The Holly chieftain., 1914-02-20

into one strong Union. Victory could be
made possible only by the united and un-
would hesitate at no sacrifice.
The Ieutonic race IS naturally somewhat
conservative. and now. in this crisis. the
Americans hesitated II they should once
enter earnestly into the strife, their racial
characteristics. coupled with their training
in the New World. would make them for
midabIe aniagonists. So. at this critical
time. the success Of the war which had been
50 darinely commenced. depended upon the
arousing oi popular movement, which would
lead the Colonists to sever their connec-
tons with England and rally earnestly and
in harmony to d common leadership.
Just at this pivotal period of acute uncer-
ianty there appeared n pamphlet which
car. led America by storm. and. replacing
doubt and Indifference by patriotic fervor
overcome the objections to war and plunged
our continent into furious strife. This
pamphlet was Common Sense" written by
Thomas PANE The writer. an Engiishmnn
by birth. was an enthusiastic advocate Of
liberty.
Common Sense" was written in a style
well adopted to the needs of the time. Many
Of its arguments were shallow. and to able
thinkers, it presented marked defects But
the general state of affairs was clearly and
pom edy summed up: the various wrongs
to which the Colonsts had been subjected
were brought out in form well fitted to stir
the imaginations Of the people. What many
had half-heartedly believed Paine boldly ex-
come sooner or later and it would be bcs,
Tor it 10 come now. while the Americans
French and Indian war.
independence. he declared. would be
better than reconciliation under any terms
and was the only thing which could form an
enduring bond between the rival sections Of
the country. He pictured in glowing colors
the future that awaited America as the home
of free people. Then Paine ended with
severe attack upon British tyranny and
fiery appeal to the courage and patriotism Of
his countrymen. calling upon them to disre
gard all minor considerations and keep up
the war until independence should be won.
When this pamphlet came out. people
read it eagerly that the printers could
hardly supply the demand. Capies sold by
the hundred thousand. This sudden spread.
ing Of doctrines which the people we're al.
ready to receive and act upon produced tire.
mendous effects. The blunt. practical rea.
son;ng broke the spell which had seemed to
bind Americans in allegiance to Great
Britain. Subsiding resentment to England
was famed to white heat. lnaction and
indecslon gave way to energetic prepara.
tions for resistance. Colonial assemblies be.
gan. more and more, TO take the power from
the governors appointed by King George.
But perhaps the most important resul,
was that he impressed The patriots with the
proper sense OF the magnitude Of the work
before them. They now come to understand
that il they we're to make headway against
the British empire with all its resources. it
must be. no, spasmodic exertions or as thir.
teen separate states. but by preserving sac.
rihce and union. Also, the attitude
Of the people toward independence changed.
Paine ridiculed the idea Of the American
continent being subject 10 n small island and
strongly advocated the founding Of new
republic. From this time on the cry for in.
dependence became continually stronger.
these changes in popular sentiment we're
strongly fel, in the developments Of the next