William Cobbett And Thomas Paine
BEFORE HIS “CONVERSION” to a pro-Paineite position, William Cobbett made several bitter attacks on Paine and his ideas. Following his “change of heart” Cobbett found his anti-Paine material being used against him.
William Cobbett
The Paine Conversion Myth
Stories of Paine’s recantation or conversion were once the stock in trade of any self-respecting evangelical preacher or writer. In our more sophisticated age with its closer attention to detail, claims of such a specific nature have given way to those of a more general character.
Thomas Paine’s Economic Ideas
Paine’s ideas on economics and finance were of a piece with his approach to politics. Applied science and the development of industry could bring benefits to humanity, but only so long as their fruits accrued to the labouring men and small property owners who were the creators of wealth.
The Cobbett Papers, ed.
It being an essential part of our plan to let Thomas Paine speak in his own words, and explain himself the reason for his actions, whenever we find written papers in his own hand, we shall insert such and to estimate the slightest circumstances.