Paine’s going to America was due to Benjamin Franklin, who made Paine’s acquaintance in London, and, having the wit to see his ability, recommended him ’as a clerk or assistant-tutor in a school or assistant-surveyor.’  Thus armed, Paine made his appearance in Philadelphia, where he at once obtained employment as editor of an intended periodical called the Pennsylvanian Magazine or American Museum, the first number of which appeared in January, 1775.  Never was anything luckier.  Paine was, without knowing it, a born journalist.  His capacity for writing on the spur of the moment was endless, and his delight in doing so boundless.  He had no difficulty for ‘copy’, though in those days contributors were few.  He needed no contributors.  He was ‘Atlanticus’; he was ‘Vox Populi’; he was ‘Aesop.’  The unsigned articles were also mostly his.  Having at last, after many adventures and false starts, found his vocation, Paine stuck to it.  He spent the rest of his days with a pen in his hand, scribbling his advice and obtruding his counsel on men and nations.  Both were usually of excellent quality.

Paine was also happy in the moment of his arrival in America.  The War of Independence was imminent, and in April, 1775, occurred ’the massacre of Lexington.’  The Colonists were angry, but puzzled.  They hardly knew what they wanted.  They lacked a definite opinion to entertain and a cry to asseverate.  Paine had no doubts.  He hated British institutions with all the hatred of a civil servant who has had ‘the sack.’

In January, 1776, he published his pamphlet Common-sense, which must be ranked with the most famous pamphlets ever written.  It is difficult to wade through now, but even The Conduct of the Allies is not easy reading, and yet between Paine and Swift there is a great gulf fixed.  The keynote of Common-sense was separation once and for ever, and the establishment of a great Republic of the West.  It hit between wind and water, had a great sale, and made its author a personage and, in his own opinion, a divinity.

Paine now became the penman of the rebels.  His series of manifestoes, entitled The Crisis, were widely read and carried healing on their wings, and in 1777 he was elected Secretary to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.  Charles Lamb once declared that Rousseau was a good enough Jesus Christ for the French, and he was capable of declaring Tom Paine a good enough Milton for the Yankees.  However that may be, Paine was an indefatigable and useful public servant.  He was a bad gauger for King George, but he was an admirable scribe for a revolution conducted on constitutional principles.

To follow his history through the war would be tedious.  What Washington and Jefferson really thought of him we shall never know.  He was never mercenary, but his pride was wounded that so little recognition of his astounding services was forthcoming.  The ingratitude of Kings was a commonplace; the ingratitude of peoples an unpleasing novelty.  But Washington bestirred himself at last, and Paine was voted an estate of 277 acres, more or less, and a sum of money.  This was in 1784.