PAINE-ful Times!

THESE are the times that try men's souls. . . Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us. . . it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. [America]. . ., with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX [all but the rich]) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER [as in the 'patriot act']," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God [?]. . .

I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the [American President]. . .can look up to heaven for help. . .: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he. . .

'Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. . .Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. . .

But, before the line of irrecoverable separation be drawn between us, let us reason the matter together: [President Bush] your conduct is an invitation to the enemy. . . [The enemy] is as much deceived by you as the American cause is injured by you. . .Your opinions are of no use. . .

America did not, nor does not want force; but she wanted a proper application of that force. Wisdom is not the purchase of a day, and it is no wonder that we should err at the first setting off. From an excess of tenderness, we were unwilling to raise an army, and trusted our cause to the temporary defence of a well-meaning militia [but not that of it's Commander]. A summer's experience has now taught us better; yet with those troops, while they were collected, we were able to set bounds to the progress of the enemy. . .I turn with the warm ardor of a friend to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out. . .

My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder. . .There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them. . . It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both.



-edited from:
The American Crisis No. 1
COMMON SENSE by Thomas Paine
December 23, 1776

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