Freneau, Philip. "On Mr. Paine's Rights of Man".

Summary

The speaker observes that the rights of man are inconsistent with the royal plan with several masters but millions of slaves. Men are here ranked with beasts.

Paine was stimulated by Reason to address the mankind and raise it up. (T. Paine's Rights of Man assert the right of man to overthrow the monarchy by a revolution and govern on his own). The speaker wishes for the time to advance and show all the masters falling from their thrones.

He hails Columbia and wishes for the land to stay till the end of time without any monarch and to become the guardian of the Rights of Man.

Analysis

- a political topical poem

- pays tribute not only to Paine specifically, but also to all pioneers of human rights in general

- optimistic in tone, emphasises what has been already achieved

- urges for further action and believes in success of democratic ideals