Arizona republican., 1905-06-04

tender his resignation, when tha alarm was sounded from the north that Burgoyne was advancing. Again he went to the front to fight. and die if need be, for his country
 Then came Saratoga. Victory now meant everything; defeat meant death to the American cause. Gates was in command, and had poisoned the ear of congress against Arnold. Seizing upon this opportunity, and urged by his envy and jealousy, he deprived Benedict Arnold, the hero of a dozen battles, of his command on the eva or the contest that was to decide tho late of American Independence.
 From his tent Arnold saw the battle begin watched the soldiers of his com mand-his old friends and comrades advancing to their deaths He was de- nied even the right to go with them The British were beginning to force their way through the American lines Soon all would be lost and the Declar- ation of Independence would be but a memory This advance must be stop- ped, and Arnold, the general, saw at a glance what must be done. He could endure it no longer. He vauIted into ms saddle. He dashed into the fight. and waving his sword high in the air. made his way to the front. With cheer the soldiers followed him. In an irresistible charge. The British gave ground. They retreated; and the ad- vantage they had so nearly won was lost to them.
 Nothing could resist the Americans now Position after position vas talk en. Arnold fell wounded. but when he was carried from the field Saratoga had been won. Let us give all honor to schuyler and the other brave leaders who were there, but, in the name of justice acknowledge the man who saved the day. Had he died on that field. the name Benedict Arnold would now be dear to American hearts.
 We all know his reason, a deed which so nearly made Saratoga but a flash of hope in a lost cause. But surely there is pity and forgiveness in the hearts of Americans. s. His was not a crime born of a base designing na- ture, but rather of an impulse. The whole country was moaning for peace that would end the slaughter of her sons. The gallant army. that would never say die, marked it's march with a trail of crimson. Not the blood shed by bullets in the impetuous charge of battle, but the bloody imprint of shoe less feet. torn and Iacerated for a country's freedom.
 Arnold was approached by people high in position. who urged him to end the war. They told him that final slavery to England would be the in eVitable result of continued resistance. They played upon his vanity, magnified his wrongs, appealed to his feelings. He was told of the great good that he would do; how posterity would bless him for saving the remanent of the country. Influenced by these argu- and by the sense of his bit ter wrongs, he took the fateful step.
 "Other men have plotted treason and succeeded. They are hailed as heroes and statesmen. Arnold failed and is branded traitor. Can we find no pity in our hearts for his error? No word of praise for his valiant deeds ? If we forget all else how can We for get Saratoga?
 Years after in the upper room of an English inn, a man lay dying. A man old before his time upon whose face remOrse had left it's fearful mark He was a stranger, and save for the pres ence of a clergyman, was alone. As he lay he muttered to himself of his past. Occasionally the listener caught a word that told that the dying man was once a soldier. He was living his life over again. At times he laughed at some childish remembrance; again, his voice rose in feeble cheers as in imagination he once more led his army to victory. At last he rose, went to a travelling case and took out something that seem ed dear to his heart, the torn and faded uniform of an officer of the Continental army. Long and lovingly he aged 1ID- on it, caressed it, fOndled the shabby cloth, and with tears running down his cheeks mOaned, This is the uniform in which I won my victories Oh! that I had never changed it. and clasping it tightly to his breast, the old man tot tered back to his bed. Later on the