The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-06-03

! that book have none at all. / have,
space to refer to but one Of Moody.s
telling points. 1t consists in quoting
both Paine's and Jefferson's ideas Of d
proper pronunciamento before the Dec
laration was issued In style. IN
thought, in arrangement and in every
possible way Jefferson's statement is
utterly different from the Declaration
of Independence. On the other hand,
Paine six months before the Declara-
ton was adopted said that such doc
ument should be given out. Not only
So but he set forth the four grand di-
visions that should be included in the
instrument and gave these in the ex-
act order afterward found in the Dec
laration itself.
The tradition Of the authorship Of
this charter of American liberty is as
follows: Paine's Common Sense" an
peared about six months before the
adoption of the Declaration of indie
pendence. During this time it is known
that he worked necessarily for indie
pendence. He was so ardent that he
drafted tentative paper that might
be used by the congress as reason
for the step. OF this his friend Jeffer
son knew and used it as the basis of
the Declaration when he came to draw
it up. Not being a member of con-
gress and because Of his friendship for
Jefferson, Paine never claimed the au-
thorship.
Expert Opinions on Authorship.
That Paine assisted Jefferson in
writing the Declaration or actually
penned tentative draft for him is
now accepted by most students The
New York Herald in recent half
page review of new twelve volume
edition of Paine's works and life SAYS:
''Then when Paine was editor of
the Pennsylvania Magazine] he wrote
paper called "A Serious Thought
which was the Declaration Of indie
pendence in embryo. Indeed, Paine is
said to have assisted Jefferson in
drawing up the first draft Of the Dec
laration itself. It has been epigram-
matically said of him that even if he
did not write it he was it's author
Albert Payson Terhune in the New
York World, using as basis an arti-
Gle written by myself, gives a review
of the argument that is strongly in
favor Of Paine. He does not abso-
lutely commit himself, but says:
Though the evidence may or may
not be conclusive it is at least inter-
esting and has found many support
ers'
William Cobbett, the famous Eng
fish member Of parliament and re-
former, puts the case thus:
Jefferson and some others have had
the credit of being the authors of the
Declaration of Independence of Amer
may have written it, but Paine was it's
author
Thaddeus Burr Wakeman, who is
perhaps the most thorough student Of
Paine now living, states:
'"The claim of some that Paine made
first draft Of a declaration for the
pen Of Jefferson and plan of the
flag for the needle Of Betty Ross is not
improbable, for he was certainly an
active and inspiring man in Philadel-
phia during these fateful six months"
For a World Republic.
Mr.. Wakeman, who regards Paine's
ideas as still very live factors in the
progress Of democracy and Of liberal
ism throughout the world, gives the
five great objects of Paines life as fol-
lows: D American independence; (2)
the modern democratic republic; g.
the American federal union and "na-
tion;" ~ "the religion Of humanity
| % the republic of man and Of the
world;
In an adequate consideration Of the
work Of Thomas Paine several further
facts should be considered:
He was introduced to the United
States by a letter from Benjamin
Franklin.
Thomas Jefferson was admittedly a
disciple OF Paine and sent war YES
sci to France to bring him back to
America.
Washington avowed, in effect, that
Paine had converted him to the cause
Of independence.
Paine's services were considered so
valuable to the United States that he
was voted large sums of money and
two farms.
Among the other forms he favored
was the abolition of dueling.
He was so popular in France that,
although a foreigner, he was stimuli
taneously elected by several different
constituencies to represent them in the
national convention.
He advised with Napoleon about the
invasion Of England and had the in
vasion been made was to have writ
ten a new constitution for England.
He was born Quaker and was in
reality a most religious man. The
cage Of Reason which raised the
theological storm against him, was
written to combat French atheism and
at time when Paine momentarily ex-