Arizona republican., 1905-06-04
TIE NATIONS SENTENCE
In Behalf of but not in Defense o
 Benedict Arnold.

One of the orations edelivered at the late high school commencement, "The Nations Sentence in the case of Ben edict Arnold, suggests re- vision of the sentence. The Oration has called out only 8 great deal of favorable comment, not on account of an elegance of diction but a logical reasoning in support of a highly un- popular man. It is not a defense of Arnold the traitor. but a eulogy upon Arnold before he became a traitor-a brave soldier then and a patriot. It is shown how he might have been acting then in the light before him, in the best interest of the Colonies driven to his course, perhaps by what was admitted ly unjust treatment. It is more diff cult to an American to defend Arnold than Judas and that has been done.
 "The mere mention of many of our national heroes is enough to make us proud that we are Americans. But there is one for whom Americans will seldom allow a kindly thought. Even the most severe critic will give to a painting or a book the benefit of an unbiased judgment Surely a human character deserves as much.
 No sentence without an impartial trial is one of our fundamental princi- ples, yet prejudice is blind to all sense of justice. Then give to this black and blighted name the advantage of an unprejudiced investigation.
 A mans character, actions and ac- complishments are, to a certain eX- tent, influenced by his environments. Our own Washington owes much of his success to the statesmanship of IJon,iIto, and T~var,l-1iu his generalship was augmented by the brilliancy of Stark. and the shreWd- ness of Schuyler.
 At the close of the revolution a name that had stood for a man among men, as a symbol of bravery, cour- age and all the attributes that make the ideal soldier. by one mad act was made a disfigUring blot on the pages of our history. It became an evil word, Q curse, and as such, from fath- CT to son. mas been handed down to US. Men forgot that he who bore thai name had wen the battles that paved the way for independence; forgot the shame and insult to which he had been subjected; forgot that whatever Arnold the traitor might have been, Benedict Arnold, the general, was a hero
 Arnold was action. His were the plans of Ticonderoga. It was he who made that terrible march through the wilderness, a feat equal to HannibaTs march across the Alps It was he who led the wild assault at Quebec, where he fell wounded. These daring and gallant deeds made him the idol of the people, and the target for the envious darts of his less popular rivals. Be- cause of his victories his supcriors hated him, although they were forced to recognize his ability. When a large force of British pursued the Ameri- cans from Canada, Arnold was selected to stop them, and history does not tell of a more nObly fought battle than of Valcour Island where the valor ot Benedict Arnold checked the advance of the English.
 Now, indeed, had he won promo tion. But instead of receiving it he was met with the false charges of Q jealous faction, and his interiors, men who had yet to hear the battles roar. were promoted over him. Thus an up- grateful country ignored one who had bled, and had been willing to die for her.
 His proud spirit was almost ready to break, yet through Washington'a influence he did not resign. He buried his personal injuries in his zeal for his country, and won another brilliant vic tory at RidgefeId. He returned from that battle, covered with glory. to ba insulted again by congress, which os- fered him promotion without rank a robe without a scepter This was beyond endurance. He was about tn