The sun., 1901-08-11

and made some inquiries a. to their cor
rectness.. At last he eaid that he could
not asa.,1 stand the pressure upon him, and hoped
II he had found the reasons to be
unsound. and he said he had not,
but he repeated that he could
not reeist the importunities Of Evans' q
friends. After some delay reminded1hm
that l had distinctly warned him Of the
obstacles ahead before tho original OF
detachment was made; and l said that
when did this II was purely q Treasury
Department question. but that soon after
1t became q Navy Department question.
and that l should decide II as such and not
revoke the order.
While the public and private agitation
OF the question whether the order should
be revoked was going forward. and during
Evans obtained from the acting Secretary
leave OF absence with permission to 60
abroad FOR one year. Until i decided
whether or not further action In his case
was required l did not mean he should 60
out OF the country. and I promptly re-
voked the order. Later he was informed
that he might have the leave, but he had
ment by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company and so did not desire a renewal
OF the permission.
The facts alleged by Admiral Evans In
his book on page 49, that men were being
appointed for the lighthouse work for
political services rendered which appoint
ments he tried to prevent: that political
light keepers, which he directed them not
TO pay; that he refused to pass disreput-
able fellow for light keeper, and that report
was made to me that he was interfering
with political conditions In the Fifth dis
trict. never heard OF until read his book.
No one Of them Ii true. a. far az my knowl-
edge goes.
Navy Of Nov 20. 1882, under the title,
'Favoritism In the Navy" there IL recorded
a statement OF the principles which gov
erned the orders to naval officers, at least
during my term OF three years, and which
was never once disregarded to my knowl-
edge. The paragraph is az follows:
Military administration should be con-
trolled by neither personal, social nor po-
litical motives. The orders to every naval
officer should he determined after, first. q
consideration OF the public interests. and.
secondly. an impartial comparison OF the
record and services Of the officer with those
Of other officers Of like grade. IL unjust
orders are Issued the officer can freely
state the injustice directly to the Secre-
tary. asking a reconsideration, and his
representation will have due and candid
consideration.
The Interference OF others, II to se-
cure only what is right, Is unnecessary
II to accomplish what is wrong. Is intoler-
able. An officer who will procure or know
ingly allow such undue interference may
he charged with unbecoming conduct.
Nevertheless. the practice has prevailed
OF soliciting and procuring favoritism
for officers by such devices and with such
pertinacity and influence as to create a
systematic plan, resistance to which may
olxe ,tan pf hA haa
OF the Department, but. il IL il allowed
to continue the naval service will event
ually become fatally demoralized The
effort will be made to order the detail OF
officers Of the navy with as much justice
and impartiality AZ the lot OF humanity
will admit.
When Commander Evans was relieved
from duty there was only one proper course
open to him. II he was dissatisfied He
should have addressed himself to the Presi-
dent Of the United States or the Secretary
OF the NAVY, complaining Of seeming in
justice and asked FOR reasons and redress.
He would have received a suitable reply
and complete justice would have been done
10 him. The President and the Secretary
had the right to give to him such orders
as they chose. He had the right,
In due form, 70 complain OF those
orders to them and to no ono else.
Under our system both the President ana
ally accessible by letter or in per-
son. to the highest and the humblest of1cer
and seaman in the navy. They will, when,
thus properly asked. politely give or with
hold the reasons for their orders. acting
as they may think due courtesy to their
fellow servant OF the Government and
correct military administration requires
This simple principle Commander Evans
well understood. and he detied It, He
deliberately declined to act upon it, and
resorted to other and incorrect and In
tolerable methods. These producing no
results, he chose to keep silent and walt
oa. dSr more written iHsn 'stesn Tors Complaint Ss
or any legitimate attempt to secure
the righting Of a wrong which. he says.
was unjust punishment; and. In 1901, for
revenge, at a safe distance in time, he
enters the public press with a libel upon
the Secretary Of the Navy, who. in 1884.
gave him the orders OF which he made no
proper. straightforward, or honorable COM
plaint when they were issued. But. i am
still alive, and II he now wishes to know
why Secretary Folger desired to have him
detached from lighthouse duty, the rea-
sons are, and always will be. subject to
his call. His publication OF his libel upon
me is conduct unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman.
A few more words are necessary; Ad-
miral Evans desires to have II appear that
he was persecuted for political reasons.
This also is not true. Until after March 4,
1885 did not know that he was or claimed
to be Democrat. l have known OF only
three or four naval officers who claima
recognition OF Mr.. Cleveland because they
were Democrats. have never known OF any
naval officers who claimed favors OF
Republican Administration on the ground
that they were Republicans.
The qualification based upon Democ-
racy and persecution for Democracys
sake being set up in Commander Evans's
behalf. Secretary Whitney on March II,
1885, restored him to duty as inspector OF
the Fifth Lighthouse district. On April J,
1885, with Admiral Belknap, in whose behalf
Democracy had also been claimed. and with
Mr.. Herman Winter, he became a member
Of the board charged with the duty OF re-
porting that the Dolphin was structurally
weak and was a worthless ship, and he did
his Democratic duty in that connection.
He has been recognized and favored as a
Democrat by Democratic Administrations;
he has never been prosecuted or punished
or in any way unjustly treated by Repub-
lican Administrations. but has been given
service Of the highest importance Far
be IL from me, however, to say that Ad-
miral Evans has been unduly favored by
any Administration
When | examine tho aforesaid book, A
Sailors Log my pride in the glory which
came to my country through the naval
victories Of war with Spain Ia unbounded
and when I read his frank admissions
that he, almost alone. In 1882, changed our
naval construction from wooden 10 steel
ships, and thus originated our new navy;