New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
FITCH DEPENDS ANDRE
Pldy7cright Says the Britisher Va
Not Spy.

hear Is that have tried to 'whItewash' Naior
Andre" said Mr.. Fitch the other day. ~Thisl
enphaticaly deny. haven't tried TO white
wash the memory OF Andre I have simply
tried to show Andre as he really was. There /.
popular impression that Andre was simply
British SOY. He wasn't anything OF the kind
The impression that he was despica5Is char.
acter undoubtedly had its origin in me mass Of
lies which were told BY both armies after hs
execution Even after a century and Quarte.
people who haven't carefully studied the man
say:
well. 1 don't see how Fitch is going to maks
play out of Andre. for when al s said and
done the simply q British SPY. and
how can an American audience stand for thu
glOrifcation of British spy?
In the first place, if Andre had been a SPY
he would have entered the American lines n
disguise. He went instead in full uniform az
a major general Of the British army. he wa
conducted inside the American lines ~ Arnold
without his knowledge or consent After gong
ashore from the British warshIp EuIlure, on
which he had expected to have the conterenes
with Arnold, he was persuaded BY Arnold 70
go with him to the Joshua Hett Smith hOusa
near Haverstraw. Arnold then left him. inside
the American lines. much to his annoyance. "a
protested against the arrangement. but Arno-fs
ture. The first time he realized that re wa
inside the American lines Was when he heard
the hOarse challenge Of a sentry demanding tas
cOUntersign.
These facts, when brought to Washinstons
attention, did much to alleviate Andres position,
but the Indignation Of the army and the Ge-
maEd for atouemeEt after ArnOIds flight made
a sacrifice necessary. Andre was s4crluced- 10
should never nave been hanged lie vas lot a
spy, and he deserved to be treated as PTS
oner Of war. Washington may have felt Jusd-
fed IN signing the death warrant, but re Hesl-
tated Ions time before cOndeEn-nS Andre 70
death. WashiugJOn's enemies Would nave HlA1s
political capital out of IenIency on his part ana
his enemies might have trIunlHed had lie per
mitted Andre TO live. The moral erect OF as
death on the Colonies was beneficial Tor "
showed that any treason would be severely dea4f
with. but Andre was unjusuy treated E'eH
Washington said he was more unfortunate 'n-A
criminal.
1t may seem a tri1e late to Try 10 e-e1
Andres memory. but you must remember NAA'
am not making any effort to 'white"ash A4n-
l have simply selected him as tie most dT-ii--o
figure in great drama. and have ou-l1 80
around his personality and death WINS -
toricaI facts have not been oFerooAed. l w.
call my play 4 historical play, because l deI1-s
from facts very frequently. But 50 IAl %
have dealt with the character OF Andre AA''
been most careful TO treat him justly ana d. ~
deserves That many eminent allAOEI1IeS W
denOunCe NE for il is 70 be expected 1O1 va
find some histories which extol Andre IS d No.
tyr. and others which denOunce hih IS d SFs
1 have always been deeply Interested III -All---s
career, and L have carefully consumer III -
authorities. 1 have come to the conc-lsl0n Ia
Andre was a far more lOvabls and adillI@o''
character than the present generation reAA-eS-
Andre was not only the darling OK us w.
ment and one OF the most popular BRUSH %
fcers in New York. but while he was II - ~
delphia he was also an actor. an artist anu
poet He was the originator OF the famous
'Mischianza,' which he planned in honor OA -
William Howe. His own account q ms So
tacular event written in hOwery style IS 40"
in the possession of the Chew family h@'N
been presented by him to Hiss Pegsy Che"' -
Philadelphia, and carefully preserved fees'
Chew's granddaughter. in Baltimore. sun -
the manuscript. Andre illustrated The narr@'l'
lie designed the costumes worn BY the AlH7N
who took part in the 'Mischianza- lie e'e-
designed the admission tickets and the p'O
grammes He was a leader in amateur inca
ricals, and played many leading roles
painted most of the scenery which VAS - -
at the regimental performances given ID TIC -
South Theatre in Philadelphia during thS S'N-
patton He was n poet. too. He wrote the p'
Iogue with which the theatre was opened 80
himself recited it. HIS love verses 70 his AA~S
loves gems, In fast. he was one or me iN'0