The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-29
Lake Has Trade Winds.
THE REVOLUTION AND PAINE.

To The salt Lake Herald:
your words telling, as they do, of the
heroism shown by the American soldiers
at Valley Forge, bring to mind the work
Thomas Paine did for the cause of revO
luton: a work that does place his nam
Win the pest OF the old patriots, but
which has been given but a tardy appre-
citation by the American people generally
these last sixty or seventy years. Those
were ''the times that tried mems souls"
and the wears that have fled have caused
US, II anything, to belittle the hardships
the patriots endured. and 10 sink many
a hero out Of sight. Paine's religious
opinions lost him the applause OF these
latter generations, for bigotry hid his
In November 1775. the legislature of
Pennsylvania handed these instruction
to its delegates:
we direct that you agree upon such
measures as shall afford the best pros
pect of redressing American grievances
and restoring harmony between Great
Britain and the colonies. so essential to
their welfare and happiness. Though the
British parliament and administration
| have compelled US to resist their violence
that you desist from and utterly reject
any proposition, should such be made,
that may cause or lead 30 a separation
from our mother country or a change OF
the form of this government"
This resolution may be taken as giving
| an insight into the apparent mind of the
people at that time The ideas that made
| for revolution. for independence. had not
| the approval of the general public. II
was one thing TO ask for redress, II was
another 10 take up arms against the
/ vast power of Great Britain. The words
/ had vet TO be spoken that would so train
| the minds of the cOlOnists as to cause
| them TO raise the cry, and the Dayonetr
| for independence Paine sprang into the
| breach. and gave to the world his Com
| mon Sense'-the word that was wanting
| Edition followed edition and the Work
i was read. OF talked about. at every fire
/ side in the country. It was the torch
/ that blazed the way TO emancipation.
| Saws George Washington, in letter 20
/ joseph Read, Jan. 81, 1I6:
/ "A few more such flaming arguments
as were exhibited Falmouth and Nor
/ folk. added TO the sound doctrine anu
| unanswerable reasoning contained in the
pamphlet. Common Sense, VIII not
| leave numbers at a loss to decide on
the propriety Of separation
| THE Crisis kept final defeat from the
camp at Valley Forge; il nOurished the
/ spirit of patriotism there.
| Jefferson. in a letter he wrote to Paine,
among other things used these words:
You will in general, find US returned
I to sentiments worthy of former times;
| in these ii will be your glory to have
steadily labored and with as much erect
/ as anv man living. That you may live
| reap the reward in the thanktulness OF
nations, is my sincere prayer.
One time ''ingratitude' was not thrown
] at the head of this champion of the rights
| of man if we may Judge by letter Pres
| ident Monroe wrote 20 him.
1T is not necessary for me to tell you
| how much all your eountrymen-l SPEAK
of the great mass of the Deople-are IN
| terested in your welfare They nave not
| forgotten the history OF their own reNo-
| hition and the difficult scenes through
which they passed; nor do they review
| it's several stages without reVlNlng IA
| their bOsOmS "A due SenStbllity OF Ihe
merits of those who served them in that
great and arduous conflict. The crime OF
| ingratitude has not yet stained, ana
trust never will stain. our national cnar-
acter You are considered by them as not
only having rendered important services
in our own revolution. but as being on
more extensive scale the friend of human
fender of public liberty To the "elieIS
Of Thomas Paine the Americans are not
nor can they be, Indifferent
Paine's name. I think, viii not long De
withheld from our school histories, or
libraries for slowly but surely his worth
as a benefiter of humanity IS being given
recognition and the future VIII see the
! Iustre of a nations gratitude center
about his exploits. Paine, the author-
] hero of the revolution will yet IND d
place on the banners in our tourth oI
| July professions.
I've NAV veil our eyes. but we cannot
hide
The suns meridian glow;
! The heel of priest may tread US oo"H'
And a tyrant work US woe.
But never a truth has been destroyed
/ They NAV curse it and call II crime,
! Pervert and betray. or SANDER ana sIdS -
| It's teachers for time;
But the sunshine aye shall hgnJ the shy
As round and round we run;
And the truth shall ever come upperIhoSI
! 1Ai'1 JOSEPH ROGERS.
Salt Lake City, 81 East First South