Werner's Encyclopedia (Ed. 1899): "Its opening words, 'These are the
times that try men's souls,' became a battle cry."
Norman Hapgood, LL.B.: "The last sentence [of the first 'Crisis'] sounds
like a prophecy and the first sentence, 'These are the times that try
men's souls,' was the watchword [at the battle of Trenton]."
George Lippard: "In the full prime of early manhood, he joins the army
of the Revolution; he shares the crust and the cold with Washington and
his men; he is with those brave soldiers on the toilsome march, with
them by the camp fire, with them in the hour of battle.
"Is the day dark? Has the battle been bloody? Do the American soldiers
despair? Hark! that printing press yonder, which moves with the American
camp in all its wanderings, is scattering pamphlets through the ranks of
the army--pamphlets written by the author-soldier; written sometimes on
the head of a drum, or by the midnight fire, or amid the corpses of the
dead."
"Such words as these stirred up the starved Continentals to the attack
on Trenton, and there in the dawn of that glorious morning, George
Washington, standing sword in hand over the dead body of the Hessian
Rhol, confessed the magic influence of the author-hero's pen."
"Under that cloud, by Washington's side, was silently at work the force
that lifted it. Marching by day, listening to the consultations of
Washington and his generals, Paine wrote by the camp fires; the winter
storms, the Delaware waves, were mingled with his ink; the half-naked
soldiers in their troubled sleep dreaming of their distant homes, the
skulking deserter creeping off in the dusk, the pallid face of the
heavy-hearted commander, made the awful shadows beneath which was
written that leaflet."--_Dr. Conway_.
Of this work Sir George Trevelyan writes: "The 'Crisis' was an
impassioned appeal to arms. That circumstance endowed Paine's glowing
rhetoric with a special value in the estimation of Americans. To their
mind's eye the little work was adorned by an imaginary frontispiece of a
soldier, writing by the watch-fire's light, with his comrades slumbering
round him; and it was among those comrades that the author found his
warmest admirers and his most convinced disciples."
"These words were fire and warmed the soldiers; they were meat and drink
for the famishing; they were clothes for the naked. The soldiers were
filled with a courage new and unknown. The battle of Trenton came,
and as the soldiers entered that conflict, all down the ranks rang the
battle cry, 'These are the times that try men's souls.' The battle was
fought and won. The army of the patriots had entered upon a new
career. And thus he wrote and wrought to the end of the immortal
struggle."--_Dr. John E. Roberts_.
"In the midnight of Valley Forge the 'Crisis' was the only star that
glittered in the broad horizon of despair."--_Col. Ingersoll_.
"Paine was the real founder of our Republic. Without his 'Common
Sense' the independence of the American Colonies never would have been
declared; without his 'Crisis' it never could have been won. Without his
services this country, like Canada, India, Australia and South Africa,
today would be a part of the British Empire.
"We would undoubtedly be under British rule today but for the wise and
wonderful efforts of Thomas Paine.''--_Ella Wheeler Wilcox_.
"Paine's title as the discoverer and inventor of the United States is
just as plain as Watt's invention of the steam engine, and everything
that has taken place as a result of organizing the United States of
America is the result of Thomas Paine's labors."--_Rev. Thomas R.
Slicer, D.D_.
Timothy Matlack (Oct. 10, 1777): "The Honorable House of Assembly has
proposed and Council has adopted a plan of obtaining more regular and
constant intelligence of the proceedings of General Washington's army
than has hitherto been had. Every one agrees that you [Paine] are the
proper person for the purpose, and I am directed by his Excellency, the
President, to write to you.... Proper expresses will be engaged in this
business. If the expresses which pass from headquarters to Congress can
be made use of so much the better,--of this you must be the judge."
Col. Asa Bird Gardener, LL.D.: "The entire British fleet was then
brought up opposite Fort Mifflin, and the most furious cannonade and
most desperate but finally unsuccessful defense of the place was made.
