Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-29
THOMAS PAINE.

Monday, Jan 20. win be the .ls9th an
nlversary Of the birth OF Thomas Paine.
man TO whom this country is greatly
Indebted, though the charge OF infidellty
still clings to his name. But for that.
he would occupy n most honored place
in the history of the heroic struggle for
American independence, by the side Of
Washington, Franklin and other master
builders OF this great Republic. In
fact, It is very generally conceded that
Paine accomplished with his pen as
much as Washington with his sword,
for the cause OF liberty in this ooun-
try.
Paine was born at Thetford. Norfolk.
England. He was the son of quaker.
Through Franklin he was influenced to
emigrate to this country, and here he
found a fruitful field for activity. The
year 1916 found the colonists wavering,
many doubling the wisdom OF the
stand they had taken. Then Paine's
pamphlet. Common Sense. appeared, In
separation and independence. This
pamphlet is considered n turning point
IN the struggle. II consolidated the ma
tIonal feeling and inspired the timid cit
liens with new courage. Later, The
Crisis appeared with an equally Won
derful effect. That pamphlet was writ
ten by the light OF camp-fires, during
the darkest days OF the revolution. The
effect was magical. Paine undertook 10
prove that the cause OF American lib
erty was far from lost. although the
appearances were against II. The In
tended result was attained. The PAM
phlet flew 10 all parts of the colonies
and was read in the presence of every
regiment OF the army. II terminated
the troops, both officers and men, and
q few days later. on the cold and
stormy night of Christmas, Washing
ton dared the ice-crowded Delaware
and fell like n thunderbolt upon the
unsuspecting British camp at Trenton.
Paine rendered the cause of liberty
In this country lnestimable service in
many ways, and that fact the nation
should gratefully acknowledge. That
no was as sincere and full OF enthus-
issm as any of the men prominent In
the affairs of that generation Is fully
established. In England he was In the
later years Of his life accused OF trea-
son, but he was allowed 10 pass over
into France, where he had been elected
to public position. In the latter coun-
try he exercised HIS influence in the in
terest OF moderation, and he narrowly
escaped falling a sacrifice TO the "rcign
OF terror" In fact, he was suspected by
Robespierre, thrown into prison. and
escaped the guillotine only by accident.
lie was indicted for treason on one
side of the Channel and sent to prison
on the other side for not supporting the
traitorsl
Paine Is called a scoffer and an inf
del, and even an atheist. but according
to his own statement he believed IN
zone God, and no more" lie also be-
lieyed In happiness hereafter. AS for
any other creed. he says: IL believe
In the equality Of man; and believe
that religious duties consist In doing
justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring
to make our fellow creatures happy"
These are true principles. and It is not
improbable that had he lived In a more
tolerant age, the verdict on his faith
would have been different from what it
IL. AT the present time "infdels" as re-
CARDS creeds, scripture and divine au-
thority are found even in the pulpts.