Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), February 1, 1909
LIBERALS CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY OF PAINE
Edward Adams Cantrell Gives Eloquent Oration, Replete with Details as to Life of Emancipator.
The Los Angeles Liberal club last night celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Paine, Edward Adams Cantrell being the speaker of the evening. Mammoth hall, where the meeting was held, was crowded, many being compelled to stand, and large numbers being unable to obtain admission by any means.
Mr. Cantrell introduced his subject with a quotation from Victor Hugo to the effect that as one life goes out another enters, and said that the tragedy of progress arises from the fact that the life of yesterday is arrayed against the life of today; that the night is ever in conflict with the day and that the limitations of one age, seeking to perpetuate themselves, attempt to prevent all growth. As in 1809 Paine had gone forth so other great souls had followed—Lincoln, Darwin and a countless host.
Paine was a great emancipator, and so was Darwin, who was the emancipator of the human mind, and Lincoln, the emancipator of the human race.
The speaker went into much detail as to the life of Paine, showing that he had been a volunteer under Washington, secretary of foreign affairs, clerk of the legislature of Pennsylvania and originator of a private subscription fund of $1,500,000 to feed and clothe the army. He was also the American agent who obtained from the French nation in the hour of its direst need a present of 6000 livres and a loan of $10,000,000. He was a member of the American Philosophical society, a master of arts of the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the French national convention. Furthermore, he was the man of whom Napoleon said:
“A statue of gold ought to be erected to him in every city of the universe.”
With this was contrasted the derogatory and well known description given by Theodore Roosevelt.
David Swing was quoted as saying:
“Judging by his writings Paine was one of the grandest and best men that ever trod this planet,”
to which was added the statement of Moncure D. Conway, who constituted himself specially Paine’s biographer, that
“all efforts to stain the good name of Thomas Paine have recoiled on those who made them, like poisoned arrows shot against the wind. In his life, in his justice, in his truth, in his adherence to high principles, in his disinterestedness I look in vain for a parallel in these times.”
Special reference was made to the Torrey revivals held recently in the city as showing the necessity for keeping ever green the name and principles that Paine had taught.