After all these years and all the historical documents I
have read, I have finally read Common Sense in a small book produced by Fall
River Press that is filled with insights and gives me a glimpse of the
philosophy and ideas that were the real power of the revolution.
Yet for all Thomas Paine’s acclaim and impact he was alone
at death, forgotten in many ways except for a few contingents who still felt
his call – his opposition to England in Ireland, and his steady and strong
stand against slavery. Born in poverty
in 1737 he immigrated to America and achieved success as a pamphleteer with Common Sense that had more influence
than any political writing other than Marx.
Paine’s long stream of pamphlets argued for more lenient
divorce laws, justice for women, humane treatment for animals, ending dueling
and ending slavery. I really like this
guy!! He is also responsible for this
stirring statement – “These are the times
that try men’s souls. The summer
soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service
of this country, but he that stands it now, deserves the thanks of man and
woman.”
He had to escape England and he was nearly guillotined in
France, but he never stopped speaking the truth that he felt.
Even in this century there are many statements that need
discussion and thought. Paine did not
have the answers, but he had the ability to raise the questions – “Mankind being originally equals in the
order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by subsequent
circumstance; the distinctions of rich and poor, may in a great measure be
accounted for, and that without having recourse to the harsh ill sounding names
of avarice and oppression.”
Perhaps my favorite line is the following:
“Those men would
deserve the gratitude of ages, who should discover a mode of government that
contained the greatest sums of individual happiness, with the least national
expense.”
Yes it is dated, but the passion and zeal still come through
in his written words.
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