Historical Preface

Thomas Paine, author of the “Rights of Man,” was born in England of Quaker parents.  On Franklin’s representations he visited North America in 1774, and at Philadelphia edited the first literary magazine.  Just at the crisis when England spurned the humble petitioners and breathed only war and revenge - when the first large armament was about to descend on the shores of the defenceless Colonies, and when all persons seriously asked, “What can be done?” and “What shall we do?” there appeared a small pamphlet from the pen of Thomas Paine under the title of COMMON SENSE.  The effect of this pamphlet was magical.

The people had only asked for redress of grievances, but now they demanded independence; and in the same year, 1776, it was declared.  Mr. Paine followed this pamphlet up by a series of tracts or pamphlets called "The Crisis," and signed COMMON SENSE.  He had the merit of creating a public opinion, and directing it to a successful issue.   [begin page xii]

In 1787 Mr. Paine returned to Europe, and I presented to the scientific bodies of France and England his model of iron bridges, which has since been adopted.  He mixed in the society of the leading literary and political men of both countries; and while thus situated, the elements of the first French Revolution began to appear.

Mr. Paine hastened to the scene of action, as an intelligent observer; and on this subject became the correspondent of Edmund Burke, then the most eloquent man in the House of Commons, and the champion of liberty.  But Mr. Burke was at that time a secret pensioner.  He had stipulated for a handsome pension for himself, for his wife in case she survived, and for his family after their death.

This pension not being known to the public at that time, to the surprise of all, the eloquent Mr. Burke changed his principles, and from being the warm supporter of America in her struggle for liberty, and the champion of the early efforts of the French in their revolution, he became the enemy of that revolution and through that the supporter of corruption and the friend of the oppressor; but as Mr. Burke took advantage of some excesses in the French Revolution to declare his change of opinion, he gave a [begin page xiii] coloring to this change which deceived even his personal friends.
 
They gave him credit for sincerity, and when he announced his great work, Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution," it made a great impression on the public mind.  The friends of liberty and human rights in both Ireland and England were mortified at the defection of Mr. Burke, and dejected at the success of his work, till Mr. Paine announced a reply.
 
That reply was the "Rights of Man," and popular as Mr. Burke's work was in its beginning, it stood no chance against Mr. Paine's.  Where a thousand copies were sold of the one, ten thousand were sold of the other.  Mr. Burke, before the publication of the "Rights of Man," had promised a rejoinder, but he never attempted it, and Mr. Paine, after waiting a long time, published his SECOND PART.
 
The present work contains both; it is Mr. Paine's chef d’ oeuvre in politics.  He has given it on a broad basis of principle.  It is a conden- [begin page xiv] sation of sound political principles, applicable at all times, besides being a reminiscence of England and France at those stirring times.
 
The work had an immense run and influence, and as it could not be bought up, it was honored with a series of prosecutions by the British Government; but the same work produced for Mr. Paine an election to the French Convention from three different places, and the highest honors were awarded him on his landing at Calais.
 
The "Rights of Man" has now become a standard work, and as such is presented to the American public.