and where the very tools he used were
preserved with great care. He talked
with an aged and intelligent workman,
who had worked under Paine as lad
This old man told the Professor that Mr..
Paine was the most honest man and the
best man he ever knew. After he had
been there little time everybody looked
up to him, the Walker S, (who fitted up
this workshop for him) and all their work
men. He knew the people for miles
around and went into their homes his
benevolence, his friendliness, his knowl-
edge, made him beloved by ALL rich and
poor. His memory had always lasted
there. -
His soul was superior to hatred and
revenge. He was the modest example in
history, save one, of the practice of the
New Testament precept, "Forgive your
enemies One Captain Grimstone, r.
A, during a public dinner party at Paris
in a controversy with Paine called him
traitor to his country, and struck him a
violent blow. The penalty for striking
deputy was death, and Paine's friends
were not unwilling to see it inflicted upon
the stout young captain who had struck
man of twice his age. But Paine, after
great trouble, succeeded in obtaining for
MIN passport out OF the country, and
supplied him with money for the expenses
of the journey. At the time when he
was outlawed in England, he pledged his
own life as hostage for an Englishman
whom he knew to be in the employ of two
of his bitterest foes. This man was un-
der sentence of death in France. All the
pledge Paine asked for the return of
this man at the end of twenty fonr days
respite, (the condition being if he did not
return Paine's life was to be the forfeit)
was the mans word. To his honor be it
said he did not fail to return
But | must close paper already too
long for your patience, but not long
enough to do justice to the character and
patriotism of the man whose watch word
was, 1.-The world is my country and to do
good my religion" Singularly enough
Garrison, without knowing it, adopted the
sentiment of this watchword as the motto
of the "Liberator," more than half
century after, "Our country is the world,
our countrymen all mankind.' Oh. for
one intellect and soul like that of Thomas
Paine, consecrated to the higher patriot
ism, to ''teach and rouse" in these days
of corrupt politics and lingo politicians.