The entire works were demolished, and the most of the garrison killed
and wounded. Major General Greene being anxious for the garrison and
desirous of knowing its ability to resist sent Mr. Paine to ascertain.
He accordingly went to Fort Mercer, and from thence, on Nov. 9, (1777),
went with Col. Christopher Greene commanding Fort Mercer, in an open
boat to Fort Mifflin, during the cannonade, and was there when the enemy
opened with two gun batteries and a mortar battery. This _very_ gallant
act shows what a fearless man Mr. Paine was."
Lippincott's Biographical Dictionary: "He was secretary to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs in Congress from April, 1777, to January, 1779."
It has been asserted by Mr. Roosevelt and others that Paine, because
of his action in the Deane affair, was discharged from his position as
secretary to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was not discharged,
nor was he even asked to resign. He resigned of his own volition.
Franklin Steiner: "In 1778 a fraud was about to be committed upon the
infant republic.... Paine wrote several articles for the press, exposing
the entire corrupt transaction, and of course made enemies of all
involved in the dishonest affair, who at once made attempts to have him
discharged from his position, in which they failed."
"A motion for his dismission was lost."--_Dr. Conway_.
"Congress refused to vote that it was 'an abuse of office,' or to
discharge him."--_Ibid_.
It was Paine's honesty and patriotism, a desire to protect the interests
of his adopted country, that caused him to make his exposure. His
"indiscretion," as some diplomats characterized it, saved the Colonies
a million livres. Pennsylvania applauded the act and rebuked his
censors by appointing him clerk of the Assembly. His whole subsequent
career--his continued labors in behalf of the Colonies--the confidence
reposed in him by all the people--show that his ability, his integrity,
and his patriotism were never questioned.
In less than three years after the Deane affair the members of Congress
who had honestly espoused Deane's cause acknowledged the justice and
wisdom of Paine's exposure.
John Jay Knox: "In 1780 occurred the darkest days of the Revolutionary
War. The army was in great distress.... Thomas Paine, the Clerk in the
Pennsylvania Assembly, in a letter to Blair McClenaghan, suggested a
subscription for relief of the army and enclosed a contribution of $500.
American Cyclopedia: "A letter [dated May 28, 1780] was received by
the Assembly of Pennsylvania from Gen. Washington, saying that,
notwithstanding his confidence in the attachment of the army to the
cause of the country, he feared their distresses would soon cause mutiny
in the ranks. This letter was read by Paine as clerk. A despairing
silence pervaded the hall, and the Assembly soon adjourned. Paine wrote
to Blair McClenaghan, a merchant of Philadelphia, explaining the urgency
of affairs, and enclosed in the letter $500, the amount of salary due
him as clerk, as his contribution toward a relief fund. McClenaghan
called a meeting next day and read Paine's letter; a subscription
list was immediately circulated, and in a short time £300,000 [nearly
$1,500,000] Pennsylvania currency was collected. With this as a capital,
the Pennsylvania Bank, afterwards expanded into the Bank of North
America, was established for the relief of the army."
Cassell's Dictionary of Religion: "In 1781 Paine was sent to France with
Col. Laurens to negotiate a loan in which he was more than successful,
for the French granted a subsidy of six million livres, and became a
guarantor of ten millions advanced by Holland."
Lamartine says the King "loaded Paine with favors." His gift of six
millions was "confided to Franklin and Paine."
Robert Morris (Feb. 10, 1782): "They [Morris, Minister of Finance,
Livingston, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Washington,
Commander-in-Chief] are agreed that it will be much for the interest
of the United States that Mr. Paine be retained in their [the United
States'] service."
Charles Wilson Peale: "Personal acquaintance with him gives me an
opportunity of knowing that he had done more for our cause than the
world who had only seen his publications could know."
"America is indebted to few characters more than to you."--_Gen.
Nathaniel Greene_.
Calvin Blanchard: "He stood the acknowledged leader of American
statesmanship, and the soul of the Revolution, by the proclamation
of the legislatures of all the states and that of the Congress of the
United States."
