ys that "No publication so much promoted the cause of
Independence as that. The statements which are now adopted were then
strange, and Paine found difficulty in procuring a publisher to
undertake it."

Dr. Ramsay says: "The style, manner, and language of Thomas Paine's
performance were calculated to interest the passions and to rouse all
the active powers of human nature. With the view of operating on the
sentiments of religious people, Scripture was pressed into his service;
and the powers and name of a king were rendered odious in the eyes of
numerous colonists who had read and studied the history of the Jews, as
recorded in the Old Testament. Hereditary succession was turned into
ridicule. The absurdity of subjecting a great continent to a small
island on the other side of the globe was represented in such striking
language as to interest the honour and pride of the colonists in
renouncing the government of Great Britain. The necessity, the advantage
and practicability of independence were forcibly demonstrated.

"Nothing could be better timed than this performance. It was addressed
to freemen, who had just received convincing proof that Great Britain
had thrown them out of her protection, and engaged foreign mercenaries
to make war upon them, and seriously designed to compel their
unconditional submission to her unlimited power. It found the colonists
most thoroughly alarmed for their liberties, and disposed to do and
suffer anything that promised their establishment. In union with the
feelings and sentiments of the people, it produced surprising effects.
Many thousands were convinced, and were led to approve and long for a
separation from the mother country. Though that measure, a few months
before, was not only foreign to their wishes, but the object of their
abhorrence, the current suddenly became so strong in its favour that it
bore down all opposition. The multitude was hurried down the stream; but
some worthy men could not easily reconcile themselves to the idea of an
eternal separation from a country to which they had long been bound by
the most endearing ties. * * The change of the public mind of America
respecting connection with Great Britain is without a parallel. In the
short space of two years, nearly three millions of people passed over
from the love and duty of loyal subjects to the hatred and resentment of
enemies."[69]

The American press and all the American historians of that day speak of
the