Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-11
ROSEVELTS RESIGNATION
His Retirement From the Office of Assistant
Secretary of the Navy.
Interesting Correspondence That
Passed Between Him, the Presi-
dent and Secretary Long.



tween President Mckinley, Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt with
reference to the latter's retirement from
the Navy Department is something out of
the ordinary in such proceedings. Under
date of May Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt wrote the President as follows:
ITO the President:
Il have the honor herewith to tenGer my
resignation through the Secretary of the
Navy, and at his request make il to take
effect when you desire.
1T is with the greatest reluctance that
1 sever my connection with your admins
tration, and / only do il because | hope
thereby to have the chance to take an
even more active part in carrying out one
OF the great works of your administration
the freeing CT Cuba and the driving of
Spain from the western hemisphere
Il shall always deeply appreciate your
Kindness to me. and shall always try to
snow myself worthy of the trust you have
reposed in me.
Believe me. sir very gratefully and
obediently yours
(S'g'0 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Letter to Secretary Long.
On the same date Mr.. Roosevelt wrote a
letter TO Secretary Long. inc!osing a copy
OF the letter to the President and saying:
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Let me add one word personally
don't suppose | shall ever have a chief I'M
der when | shall enjoy serving as | have
enjoyed serving unGer you. nor one toward
whom L shall feel the same affectionate
regard 1t is good thing for a man TO
have, as I have had in you, chief whose
whole corduct in office. as seen by those
most intimately connected with him has
been guided solely by resolute disinterest-
ednsss and sinsle-minded devotion to the
public interest. I hate to leave you more
than l can say. | deeply appreciate and
am deeply touched by. the confidence you
have put in me ard the more than generous
and kindly spirit you have always shown
toward me. l have grown rot merely to
respect you as my superior officer, but to
value your friendship very highly, and |
trust l have profited by association with
one of the most high-minded and upright
public servants it has ever been my good
fortune to meet. Permit me to sign myself,
with great affection and respect" etc.
Secretary Longs Reply.
Secretary Long replied, under date of
May 4. follows:
My Dear MIR. Roosevelt:
President, but as l have told you so many
times, | have il with the utmost regret. |
have often expressed, perhaps too emphati-
cally and harshly, my conviction that you
ought not to leave the post of assistant
secretary of the navy, where your services
have not only been Of such great value,
but of so much inspiration to me and to the
whole service. But now that you have de-
termned to go to the front l feel bound to
say that, while | do not approve of the
change, l do most heartily appreciate the
patriotism and the sincere fidelity to your
convictions which actuate you.
Let me assure you how profoundly i
feel the loss / sustain in your going, for
your energy, industry and great knowledge
of naval interests, and especially your in
spring influence in stimulating and lifting
the whole tone of the personnel of the navy
have been invaluable. 1 cannot close this
reply to your letter without telling you
also what an affectionate personal regard
1 have come to feel for you a man of
the truest temper and most loyal friend
ship. / rejoice that one who has SO much
capacity Tor public service and for winning
personal friendships has the promise of SO
many years of useful and loving life be-
fore him
sincerely yours" &c
The Presidents Acceptance.
Under date of May Mr.. Porter, secre-
tary 10 the President, wrote Mr.. Roosevelt
as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Although the President was obliged to
accept your resignation of recent date. l
can assure you that he has done so with
very great regret. Only the circumstances
mentioned in your letter and your decided
ard unchang cable preference for your
patriotic work has induced the President to
consent to your severing your present con-
ncction with the administration.
Your service. here during your entire
term of office have been faithful, able and
successful in the highest degree, and no
one appreciates this fact more keenly than
the President himself Without doubt your
connection with the navy will be beneficial
ly felt in several of its departments for
many years TO come.
In the Presidents behalf, therefore !
wish at this time to thank you most heart
lily and 10 wish to you all success i'm your
new and important undertaking. for which
/ hope and predict a brilliantly victorious
result
with sincere respect and cordial es-