Pennsylvania Council (Dec. 6, 1784): "So important were his services
during the late contest that those persons whose own merits in the
course of it have been the most distinguished concur with a highly
honorable unanimity in entertaining sentiments of esteem for him."
"The attention of Pennsylvania is drawn toward Mr. Paine by motives
equally grateful to the human heart and reputable to the Republic."
Pennsylvania Assembly: "Thomas Paine did, during the progress of the
Revolution, voluntarily devote himself to the service of the public,
without accepting recompense therefor, and, moreover, did decline taking
or receiving the profits which authors are entitled to on the sale of
their literary works, but relinquished them for the better accommodation
of the country and the honor of the public cause."
Rev. Dr. M. J. Savage: "He wrote the book which caused the Declaration
of Independence, a book in such great demand that the presses groaned
for months in endeavoring to supply the demand; a book, the income
from the circulation of which, to-day would make a man rich, and yet he
steadfastly refused to receive a cent for it."
More than fifty years ago, the Rev. Moncure D. Conway, then pastor of a
church in Cincinnati, in a eulogy on Paine, said: "So disinterested was
he, that, when his works were printed by the ten thousand, and as fast
as one edition was out another was demanded, he, a poor and pinched
author, who might very easily have grown rich, would not accept one cent
for them, declared that he would not coin his principles, and made to
the States a present of the copyrights. His brain was his fortune,--nay
his living; he gave it all to American Independence." Paine also gave
the copyrights of the several numbers of his "Crisis" to the States. The
close of the Revolution found him, to quote from Dr. Conway's biography
of Paine, "a penniless patriot who might easily have had fifty thousand
pounds in his pocket."
(I shall quote freely from Dr. Conway. For all time this biographer will
be the standard authority on Thomas Paine. He was a life-long student
of Paine. In each of the three countries which Paine served, America,
France and England, he had full access to the national archives of
Paine's time. He was a distinguished pulpit orator in both hemispheres,
and had a world-wide reputation as a literary man. Above all his love of
truth and justice and His rugged honesty and candor make him a witness
whose testimony is unimpeachable. To him Andrew Carnegie pays this
tribute: "He has passed, but he has left behind him a precious legacy
to all who were so fortunate as to be able to call him friend. They are
better men and women because Moncure Conway lived and entered into their
lives.")
United States Congress (Aug. 26, 1785): "_Resolved_, That the early,
unsolicited, and continued labors of Mr. Thomas Paine, in explaining and
enforcing the principles of the late Revolution by ingenious and timely
publications upon the nature of liberty and civil government have been
well received by the citizens of these States, and merit the approbation
of Congress."
This resolution was passed by a unanimous vote.
Allibone's Dictionary of Authors: "He was rewarded by a donation from
Congress of $3,000."
"In 1782, at the suggestion of Washington, Congress granted $800 to
Paine.... In 1784 the State of New York presented him with 277 acres of
land at New Rochelle, and Pennsylvania with £500; and in 1785 Congress
gave him $3,000."--_International Encyclopedia_.
"Some writers have denied his political services, and have declared it
impossible that a stranger at the outbreak of the Colonial struggle,
he could have influenced public opinion in America; but such should
remember that the contemporaries of Paine--and worthy men many of them
certainly were who associated with Paine--judged differently, and
not only freely circulated his writings but gave expression to their
worth,... besides conferring on him the degree of M. A. (Pennsylvania
University), and membership in their choicest literary association, the
American Philosophical Society."--_McClintock and Strong's Biblical,
Theological and Ecclesiastical Cyclopedia_.
"Let it not be supposed that Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Randolph,
and the rest were carried away by a meteor. Deep answers only unto
deep."--_Dr. Conway_.
Drake's Dictionary of American Biography: "His powerful exertions to
promote the independence of America constitutes a high claim upon the
gratitude of his adopted country."
