Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-30
Tint Alleged I.awron Letter.

In one OF his speeches in the West,
Gov, Roosevelt took occasion to make
use OF quotation from the alleged
letter OF Gen Henry W! Lawton, the
heroic American soldier who lost bis
life in the useless and unpusriotio war
il tho Philippines, in which these
words occur; III am shot by Fill
pino bullet. it might as well come from
one Of my own men, because | know,
from observation, confirmed by cap
tured prisoners, that the continuation
OF the lighting is chiefly due to reports
that are sent out from America This
letter, it will be recalled, was not madp
public until after Gen. Lawton's death,
when it was impossible for him to
other confirm or deny it, and II
naturally raised grave doubts as to it's
authenticity.
In n latter to the Springfield, Mass,
Republican, Ex-Governor ID. Ii. Cham
berlain Of South Carolina. now a resi-
dent OF Massaoh refers to Roose-
velt's use OF the alleged Lawton letter,
and Says Having believed from the
start, upon what ! considered good
grounds, that the letter was spurious,
especially as could find no authority
| for its existence, except that. of the
notorious humbug, John Barrett, was
led to make such investigation as |
could of its authenticity, the result
being firm conviction that the alleged
letter is mainly. il not wholly, spurious,
and wholly so as to the quotation which
Gov. Roosevelt uses"
| With the intention of securing from
him some declaration that might tend
to establish the authenticity of this
letter, or prove it to be forgery, Ey-
Governor Chamberlain has written q
letter of Inquiry to Governor Roosevelt,
in the course of which he says:
This alleged letter of Gen. Lawton
was, so far as l KNOW, first Eut before
the public by one John Barrett, whom
you doubtless know as a fellow
champion Of militarism and imIaria
ism at the present time. So far as
have been able to inform myself, the
alleged letter has had no other history
than Barrett's exploitation, whence II
has passed into current vogue. From
tho start did not believe such letter
was ever written by. Gen LRwton; and
now have reason to feel confident that
no such letter was written by Gen.
Lawlon, OF can be produced The quo,
tation you make is all have ever seer
OF the alleged letter.
As you have in some sort indoraac
the letter by using it al il genuine,
think it proper to call your attention
publicly to the facts have stated, arc
TO invite yon to inform the public VIVA
you know OF the geuuinenesa OF eths,
! wise of the lotter, rsiterating my belief
founded on investigation, that tn
alleged letter is spurious l will ado
that presume that you have regarded
the letter as genuine and have used i
in good faith.
This direct challenge makes 1t incun
bent upon Gov. Roosevelt to give tn
facts in his possession with reference I
this famous Lawton letter. 1t may b
that the letter is genuine: it does no
Affect the real principles underlying
the war 10 the Philippines If 1t Ia. Blu
1t is SO largely at variance with th
brave and msnly sentiments wit
respect to this cruel war uttered b
Gen. Lawton during his life, as to sub
jeot il to grave doubts when 1t made II
! appearance after his death.