very absurdity of
the doctrine confirms him in his faith."--Let. 35.

The mental constitution of Mr. Paine made him practical. What he knew he
considered of no use to himself unless he could apply it in some way. He
finds the people oppressed by the usurpations of government, and he
urges to rebellion. He finds in America, Britain had prohibited the
importation of powder, and his knowledge of chemistry immediately
supplies the national magazines. His mechanical thought was not
satisfied until it had taken the form of an iron bridge. It was the same
disposition in Junius which kept him forever talking of "experience,"
and the "evidence of facts." I give a single parallel out of hundreds:

_Paine._

"In the progress of politics, as in the common
occurrences of life, we are not only apt to forget
the ground we have traveled over, but frequently
neglect to gather up _experience_ as we
go."--Crisis, iii.

_Junius._

"As you yourself are a singular instance of youth
without spirit, the man who defends you is a no
less remarkable example of _age_ without the
benefit of _experience_."--Let. 9.

I merely call attention to the above fact as a practical feature of the
mind common to both. In the same manner both make frequent mention of
"_reason_" and "common sense." Examples of this kind it is useless to
give, for they look out from every page.

* * * * *

I now pass to consider their doctrines and private opinions; and first
of politics:

I have heretofore proven that they were not partisans in the strict
sense of the term, yet they both had party proclivities:

_Paine._

"There is a dignity in the warm passions of a whig
which is never to be found in the cold malice of a
tory; in the one nature is only heated, in the
other poisoned. The instant the former has it in
his power to punish, he feels a disposition to
forgive, but the canine venom of the latter knows
no relief but revenge. This general distinction
will, I believe, apply in all cases, and suits as
well the meridian of England as America."--Crisis,
vi.

_Junius._

To the king: "You are not, however, destitute of
support. You have all the Jacobites, Non-jurors,
Roman Catholics, and _Tories_ of this countr