e resisted by
the English people, still exist, and the reforms he advocated, although
partly accomplished, fail to produce any better result. The reason is,
the people never resist tyranny till scourged into it, from
self-interest; and, besides, they must worship a tyrant of some
political form, bending the knee to king or party, and baring the back
to the lash. A leader the people must have, under whose banner they can
rally, and which they consider it treason to desert, and whether they
vote for a president or bow to a king, is all the same. The political
prayer of royalty or republicanism, if not in the same words, expresses
the same fact. The one is, "Oh, Lord! to the king I bow, thou knowest he
can do no wrong." The other is, "Oh, Lord! to the party I bow, thou
knowest I never scratched a ticket."

Although Paine and Junius were thoroughly read in the history of the
human heart, they failed to place a proper estimate on the character of
mankind. They failed because they reasoned from their own pride of
character, their own feelings, hopes, and desires, and these far
exceeded the mass of mankind.

They were both too proud to flatter.

_Paine._

"As it is not my custom to flatter but to serve
mankind, I will speak freely."--Crisis, xi.

"The world knows I am not a flatterer."--R. M.,
part ii, Preface.

_Junius._

"I am not conversant in the language of panegyric.
These praises are extorted from me; but they will
wear well, for they have been dearly
earned."--Let. 53.

The above characteristic is quite peculiar. I do not remember of ever
seeing the like of it in any other writer, and as there is a perfect
parallel here, the fact that it stands almost alone gives it great
weight.

* * * * *

They were both enthusiasts, as the following parallel on _moderation_
will show:

_Paine._

"Though I would carefully avoid giving unnecessary
offense, yet I am inclined to believe that all
those who espouse the doctrine of reconciliation
may be included within the following descriptions:
Interested men, who are not to be trusted; weak
men who can not see; prejudiced men who will not
see; and a certain sort of _moderate_ men, who
think better of the European world than it
deserves; and this last class, by an ill-judged
deliberation, will be the