The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-09
THE TREASON OF ARNOLD.
Lecture by Prof. John FIske OF Aar-
ward University.
A Scholarly Discourse Upon the His ,.
tory Of the Rebellion.

SN"Aoh iaot evening enJOyeu rare treat III
listening to the lecture by Prof John
flske OF Harvard College, on one of the
most interesting, as well as the darkest,
events Of the. American revolution. The
treason Of Arnold is subject the ANALYSIS
OF which calls into play the highest powers
OF the student and writer of history and in
the course OF his lecture last evening. Prof.
flske presented in clear light much in refer
ence to the character and motives of Arnold.
which was new 10 his hearers. The sue
cessiye events Of the story Of conspiracy and
treason were viyidly depicted, as well as the
influences which combined to place Arnold
in a position where. with his impulsiye
nature and keen sense Of the Sights mt
upon him, he turned from the path of duty
to nearly wreck the fortunes of the young
republic and bring upon himself the hate
and reproaeh Of his eountrymen. Prof.
Fiske is man of imposing appearance and
read his lecture distinctly, every word being
understood by all his hearers. The lecture
occupied about an hour and a quarter in de-
livery, the audience giving the closest atten-
tion throughout and applauding at the close
An abstract Of the lecture follows;
In ITS no man Of the American army
stood higher. excepting Washington, in the
opinion Of the people than Benedict Arnold.
lie had been one of the first to hasten 10 ioin-
tne army at the breaking out Of the war
he had led the expedition through the vii,
derness against Quebec and been wounded
before that city. Other exploits added TO his
Iame and when he became the hero Of the
victory OF Saratoga, his position in the esti-
msil4n ,siah Oh the army and people was one Of
all, however, he was a rascal, and this Is
proved by his pre-eminent rascalty. He
had up to 1850 given little sign OF this evil
character, for Washington and SCHUYLER,
y, VINO were keen judges of character, gave
must have had something noble In it Is at
tested by the love born him by the soldiers.
lie was capable OF good and generous impul-
ses, as when wounded Hessian shot him al
Saratoga, In the leg, which had been injured
before Quebec, he exclaimed to the soldier
about to kin the man who had fired the shot
Don't kill him, he has only done his duty"
lt has been said Of him that he should have
died upon the battlefield of Saratoga. There
Is much that throws light upon his soldiers
admiration for him In the remark Of the old
Berkshire farmer who had served under
MIN: Arnold never said Go on; he said
Come on, boys"
But Arnold acted on impulse rather than
principle ana like many men who have no
~ SAthSsAOho VI uut1 anu Tile strength OF
will to adhere to them, was over sensitive To
public opinion. Early in the war, it became
evident that there was spirit in Congress
and among some generals, antagonistic 10
Washington. Ihis movement is known as
the Conway cabal. AS Washington's great
strength with the people became known, the
EFFORTS Oh the cabal were confined to the in
nuence OF sights upon his favOrite gener
ais. Greene, Morgan and Stark suffered and
Arnold nad 10 see his juniors promoted above
: vi foFtr and a O.
forced recognition of his services and his
promotion to his proper rank
Inc year 1850 was one of disbursement
70 the Americans. 1t is true that In the
Northern Colonies, the British had no foot
hold except in New York and its vicinity. INIT
Corvallis after his victory in the South de-
ciared he could conquer the country south
of the Susquehanna. There was was no ef-
hcient general government and indeed. the
administrative paralysis then existing con-
adoption of the constitution. The finances
were In as bad a state as possible. The
country was flooded with deprecated paner
currency. One member of Congress EXPRESS
ed his views upon finance by asking why he
should vote to tax the people when Phila-
delphla printing press could supply ali the
money needed. The currency during the
year 1880 had deprecated until Sl575 were
required to purchase barrel of flour and
the general government had to adopt the
making requisitions upon the several States
that they should send in supplies of various
KINDS and amounts while Washington had 10
draw from the surrounding country to fur
nlsh rations for his soldiery. At this time.
9esertlons qss;e from the American army to the
British forces averaged 100 q month, and IL
was no wonder that the Americans did not
enter the army when itreQuired four months
pay to buy bushel of wheat Tor their fam
Ines, and the men in the ranks did their
DUTY on insufficient food and while only half
In I77S Arnold had been appointed COM
mandant at Philadelphia. The Qualities
which had made him so successful on the
Held were not those, however, to aid him In
ms ms new position; He was blind and lacked
tne TACT especially required in the general
VINO commanded in Philadelphia during the
time when the property of Tories was being
conhscated by the action of Congress and
the executive council Of the State. General
=. Arnold deep sense OF the sights put upon
MIN by Congress made matters worse. He
lived In style af luxury and extrayagance
and 1t was said of him that his method Of
lie was Ill becoming the impoverished state
OF tne country. To meet his large expenses,
he engaged in mercantile speculations. and
may have used his official position to further
tnese schemes, thing which no man of
honor would do. Arnold also became the
captive Of daughter Of prominent Tory
named Shipper, and at his parties many
0SAC lCCCiNCu anu even The
wives and daughters Of men who were snf-
terlng prescription, Arnold replying to com
plants made OF this. that he did not make
war upon the families of his enemies. At
that time there were Tories and Tories Be-
sides the men who engaged in the border
massacres. there were many who argned
that instead OF forming an alliance with the
French, the ancient foes Of the English
Congress should have accepted the liberal
proposals made by Lord North. They said
OF Of In.
not signed with the intention OF keeping mn
the struggle with the Mother Country after
she had acknowledged the claims of the Col
onlsts and that Washington himself had
doubted the wisdom Of establishing an in
dependent government.
Arnold must have heard these arguments
many times and he repeatedly declared his
oppositl0n to the French alliance Finally
ne announced his intention Of resigning his
commission and acquiring grant Of land in
New YORK where he would take some of his
soldiers as colonists and live as a peaceful
citizen. At the beginning of the year I770.
ne accordingly set out nOrthward to confer
with tho legislature of New York in regard
% his grant. He had scarcely left Phlladel-
phia, however, before specific charges were
made against him. Returning he demanded
an investigation and 1t was awarded him by
Congress, the committee reporting him guilt
less OF all the charges excepting one of i'm
properly granting pass. and one Of using
'SAaNA'o AoA PAtNatC puApOcto Dut
putting no wrong Intention. This was in
March, but no sooner was the report made |
than another investigation was asked for by |
the executive council, more evidence, it was |
urged, being forthcoming. The matter was
this time referred to joint committee from |
Congress and the executive council, but was |
then shifted TO military court martial.
IL was probably about this time that Ar |
mold entered into secret correspondence |
with Sir Henry Clinton, signing his letters
Gustavus and receiving replies from Major |
Andre, the adjutant general of the British |
army, who wrote over the signature Of John |
Anderson. As yet Arnold was only dallying |
with temptation and the correspondence was |
carried on at intervals. The decision of the |
court martial was greatly delayed, however |
and Arnold. who had been married i'm the |
spring to Miss Shippen was forced to wait |
until the following December before the /
court martial reported exonerating him from /
all the charges except the two of which he |
had been before convicted and in which he |
was not accused Of criminal intent Asa /
to the powerful State OF Pennsyl- |
vania, Congress ordered that for these two |
charges Arnold should be publicly repri- |
manded. The reprimand administered by /
washington was cOuched in language which |
showed the general-in-chief's belief In the |
trivial nature Of the offences while lauding |
In gracious terms, the valor and courage OF |
Arnold. But the. iron had entered the mans
soul. Perhaps he had reflected on the /
double dealing of some great leaders and
tof Nh.k -