The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-07-09
JUSTICE TO tom PAINE
lSpringfeld. Mass. Republican.

er modern scrutiny and criticism One sees new 1,fan
for the anniversary habit the tendency subject old estimates
TO the presentay knowledge feeling The case Of
Thomas very much point The anniversary of
Pans death June and there unmpor-
nt observances of the in America But surprise
OF the occasion the recognition accorded remarkable
radical the 18th century that date by the Times
which published lengthy and appreciation Panes life
Iohn Cavn 400h birthday July 10 has already
cpated by studies of his work and achievement
Calvin too bound be clearer light than before
by many who today could have no possible sympathy with his the
ogv of Paine in the Times unexpected
by than possible meoW1ng OF hostile criticism concerning
Calvin could be-
The Times reviewer has done for Paine among the conservative
of Great Britain without the slightest protest from the public
what before attempted IN leading organ of British
opinion Paine bitterly anagonized conservative Engshmen of the
later 18th century his militant activities support the great
America and France and again by his rough attack
upon organized Christianity of the time Such the mag
nnt intensity of feeling against him that century has indeed been
needed after his death to make possible calm and impartial
probation of his role in history The greatest of pampeteer
the Times calls him. In introducing the subject the
thus presents the problem to his English readers:
"Thre remain hitherto unexplained and grudgingy aow
lodged remarkable of his life He who published
line on politics until he was about 37 who had had an imperfect
education America stranger powerfully affected
the complexion and of the Revolution that country and
played great and the whole honorable part the French
Revolution His political works. dreaded almost much the
militant republic the handbooks of aggressive rad
casm countries while his aneoogica works deemed
worthy being efued by the abest conroveasts OF his time
Here group of problems to be answered without giving
Paine place history which for century has been denied
him. .
The estimate on the whole seems judicial highly credtabe
to journal published it Panes literary gifts essen
maturing thought single of the under
standing wonderful gift of dvning what nowadays
called the psychological moment and OF bringing to focus III men
minds precisely spirit and the idea essential to deeds OF vast I'M
port way potent influence affairs as the
Times concdes than Swift Beaunarchals or Courier
And was because OF his writings designed 10 meet Temp
orary need Exercised effect events many
pitched battles that the rank Of the greatest OF paPheee
ungrudgingly accorded to him.
works today of superficial IN thought
as well as extreme and violent style But he played to per
lection his role of interpreting the educated masses OF his per
nd the
higher critics of the theology OF that day Inc Times
reviewer point displays more fairness than IN showing a
the revolutionary political and religious ideas OF Fame had De
held by educated OF England VINO SnaA
from inviting and oboquy by publicly Popagaung Ie
AS the Times writer now saws "here had accumulated large
body esoerc teachings nica to the existing order IN ana
So long could be damned within banks Whcn was
the duty of his mays bishops and judges to keep safe ana S
was harmless But suddenly great rent was Ia % " % P;ht
Of defense and the pent up waters flowed over the ad
meant the letting among the common people OF
which has been hitherto kept from them And SO OF Pane ~
religious criticism in "The Age of Reason
what he did in the political world he repeated with no @
effect the religious systems and doctrines OF ms e ~
enemies who were many fought hitherto behind WaS ana u
der Their strategy consisted OF secret hoeuie ]
and of cutting off detachments Their weapons WeIe fd
does deadly by whose lips were ProteSSlo u
ship and offerings of homage in which was mdden P9
wishing be exepled the churches against Wh uey
they were unfang in their outward homage lhey were not
feared because they little direct power Here came o
threw pretene to the Winds who for open war ana no CON
promise who spoke in plain terms what the ComSes ana o
TONS and Gibbonses whispered or lns1nuated VINO ooN
his confidence and told the radical weaver the resuS Q
higher criticism simple language which coua DC Ie" a
understood in workshops and village smlhes a ois 10
of incendiary teaching his touch let loose - b;
We began by calling attention to the eXcenes 4abIe ;T
performed bv the RECOGNITION of OF men hoVa
themselves or on account their association with gea %
the past The case of Thomas Paine perhaps furnishes @
strknolv illustration ;nasmch as than most celeDrueS n
for long period under terrible burden OF deuaCt
then suffered from the unneasured laudaton OF later gene &
of defenders Vet + n evident that modern anniversary aD
supplies an excellent onnornnit rebalancng IN the d
poety the work of great that popular Juageli d ms
them may be brought nearly into harmony WIN ~
hce
The Citizen sympathzes with the individual losers IN r ,or o