The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-08
Pupsy Read Before the Chautauq,ta Circle.

Pufv Read BEFORE upe Chdutduqud C"cte'
sLDRING me 1 beg you the epau-
X lets end sword knots |
which Washington gave
me; let me dress in my old
American uniform, the uniform In
which fought my battles. God for
give zne for ever putting on any other"
These were among the last words ut
tered by Benedict Arnold as he was
passing from the vicissitudes OF re-
mors sful and embittered life to the
Great Beyond.
1t would be difficult to find a more
tonehing episode in the annals OF
American history than the fall of Bene-
dict Arnold. which has truly, as Wash
ingson Irving said, rendered his name
sadly conspicuous to the end of time.
Had he died like the gallant Montgom-
cry Oh the Plains of Abraham after his
desperate but unsuccessful attempt to
capture Quebec, his name would have
added lustre to the military glory OF
America. instead of everlasting igno-
miDy to himself and his posterity. That
his crime was nexcusable and one that
involved conspiracy of the first mag
nitnae,. remains undisputed But the
passing of century and quarter has
eliminated to a great extent that ma
tionsl prejudice which has since the
day of his treason existed in the hearts
of she American people. Whatever
his faults may have been, l cannot help
hut think that he has been the victim
Of DDfair criticism. In fact all his bril-
liant achievements have been sacrificed
that his crime might be augmented.
The bright side of his life has been for
gotten: but alas! his many mistakes are
remembered only too well This is a
universal failing of human nature-to
forget to give credit where credit is
iine leaving nothing with which to off
set mistakes. Even the courts of just
ice seek for mans previous crimes.
but seldom for his virtues.
TO thoroughly appreciate Arnold's
DaDy deeds of valor and the great and
tirDe Ey services he rendered his country
the prejudiced reader would first have
TO forget his treason.
Now that revolutionary enthusiasm
has ce ased to exist, let us indulge in
Tetrospection and see if history has
been fair to the memory of Benedict
Arnold. At the beginning of the Revo
sution he was blessed with rising fam
Nv and a loving wife. His fnancia
condition was comparatively good anC
his future prospects of the best. Afte
the Boston massacre and the battle O.
Lexington, he decided to sacrifice thi
domestic ease and happiness to defent
his country and was one of the first il
Abe feld declaring that no one save Al
mighty God should stop him. Hat
providence seen tit to exercise its pre-
negative his lot might have been differ
ent. While his patriotism and love o
eoaDtry we're noble traits of character
ii Bnst be conceded that his patriotism
ut no time in his life exceeded his am
bision That his ambition was respon
Mbe for many of his rash acts is a fac
that I'll intelligent readers must recog
Di1e. He was impulsive and seldom
waited for the opportunity to presen
nseh.
Il was practically at his own sugges
aion that he was permitted to advanc
spon Quebec, which was then suppose
10 be the best fortified city in Americ'
The wisdom of this undertaking ha
often been questioned, but this much
venture to say: that historians hav
failed to record a more obstinate a
asmpt to accomplish purpose tha
Vas made by Arnold during his Ion
march through the wilderness of Main
ana his subsequent gallantry on th
Plains of Abraham. The march frol
Cambridge to Quebec in point of hare
ship and peril has seldom been equale
Historians have seen fit to compal
this expedition with the crossing
Tho Alps by Napoleon and his retre'
from Moscow. Sixteen years previor