Ignatius Donnelly: "Paine did a great work during the Revolutionary war
in behalf of liberty and deserves to be forever remembered."
McClintock and Strong's Biblical Theological and Ecclesiastical
Encyclopedia, to quote again from this standard Christian authority,
says: "The truth cannot be withheld that Thomas Paine was one of the
most powerful actors in the Revolutionary drama.... His services to his
adopted country should not be forgotten."
"As the Tyrtaeus of the Revolution, and it is no exaggeration to style
him such, we owe everlasting gratitude to his name and memory."--_Rev.
Solomon Southwick._
John Spencer Bassett: "History cannot forget that he was an important
promoter of the Revolution."
"Paine's brawny arm applied the torch which set the country in a flame,
to be extinguished only by the relinquishment of British supremacy;
and for this, irrespective of his motives and character, he merits the
gratitude of every American."--_Gen. William A. Stokes._
"No man rendered grander, service to this country, and no man ought
to be more cherished or remembered than Thomas Paine."--_Rev. Minot J.
Savage, D. D._
Paul Allen: "Those who regard the independence of the United States as a
blessing will never cease to cherish the remembrance of Thomas Paine."
"To the welfare of Thomas Paine the Americans are not nor can they be
indifferent."--_James Monroe._
Hon. Elizur Wright: "It was Thomas Paine, more than any other man, or
any other thing, who turned the current of history in the New World."
Rev. John Snyder: "Paine did more than any other single man to create
this nation. I simply speak what will some day be the sober judgment of
history."
"There was no man in the Colonies who contributed so much to bring the
open Declaration of Independence to a crisis as Thomas Paine."--_William
Howitt._
"He did more for the American cause and for American independence than
any other man."--_Sir Hiram Maxim._
"Like a magnificent dream the figure of this republic arose in his
brain.... The result was victory; and Thomas Paine, the dreamer, the
writing soldier, had done more than any other man to make this country
free, and to give it a place among the nations of the world."--_Marshall
J. Gaumn._
"He was the real founder of the American republic."--_Henry Frank._
"He wrote the word 'Independence,' and created the greatest nation in the
world."
Hon. John W. Hoyt, LL.D.: "Thomas Paine inspired the Revolution by his
spirit, maintained it when in the darkest hours of the battle it seemed
that the spark of liberty would go out."
Dr. J. R. Monroe: "With the wand of his genius he turned aside the
scroll that concealed the future of our country, and by the inspiring
picture he thus presented our disheartened and hard-pressed forefathers
were nerved to press forward, to brave every peril, to dare every
danger, to defy every death, till tyranny was throttled and man was
free."
Rev. Martin K. Schermerhorn: "When our children's children shall
celebrate America's _second_ centennial a hundred years from now, they
will write in largest letters upon their national banner this sentence
which all intelligent American citizens will then enthusiastically
recognize and applaud: 'Thomas Paine--the Patriot... of two hundred
years ago.'"
Stephen Simpson: "To the genius of Thomas Paine as a popular writer,
and to that of George Washington as a prudent, skillful, and consummate
general, are the American people indebted for their rights, liberty and
independence."
Mrs. Hypatia Bradlaugh-Bonner: "With Washington he played the foremost
part in the American Revolution. If Washington was the sword and the
strong arm, Paine was the heart and brains of that great struggle. He
was the mouth-piece of the aspirations of a continent. He dared to utter
the thoughts that lay concealed in the secret hearts of the people.
He sounded the demand for the Independence of the Continent. He bound
together the separate colonies, and proclaimed 'The Free and Independent
States of America.'"
Thomas Paine was the creator of this great Republic. He was the real
father of our country; Washington was its foster father. Paine's pen
transformed a petty rebellion into a mighty revolution and made a rebel
chief the triumphant defender of a new-born nation. Washington's fame is
secure. His right to a place in the pantheon of earth's immortals will
never be denied. And when the clouds of prejudice are dispelled, as they
will be, Paine's name will shine with a splendor unsurpassed, never to
be obscured again.