But the declaration as it now appears, unaccompanied by time, has an effect in holding out to the world, that there was no real cause for the revolution, because it denied the existence of all those causes which are supposed to be justifiable, and which the Abbe styles energetic.
Paine critiques the declaration that downplays the causes of the American Revolution, arguing it misrepresents historical grievances.
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But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…
The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.
They form a common policy throughout Europe, detached and separate from the interest of Nations: and while they appear to quarrel, they agree to plunder.
To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.