Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-15

having a good time with balls and Brit
ish soldiers. who were dressed fine and
made good partners. because some of the
best OF Old England's young noblemen
came to serve the king.
Among these gay young soldiers. with
gold embroidered military uniforms. was
Major Andre. perfect gentleman and a
fine soldier. He became acquainted with
Mrs. Arnold's dressy kinfolSs and in some
way became acquainted with the Arnolds
To make a long story short. Benedict Ar
mold at last promised TO betray the garri-
son at West Point. under certain condi-
tions. Between New York and West
Point some plain country boys. carrying
old flint muskets. were on guard duty.
They saw a nicely dressed gentleman
with a wig on. and plain but fine clothes
come along riding a good horse. He gave
the password all right and they were
about TO let him so on when these coun-
try boys concluded they had better exam
inc him. as their orders were strict to
know what travellers were doing, etc.
In the plain. so-called country gentle
mans boots they found the papers which
were being carried to Arnold to sign be-
fore the British gold could pass into his
accursed hands. Major Andres wig was
removed and these country men found
the proof that convinced them that West
Point and the patriot garrison would
have been the prize of Arnold's treason
to his countrymen-if Andre had escaped
them. This IS enough of the well-known
recital. except 10 say those young soldiers
could not be bribed to let Andre go. and
Andre persisted as a British spy.
As l read the verse at the heading
OF this article I thought of those true
hearted men who dared to do the right
~ hn fwhs inc A. rs
American history remains the story of
Benedict Arnolds shame. and the I'M
sullied patriotism Of those three hum
BILE uneducated country boys. will re-
main in bold letters and beloved of true
patriots everywhere. But virtue has to
wait a long time very often to be APP
preciated. True men are very often mis-
judged and grossly misappreciated. AS
the verse says they suffer hatred. scot
fling and abuse rather than in silence
shrink from the truth A man is not
worthy of the ballot who is afraid to
vote his convictions because he is afraid
his employer will dismiss him. He is
no man at all who is afraid of the abuse
OF the boss of the bailiwick. He is
not fit TO be the father of children who
will tell them. Il am obliged TO vote as
/ am told or lose my job" ! know men
today who are willing to say If /
wasn't AFRAID Ia vote Tor --s out II
would make my boss mad with me-"
1 know men who today are absolutely
afraid to say they are friendly to a can
didate Cwhere they can be heard), but
abjectly say I'm afraid I'D lose my po-
sition to vote as I wish" They betray
their own consciences, they outrage the
loftiest attributes of manhood, they sim
ply accept slavery to hold down the
job. Craven, abject, without self-respect |
and manifestly unworthy of the great
privilege afforded to an American free !
man, in allowing him to select his |
own representatives he takes the role |
OF the slave and betrays his country, |
while he debases his own mind and |
heart.
Oh, how this country needs the sort |
of courage which animated those uncul- |
tured Connecticut farmers, who spurned |
British gold for honor's sake!
Suppose West Point had been sur
rounded? General Washington would |
have ben so badly defeated that his
already starving troops would have
The fate of this American republic
turned on the white-souled honor Of
three plain countrymen, who told. Major
Andre TO keep his gold and they would |
keep their patriotism, Are we now |
by our own people who are |
not brave enough to speak out for good |
government in rebuke of graft and |
greed?