The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

0y extreme views and vigor IN debate Fe
was thirty-eight years OF axe when ~
came 20 America. bringing letters of In
troductlon from BENJAMIN Franklin to ths
readers OF the Revolution His opDOrtur-
lty 10 be Of service 70 the country in a
large way came when the leaders were
dispirlted and disposed to effect a co-,n-o-
mise with Great Britain. He SET the 80
nists afame with a pamphlet enfifles
Common Sense a telling array OF a.
guments for separation. and for the es-
Enlistment OF the republic, conveyed IN
strong. direct, unqualified language. The
last paragraph from the introduction.
written az Philadelphia. February IA
lil6. Affords an idea Of his style:
The cause OF America Is, IN a great
measure, the cause Of al mankind Many
circumstances have and win arise. which
are not local. but universal, and through
which the principles Of all lovers OF man
KIND are affected. and In the event OF
which their affections are interested The
laying a country desOlate with FIRE and
sword, declaring war against the natural
rights OF al mankind. and extirpating The
defenders thereof from tie face % TIE
earIn, is the eOncern Of every nan 10
whom nature hath given the power OF
feeling, OF which class. regardless OF
party censure, IS the author"
Il is generally admitted at this dav
that Paines pamphlet was a turning
point in the struggle, that II aroused and
consolidated public feeling and swept the
tinid ones along with the tide. The
New York assembly appointed a com
mittee 10 answer Il, but the committee
adjourned after deciding that il was IN
answerable. The Crisis is. Of course
the best known 70 the average American
reader. and the opening sentence, These
are the times that 1ry mems souls" be-
came a battle cry.
Paine's literary efforts were rewarded
BY his appointment IN the first Congress
TO be secretary OF the committee on
foreign affairs. When Independence was
established BE- returned 10 England de-
ternnined 70 -'open the eyes Of the people
10 the madness and stupidity OF the
government bis chief effort was the
writing Of The Rights OF Man" as an
answer 10 Burke's "Refexions on the
Revolution in France" The first parr
appeared IN 1791, and had an enormous
circulation before the English government
took measures 70 suppress the publica-
ton This but intensified :he curiosity
OF the people and Paine was finally in
dicted for treason He was permitted
10 90 TO France, but was pronounced an
outlaw.
In IS02 Paine returned TO the United
States, where he occupied himself until
his death. in 1879. with financial questions
and mechanical inventions.
That Paine's newspaper writing was con
sidered OF value was shown by the action
OF Luzerne. then French Minister u this
country, in engaging him at a salary Of
800 year 70 inspire the people with
sentiments favorable 20 France and the
alliance" Paine al the tine being secre-
tary 70 the committee on foreign affairs.
While this may not put him IN a favor
able light. because OF his government en-
plOyment. IL was Tot considered a be
trayal OF trust and has never been Spe-
cially urged against him Besides II IS
quite certain that Paine believed IN the
French alliance an0 had frequently ex-
pressed himself 20 that effect In public
Whatever the controversies on the part
o. retgiOnists concerning Paine. that hs
was one OF the greatest political writer's
of his tine IS hardly 20 be questioned
that ne had a considerable part N The
formation O1 the Declaration OF Ind
pendence is the belief OF some OF the
best authorities; that he did as much as
any one man in keeping alive the interest
OF the people IN the cause OF the Amer
lean Revolution IS evidenced BY the rrfb-
utes accorded by the men Of his time.
Said John Adams IT has been very
generally prOpagated through the CONT
nent that wrote the pamphlet. Common
Sense 1 could not have written any
thing N 50 manly and striking q style
IN a letter 10 Paine. James Monroe
said 1t is not necessary for ne TO tell
you how much al your -cOuntrymen-I
speak OF the great mass OF the people
are interested in your welfare. They
have not forgotten the history OF their
own revolution and the difficult scenes.
through which they passed. nor DO they
revive its several stages without reviving
in their bOs0ms a due sensibIlity OF the
merits Of those who served them in that
great and arduous conflict. The crime
Of ingratitude has not yet stained. and
trust never VIII stain. our national
character You are considered BY them
as not only having rendered important
services in our Revolution. but as being
on q more extensive scale the friend OF
human right and a distinguished and
able advocate in favor OF public liberty.
To the welfare OF Thomas Paine the
Americans are not. nor can they be. IN
different"
NO writer has exceeded Paine IN ease
and familiarity OF style. in perspicu.ty OF
expression. happiness Of elucidstion. and
IN simple and unsssuming language" said
Thomas Jefferson. while George Wash
ingtOn gave him unqualified support and
encouragement. expressing. among others
this sentiment OF his worth as a factor
in the cause OF the Revolution a few
more such flaming arguments as were
exhibited az Falmouth and Norfolk. added
10 tfe sound doctrine and unanswerabIe
reasoning contained IN the pamphlet
Common Sense viii not leave numbers
az a loss 20 decide on the propriety OF q
separation
Misunderstood. e-ratic perhaps. but q
man OF Intellectual force. Thomas Paine
caught IN the political cyclones" OF a
century big IN events and set at the cen
ter Of its revolutions. performed the task
al which he set himself VITA an energy
which proved effective in the cause 81
liberty No man did more according to
his ability and few have received less at
the hands OF the people served Il has
long been the fashion 70 abuse his MEM
ory and % belittle his great activities.
II is vel that a century after his death
a generation sufficiently far removed
from the old controversies seeks 10 give
some slight honor 70 the memory Of the
great pUblicist, the man who may be
rightfully called the press agent OF the
American Revolution
A LIIiputian Watch.