Posted on 01/18/2013 3:21:40 AM PST by knarf
I stumbled upon this while trying to research a matter and I was struck by Paine's simplicity and ... uhh ... common sense.
It seems so fitting to post it and I hope I can post daily until all of Common Sense is re-published here ... in the Free Republic Paine so loved and articulated.
Introduction to the Third Edition
Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not YET sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question (and in Matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his OWN RIGHT, to support the Parliament in what he calls THEIRS, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either. In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion. The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth, is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censure, is the AUTHOR.
P. S. The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt to refute the Doctrine of Independence: As no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past. Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the DOCTRINE ITSELF, not the MAN. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.
Philadelphia, February 14, 1776
"If the colony continue encreasing, it will become necessary to augment the number of representatives, and that the interest of every part of the colony may be attended to, it will be found best to divide the whole into convenient parts, each part sending its proper number: and that the ELECTED might never form to themselves an interest separate from the ELECTORS, prudence will point out the propriety of having elections often: because as the ELECTED might by that means return and mix again with the general body of the ELECTORS in a few months, their fidelity to the public will be secured by the prudent reflection of not making a rod for themselves. And as this frequent interchange will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this, (not on the unmeaning name of king,) depends the STRENGTH OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE HAPPINESS OF THE GOVERNED."
"But as the same constitution which gives the Commons a power to check the King by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the King a power to check the Commons, by empowering him to reject their other bills; it again supposes that the King is wiser than those whom it has already supposed to be wiser than him. A mere absurdity!"
I can't help but see so many likenesses of the obama regime to colonial times.
If it is true that obama senior was an anti-colonialist, it sure seems odd that, in Paine's view (as I understand him), obama is exactly like the monarchy in philosophy and practice
That's what struck me this morning ... the simularity of the thoughts, patterns and practices of revolutionary America to today.
Amen, my FRiend. It is indeed, a timely post.
In the aftermath of the election, like many others, we have given great thought to how we arrived at this sad place. And while there certainly are a great many reasons, for me, one sits at the top, just below our allowing our cultural identity to be turned away from God.
This nation has far too many citizens; who having been free for not only all of their own lives, but also for all of the lives of their ancestors; with absolutely no clue as to why, and how they came to be so! This, coupled with an inability to recognize slavery while in it’s caring, protective guise, (even as the shackles are being locked upon them!), has blindered enough of them, to put us all at risk.
May God hear our call, and share His strength and guidance.
Tatt
The government schools never taught American history so the graduates never knew, as voters and adults, who they are.
IMO, our hope lies with the 30% that (I pray) remain as a remnant and that I might be worthy of membership.
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