The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-12
Gen. L.wton's Curse Word.

Next TO the disappearance OF Admiral
DEWEY as a quotable opponent OF expan-
sion, nothing has done 50 much to dis
concert the American Aguinaldsts. or to
upset the standing columns" in their
newspapers, as the loss OF Major-Gen.
LAwTOS's services as a cursor.
DEWEY figured in the anti-expansionist
list OF authorities on the iniquity OF the
war in certain fabricated or perverted
utterances which promptly fell to pieces
when the Admiral returned to these shores
and began to speak his sentiments in per-
son. LAwToN ranked second to DEWEY in
the list, standing ahead Of even ex-Speaker
REED and Senator HoAR. For the General
was represented as having declared the
war to be not merely impolitc, or uncon-
stitutional, but ''accursed."
What we want" he was reported as say
ing to the Rev. PETER MACQUEEN, is to
stop the accursed war"
THE Rev. PETER MACQUEEN is Congre-
gational minister who breaches at West
Somervlle, Mass. He went out to the
Philippines and gathered there material
for some rather sensational newspaper
articles and interviews already published,
and, doubtless. for many stirring
sermon to be preached to his congre-
cation during the weeks to come. The
Rev. PETER MACQUEEN was employed by
the Hong Kong end Of the Aguinaldian
Associated Press, we believe, to interview
Gen. LAwToN. At any rate, it was upon his
testimony that Cen LAwToN's "accursed
war" gained admission and welcome to the
anti-expansionist literature.
Now, as to stopping the war, Of course,
that is what we all want. The American
| people want it stopped. The Administra-
| ton is working hard to stop it, That is
! why Secretary Roof Is assembling in Luzon
| an army OF o.. 900 men. 1t is Gen. LAW
TONS professional duty to help stopit The
only possible difference Of opinion 10 wheth-
er the war shall be stopped by surrender to
insurgents, or by the vindication at any
cost, and any sacrifice, OF the authority OF
| the flag which they have attacked. But
| the Rev. PETER MACQUEEN impaired par
| ticular Significance to Gen. LAwToN's re-
mark about the desirabilty OF stopping the
war by representing him as calling it
! "accursed"
This too impressionable or too enterpris-
ing, cergymanreporter we understand,
his, not Gen. LAwToN's. According to his
present version, what LAwToN really said
was: I'VE want to stop this damnable war"
The Rev. PETER MACQUREN, in writing out
his report took the liberty to modify what
he considered the seml-profane adjective
employed by the General; and thus the
"accursed" got into print.
| II Mr.. MACQUEEN were to turn over his
memory again, it is extremely probable
that he might discover that the adjective OF
emphasis used by Gen. LAwToN in describ-
ing the war was neither "accursed" nor
damnable," but just plain damned. "
Military officers OF Gen. LAwToN's bluff
and vigorous habit Of speech have fashion
of injecting into their conversation
damns which Congregational ministers
from the suburbs OF Boston are likely to
misinterpret. In the military vocabulary
the use of damn does not necessarily imply
reprobation much less condemnation. In
deed, it is often employed in a distinctly
complimentary sense. Soldiers are as apt
to speak OF the war in which they are fight
ing with loyal and heroic enthusiasm as
"tnis damned war;" as they are to employ
the same adjective TO intensity their expires.
sion OF admiration for pretty woman or a
good cigar.
The genesis OF the alleged remark OF
LAwToNs which has given 80 much com.
fort to the AGuinaldist party in the United
States was probably this:
L,wroS to MICQuEEN-"we are going to end this
damned war"
LAYTON. as understood and unconsciously per
verified by hAcQrEES-"we want to stop this damn,
able war"
LAwToS. as finally reported by MAcQUEES. with
the acknowledged change which MAcQuEEN though
due to journalistic proprfety-"WhAt We want. is to
stop this Accurssd war"
Thus might,a mere declaration OF inten