The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-16
Absolutely unbrOkcn."
This request is made in good faith by
a reader of The Sun:

This request is made in good faith by
a reader Of THE Sun:
About the time that Mr.. ROOSEVELT took the
oath Of ONCE after the assassination and death OF
President MckISLEY hv gave uttcrsnce to a speech
a. ! rccolleot. IN regard 10 his carr, ing out the
policies insueutatcd b, Mr.. MckIsLEr. A. this
time II would he interesting II YOU would publish
this speech. which no doubt you have In your Mes
with a view Of comparing what the Administrative
Is now Try ing 20 cconpl,s with the promises made
at that tune"
We comply. The published reports Of
Mr.. R~oosEvELT's utterances on that
occasion Of surprising solcmnity differ
slightly, but only as t. the unimportsnt
words. There is no conflict Of testimony
about the phrasing of the pledge itself.
We select for the present purpose the
account which the NoD York Tribune
printed on the morning Of September u.s.,
1901. Of the ceremony at ANsLEy Will
cox's house IN Buffalo in the afternoon
Of the preceding day:
The Nics President stood on the south side Of
the room Win his back TO = small window, and the
members Of thc cabinet and tho men present stood
In a circle facing him. For some time Mr. RoosE-
Wit talked IN whispers With Secretary ROOT, his
arm over the Secrctary's shoulder. Then Sccre.
bry ROOF stepped back a few PAGES and the Vice
President stood motionlcsS by the side OF Judge
HAZE. There WAS a dead silence Of several sec
onds and then secretary ROOT said:
"'Mr. Vice President another long pause I
have been requested by all the members OF the
Cabinet Of the late President MCKINLEY who are
present In the cit, of Buffalo, being all hut two. TO
request that for reasons OF weight affecting the
administrator Of the Government you shall proceed
without delay 10 take the constitutional oath Of
once as President Of the United States
He spoke with great deliberauon. and so suIl
was the room that had his words been uttered In
whispers they might easily have been heard by
every Que present.
NJ RoosEvELrs face was stern and rigid.
Lifting his eyes. he looked stcadfas,iy into the face
of the Secretary for a moment and In a voice Of
marked nrmness and all OF his characteristic dis
pnctness replied;
"'Mr. secretary, ! shall take the oath at once.
Of the request OF the members OF the Cabinet. and
I'm this hour OF deep and terrible national bereave-
ment I wish to state I shall continue absolutely
uDbroken the policy OF President MCKINLEY for the
peace, prosperity and honor of our beloved coun-
try"
Such was his pledge, his promise Of
absolutely uDbroken continuity in the
policy Of President MCKINLEY for the
prosperity. as well as the peace and honor,
of our beloved country. 1t was not the
bullet Of the assassin that broke that
continuity.
And it occurred to no assistant at that
impressive and memorable ceremony, to
no witness to the solemn declaration then
recorded, not even to ELIHU Roof him
self, into whose eyes Mr.. ROOSEVELT was
steadfastly looking when he uttered the
pledge that the Mckinley policies should
be continued absolutely unbroken, to
break the silence with the question:
For how long?'