Evening star., 1898-12-10

man = fancy. There were other fields to
fight and other palms to win 1t was
quite understood by his friends that with
the close of Lincoln's first term Hay would
enter the diplomatic service. Lincoln Sc
lected Paris, there being the opportunity
for useful employment in watching the m
Scrutable emperor, and on the I'D of March,
1867. he commissioned his young friend as
secretary of legation. While making ready
TO go. the assassination came Hay was
in the White House in talk with Robert
Lincoln, the Presidents son, lust home
from the surrender of Lee when the It'd
ings flashed. He went to the bedside keep
ing the long sad vigil. until with the ris-
ing sun the spirit of Lincoln passed on ito
belong to the ages" as Stanton said
through his tears as he closed the eyes in
eternal sleep.
Lincoln dead. and the light of his life. as
II were. quite gone out Hay was glad to
leave Washington. His four years of an
premiership had made him a craftsman
Paris. serious work, the study of French
OF which he became a master, were well
come after the terrible consummation. Hay
carried to the empire an uncompromisfng
republiCanism. He was Saint Just tenn
pered by the nineteenth century. Although
within the imperial circle, Napoleon was to
MIN but lurking jailbird.' He saw glory
springins from the column of July. And
not even the guillotine, whose crimson AK
rings down its grooves the knell of shud-
dering kings could destroy his faith in
liberty. 1t was the light whereby the
world was saved" and though thou slay
us, we will trust in thee"
More Diplomatic Experience.
Hay resigned from Paris March 2s. 1867,
to accept the secretaryship under Motley in
Vienna. June. 1869. he accompanied Sickles
to Madrid, there to remain until the au-
tumn of 1870 Spain was a fascination. The
republican element was active. and with
that he had profound sympathy. One of
his noblest poems was that aspiration for
Spanish liberty in which he recalled to
Spain the days when every land under
heaven was ficcked by the shade of her
banners, and there is no more charming
study of national manners than "Castilian
DAYS"
This diplomatic experience under Napo-
leon. Francis Joseph and Amadeo had its
value. and Hay undoubtedly could have
made diplomacy career. But his thirty
second year was upon him. His life work
must he done at home. He had had nine
years of political, military and diplomatic
activity, so outstanding his advantages that
he was one of the best-equipped men of his
day. He became journalist at the invita-
ton of Mr.. Greeley, and as the associate of
Whitelaw Reid, with whom since Lincoins
time he had been on terms of intimate
friendship. Even so fine an intellect as
that of Hay, merged into the anonymity of
journalism. could make but a vague per
sunal impression upon the public but in
press circles he soon rose to high esteem.
remember Mr.. Greeley saying, with an enthu-
siasm rare to him, but, when II did come,
buOyant and sanguine that an editorial
printed in the Tribune that morning. pho
tographs. Plain and Colored," was about
the best that he had ever read. Upon this
recognition by the master Hay may rest his
editorial fame.
To this period of Hays intellectual life
We owe the Pike County Ballads 1t is said
that our Secretary regrets these effusions.
and there has been some braying In the
press over Little Breeches'' as Secretary
OF State.
To clothe a thought In fantastic garb has
never been incompatible with the gravest
craftsmanship George Canning wrote the
ballad of "Ballynahinch'' and the sonnet
OH Mrs. Brownrigg, the murderess, Nv hen
France shall reign and laws be all re-
pealed." Pitts lines on Fox as Catiiine;
Macaulay upon the diners out from whom
We guard our spoons: Lord Morpeth's ode
to Anarchy" Disraefs novels: the satires
of Buiwer which aroused the wrath of Ten
nyS0n. I,owelrs dialect invectiVeS against
the Mexican war, are remembered, but in
no way dimmtng their authors useful
ness as statesmen. Through Hay humof-
Gus verses ran a fine strain of Diety; the
angels watching over helpless childhood.
a man dying for his fellow men, the lesson
that of faith and self-abnegation. He sang
the song of Spanish freedom. He saw In
united Italy the people coming to their
birthright, the passing of croZier and crown,
and there are few nobler lines than his in
vocation to the Army of the James:
There is no power in the gloom Of hell
To queuch those spirits fire.
There is power in the bliss or heaven
To hid them not aspire;
But somewhere in the eternal plan
That strength, that life survive,
And like the files Lookout Crest,
Above deaths clouds they strive
For few months, whi. Mr.. Reid was in
Europe. Hay edited the Tribune This was
an event in journalism. | remember going
with Henry WattersOn on visit of homage
to the new magnate to see how he looked
as an active. responsible editor clothed with
the power of warning the Emperor of Rus
sla for the third and last time, and other
invincible prerogatiVes- We found little
joyOusness about him. He was most sert-
Gus over his duties, seemed as If he had
ball and chain around his leg, a somewhat
geological aspect. as If We were looking
through the bars at one yearning for the
jungle.
Col. Hay as a Journalist.
Hay governed the Tribune with ability,
knowledge, refinement and power 1t was
u time of political sensitiveness. Republic
cans at war, the battle fought as the Eng
liSh fight in the Soudan-nO prisoners, no
quarter. Hay entered into the business
with Highland gravity and courage. actual
~ believed in the sincerity of the conflict,
and that there were real issues that 1t was
something more than the mere politicians
brawl. The Tribune was never so fierce
even in Mr.. Grceleys masterful days. The
rule of the paper under Reid was that Of
whips, with Hay it was that of scorpions
There was an immense sigh of relief in GER
tain circles when Reid with his whips came
home and the young lion was vouchsafed
the joyful manumission of the jungles.
The Tribune regency is worthy of note
as throwing light upon the character of
our new Secretary of State. 1t was seen
that with the poetic and esthetic gifts the
fighting quality was thoroughly blended
We shall have no uncertain haf-hearted
diplomacy under Secretary Hay. Plainness
Of speech, steady maintenance of Ameri-
can rights. the hand ever on the sword hilt,
absolute justice given and demanded; this,
animated by the yearning for combat which
governed the Tribune during Hays re-
gency, gives assurance of positive and
progressive diplomacy. Such a policy will
be welcome just now.
After the emancipation from the Tribune
Hay gave his attention to business and
literature in modified degree. There was
vouchsafed TO him the blessing of an ideal
marriage: with days of domestic life, home
building. the education of chIldren and ever
watchful interest in public affairs. The
Garfield episode, with the sad elimination,
profoundly moved him, and for moment
1t seemed as II he must take an active in
terest in politics. He was one of those who