Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20
ADDRESSES EDITORS
Secretary Hay Talks Of Posi-
bilities of the Press.
HIS NEWSPAPER WORK
REFERS TO RoosEvELT's sTRIK-
ING WORDS ABOUT EXPOSITION.
None of the Arts. or Professions Has
Had Accelerations Of Progress
as Journalism.
HIS NEWSPAPER WORK

as Journalism.
A dispatch from St. Louis last night says:
The International Press Parliament was
called to order by Capt Henry King, editor
of the st. Louis Globe Democrat, ana
chairman of the executive committee OF
the parliament.
The speaker of the evening was John
Hay, Secretary of State, who came as the
official representative of President Roose-
Welt to attend the convention. Secretary
Hay referred to his own early connection
with newspaper work and the influence OF
the press.
Secretary Hays Address.
81 esteem it a great privilege to meet so
many representatives of an estate which,
more than any other, at this hour controls
the world. 1t is my daily duty in Wash
ing to confer with the able and distjn-
guished representatives of civilized SOW
ereigns and states. But we are all aware
that the days of personal government are
gone forever; that behind US, and behind
the rulers we represent, there stands the
vast, irresistible power of public opinion,
which in the last resort must decide all the
questions we discuss, and whose judgment
is final. In your persons 1 greet the or
gans and opponents Of that tremendous
power with all the respect which Is due to
you and your constituency, deeply sensible
of the honor which has been done me In
making me the mouthpiece of the 5enti-
ment and appreciation and regard with
which the nation welcomes you to this
great festival of peace and Of progress
1.-The historical value of the Mississippi
is not less than it's geographical and nat
ural Importance. Its course through the
pages of our country's story Is as stgnin-
cant as the tremendous sweep of It's
waters from the crystal lakes which sleep
beneath the northern stars to the placid
expanse Of the Gulf of Mexico
Credit Shared by Unseen Power.
while we should give due credit to the in
dividual instrumentalities by which this
great transaction was brought about, we
should not forget the overwhelming in
fiuence exerted by the unseen Director of
the Drama. Whether call 1t the spirit
of the age, or historic necessity, or the bal
ance of power, or whether we reverently
recognize in the matter the hand of that
Providence which watched over our in
fancy as a people, we cannot but admit
that the acquisition of this vast territory
was in one way or another, sure to come
''One of the most brilliant and tenacious
dreams of Bonaparte was to establish on
the right bank of the Mississippi Latin
empire, reaching from the gulf to the Pa
cihc ocean, extending in future ages the
glories of France to the sunset seas The
principle dearest to the heart of jefferson
was that Of strict construction of the
Constitution, which in his view forbade the
exercise by the general government of any
thing but expressly delegated powers. 1t
would have seemed like a contradiction in
terms to expect either of these statesmen
to agree upon proposition which radically
contravened the Utmost convictions of each
OF them. But the nature of things was
more powerful than either a Bonaparte or
a Jefferson. No human influence could
nave controlled either of them, but the
in
and they gladly obeyed the mandate of
fate which was in each case the mandate
of an enlightened patriotism.
Roosevelt's Striking Words.
President Roosevelt, in the memorable
address with which he dedicated last year
this exhibition, used, in relation to this
subject, these striking words:
AS Is so often the in nature the
law of development of a living organism
showed itself in its actual workings to be
wiser than the wisdom of the wisest''
But more important than the immense
material increase in the extent and re-
sources of the new republic was this es-
Enlistment of the principle thus early in
It's career, that it was to assume no inferior
position to other nations in it's power to
acquire territory, to extend its influence
IN short, to do all that any independent
self-respecting power might do which was
IN accord with public morals, conducive to
{,
the Constitution. Though the federaIists
failed to embrace this great opportunity
and thereby brought upon their party an
mad OF woes. the precedent had been set
for all time for their successors
Lewis and Clarke, following and illus
tratlng the great law of westerly migra-
ton, pushed through the wilderness and
planted our banners by the shores of the
Peaceful sea. In the process of wears
Texas and the wide expanse of New Mex
leo came to us, and California, bringing a
dover of the countless riches that for I'M
known ages had veined her hills.
Lesson for Contemplation.
This gentlemen, is the lesson which we
are called to contemplate amid the courts
and the palaces Of this universal exhibition:
that When nation exists, founded in
righteousness and justice. whose object and
purposes are the welfare of humanity, the
things which make for its growth and the
increase or Its power, so long as 1t is true
TO It's ideals, are sure to come to pass. no
matter what political theories or indiyid-
ual sentiments stand in the way
Of all the phenomena of the last hundred
years year there is none more wonderful than
tnat increase OF mutual knowledge which
mas LED inevitably to a correspondents in
crease in mutual federation and esteem
ne credit OF this great advance in civilI-
ldtoh belongs to the press of the world. It
is true that 1t is the modest boast of mod
ern diplomacy that it's Office Is the removal
OF misunderstandings, that far as inten-
tons go Its ways are pleasantness and its
paths are peace; but how slight are the
results that TIM best-intentiened diplomat
can attain in this direction compared with
the Illuminating blaze OF light which the
press each morning radiates on the mil
verse.
Light Not All of One Color.
I'VE cannot claim that the light is all
or one color. nor that there are not MANY
angles of refraction: but, from this endless
| variety of opinion and assertion, truth at
last energies and every day adds something
to the worlds knowledge of itself. There
is wise French proverb. to understand
Is to pardon and every step of progress
which the peoples of the earth make In
| their comprehension of each others condi-
lions and motives is step forward in the
march to the goal desired by men and an
gels, or universal peace and brotherhood.
Upon none of the arts or professions has
| the tremendous acceleration Of progress in
recent years had more effect than upon
that of which you are the representatives.