The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-15


It's supremacy, over the State judiciary
ana the state governments.
Jays Treaty.
Inc peace treaty with Great Britain
IN lIS2 had never been executed We COM
PIained that Great Britain still held our
western posts and refused compensation
Tor negroes carried away. Great Britain
complained that we had refused 10 reim-
purse the loyalists. and that we had put
OF British debts I'm America
After the outbreak OF war between
France and England in 1793 with our peo-
pie divided as hot partisans on the issues
or that war, with the republican or
the French party urging our Government
actively TO support our former ally, there
was imminent danger OF war with Eng
land, Washington sent Jay as special en-
yoy 10 negotiate for the settlement OF diff
ferences. He succeeded in preserving
peace with honor. He brought home a
treaty which for a while was the most
unpopular in the history OF American
diplomacy. 1t caused Jay 10 be hanged
In ethgy, Hamilton 10 be stoned In the
stepfather of his country" and the digni-
fled Rutledge was guilty OF the indiscre-
ton OF calling jay a fool and a knave."
an utterance which cost Rutledge's con-
trmatiOn as Chief Justice TO succeed jay
Jays treaty did not, indeed. secure all
That stronger nation might have Sc
national and commercial wrongs which
would be intOlerable where there was
strength TO resist. But II Is the ununis-
taxable verdict OF history that at the time
the treaty was better than war. that 10
was probably the best that could be OBJ
tatned, and that IL postponed our second
struggle with Great Britain until We were
more able TO endure II.
Jay Becomes Governor of New York.
It. would cause great political surprise
to-day II the Chief Justice Of the United
States should resign his high Office 10 be-
come the candidate OF his party for the
GOvernorship Of Illinois. No State Is so
imperial to-day as TO command such def
erence, and the nation is so much greater
In the public eye. One hundred years ago
IL was not so. The States were then rela-
lively higher In the affection and esteem
Of the people and OF public men. The Of
flee OF Chief Justice was then not 50 well
established nor 50 highly appreciated. Be-
fore his return from England jay was
nor OF New York. He accepted the NOM
inatiOn, was elected, resigning from the
bench. to accept the post During his six
years OF service as an executive, from 1885
to 1901 he manifested the same high sense
Of personal integrity and public duty.
With the incoming OF Jefferson Jay re-
mainder Of his days on his estate In West
chester County, New York. where he died
on May Z. 1879. in the eIghty-fourth year
OF his age.
The story Of Jays life as here related
reveals the character Of the man. In a
country destined TO republicanism. while
ne was tnOrOuRn repubncan ne was not
a democrat. He believed that intelligence
and property should govern. Those who
own the country should rule IT," was his
saying. But In this respect he was but In
harmony with the great majority OF the
leaders and statesmen OF that aristocratic
age. He was a friend 10 the people and
TO good government. AS a statesman he
was Of strict integrity. fearless and indie
pendent In his utterances on public ques-
lions: and no situation I'm politics or d.
plOmacy was ever f>ermitted 70 vitiate his
character as an honorable man. "A little
good-natured wisdom" he once said
'often does more in politics than much
slippery craft" He met craft and deceit
with the character and straightforward
conduct OF high-minded and honest man.
For such man was Jay without fear
and without reprOach."
M<411< .AENIZTrE6us-t F,