chy and
aristocracy will not continue seven years longer in any of the enlightened
countries of Europe," so sure was Paine that civilised mankind would hasten
to follow the examples of France and America, and summon national
conventions for the making of republican constitutions. As the old form of
government had been hereditary, the new form was to be elective and
representative. The money hitherto spent on the Crown was to be devoted to
a national system of elementary education--all children remaining at school
till the age of 14--and to old-age pensions for all over 60. It is in these
financial proposals and the suggested social reforms that Paine is seen as
a pioneer of democracy. A progressive income tax is included in this Part
II., the tax to be graduated from 3d. in the L on incomes between L50 to
L500; 6d. on incomes between L500 and L1,000; an additional 6d. up to
L4,000; and then 1s. on every additional L1,000 until we get to an income
tax of 20s. in the L on an income of L22,000 a year.

The popularity of Paine's proposals in England and the Reign of Terror in
France frightened the British Government into a policy of fierce
persecution against all who bought, sold, lent or borrowed the "Rights of
Man." "Constitutional Societies" were suppressed, and all who dared openly
express sympathy with revolutions or republics were promptly arrested.

Paine, outlawed by the British Government, contended in the National
Convention for a republican constitution for France, did his best to
prevent the execution of Louis XVI., fell with the Girondins, was thrown
into prison, and only escaped with his life by an accident. Then, under the
very shadow of the guillotine Paine wrote his "Age of Reason," to recall
France from atheism to a mild humanitarian theism. This book was fatal to
Paine's reputation. Henceforth the violent denunciation of theological
opponents pursued him to the grave, and left his name a byword to the
orthodox. As Paine's contribution to the body of democratic belief in the
"Rights of Man" was submerged in the discussion on his religious opinions,
so was his early plea for what he called "Agrarian Justice." On his release
from a prison cell in the Luxembourg, in 1795, Paine published his "Plan
for a National Fund." This plan was an anticipation of our modern proposals
for Land Reform. Paine urged the taxation of land values--the payment to
the community of a ground-rent--and argued for death duties as "the