The age-herald., 1901-06-01
A PATRIOTS DEBT TO
 ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR
Edward B. Clark, in Chicago Record

Edward B. Clark, in Chicago Record
 Herald
 If the forming of the many societies In which membership is based on the having of an ancestor who fought or did some- thing else for his country a century or so ago serves no other purpose 1t at least Is means of bringing to light some more than half-hidden bits of American history too interesting to be lost either to sight or memory. For the last few years the gene alogy departments of the reference libra- ries of the country have been more popu- lar with the masses than any other rooms in the buildings. There are gathered daily throngs composed to the fve-sixths part of women studying way for dear life in the endeavorSto find trace of some ancestor who saw the whites of the British eyes at Bunker Hill or who ate sweet potatoes for steady diet with Sumter in the Caro- linas. The discoveries made by these del- vers Into family histories if put into a volume would form valuable addition to the graver records of n government. Some matters touching Benedict Arnold which were perhaps well enough known a cen- tury ago, but which had lapsed into for getfulness, were found recently by a "rev- olutionary daughter" who for certain req sons was trying to find something to tighten Benedict's black history.
 When it Is once said with truth that man Is traitor to his country the damna- ton is deep enough to keep his contempo- ro- -iA f11f from any attempt to find anything that might redeem the traitors soul from utter blackness Benedict Arnold's name is plotted out of the revolutionary roll of honor on the walls of the chapel at West Point. On some monuments and on many a page of history Arnold's name appears, but nowhere may it be seen separated from little Traitor The English, who were to have profited by Arnold's treason, hated the traitor after he had joined their ranks. British officers would hold no fel- iowship with him, and his memory is exc crated in England today. The British loy- alists who left the colonies at the out break of the revolutionary war and went their way into New Branswick showed Arnold when he afterward went to dwell among them that they held him nothing short of bathing. Arnold has been lik- ened unto Nero and Nero has gained by the comparison. Nero merely fiddled IS Rome went up in flames, while Arnold is pictured as smiling exultantly at the burn ing under his orders of his birthplace, and at the subsequent putting of many of the surrendered Americans to the sword. It Is told that when New London and Groton were attacked and burned Arnold, com manding the attacking forces, had no word of reproof for the officer who upon receiving the sword of Colonel William Ledyard, the American commander, in token of surrender, murdered the colonial soldier with the weapon which he had pre- sented hilt on to his conqueror This is the midnight scroll, and that upon 1t may appear small tracing in letters of light Is a matter of interest, thought it may do nothing toward the redeeming of name.
 It Is Daughter of the Revolution, Mrs. Gilbert W. Warren, of Ilion. N. T., who has brought attention to a we'll nigh forgotten fragment of Arnold's his- tory Mrs. Warren is a descendant of Colonel William Ledyard, who was killed with his own sword after he had sur-