New-York tribune., 1905-07-02
John HdY.

The death of Secretary Hay inf1icts deplof-
able loss upon the country. The instant ana
universal outpouring of grief bears no Tesem-
blance to the conventional expressions which
are often evoked by the disappearance Oh a
notable figure from the stage of public a1airs.
The American people had profound regard for
Mr. Hay and d strong attachment. He had e&-
cited their admiration and he possessed thelr
confidence They had become accustomed to
believe that no emergency in foreign relations
could arise in which he would not prove equal to
all the requirements of national honor and in
terest and they constantly expected him to meet
every demand in such Il manner as to gfatlIy
their pride in the fame of their country III
their estimation he was q guarantee OF pubiS
security and they rejoiced to see their own
sentiments more and more clearly and Wldely'
reflected in the generous testimony OF foreign
nations.
1t is fact on which Americans will dwell
with peculiar qualification that the acknowiedg-
ment of Secretary Hays eminence in the great
field of diplomacy, which, in the hour OF their
bereavement is everywhere made with the
warmest assurances of sympathy and respect,
was not reserved until his death. Ii, IN the
earlier stages of his career in the state depart
ment there was some slight indisposition on
the part of European statesmen to put suIi-
ciently high value on his qualihcauohs ana
achievements, full recompense Tor sucn his
gfvings has been offered. They soon perceived
that with o decorum conforming to their trad1-
tions and with a suavity at least as perfect as
their own he combined a firmneSs Of purpose
and a directness of method which swiftly and
securely accomplished objects both nationally
and ernatonaIly essential. We should be do
ing injustice to the feelings of the world if we
refraned from saying that it has lost one of its
foremost citizens.
John Hays public life began with the civil
nvlflsfon which was destined TO compact the
great Republic in all its present integrity 1t
ended at a moment when vast revolutionary
changes may be impending in a European EN-
pire and opportunity for the exercise OF
his benevolent wisdom seemed to be at hand.
Between its stormy opening and its anxious
close his career was marked by a singular va
rety of public servces-in Journalism litera-
ture and craftsmanship, in the promotion of lib
eral arts and the diffusion of civlliz1ng 1nf1u-
ences He possessed shining talents, and adj
mirable qualities with which shining talents are
not often associated-cool judgment and unfal-
terfig WILL exquisite courtesy and the great gift
! of common sense. His clear flame of patriot
ism never burned msteadily. The gusts Of
popular passion left it undimmed and un-
Wavering.
| AS writer Colonel Hay gained distinction
which would have been greatly enhanced if he
had chosen to let literary effort absorb his at
| tention. but we think he might have won even
| higher reputation as an orator. He had some
| thing far beyond mere fuency and grace of
utterance. He could mpart that spiritual touch
which distinguishes eloquence from rhetoric
His too rare speeches, always forceful and
| felcitous in every part contain many passages
which glow with celestial fire" OF Colonel
Hay as a writer for the daily press The Tribune
| is enabled 10 speak with authority. He was
long an invaluable member of its editorial staff,
and while perhaps, by preference he more often
/ treated foreign topics in its columns, there was
no topic which he failed in touching to adorn
During Mr.. Whteaw Reid absence in Europe
| in 1881 he the responsible manager of this
| journal for six peculiarly difficult and trying
months, of which the memory and the tradition
are preserved in this office with constant affec-
ton and profound respect. T L
/ Contemporaneous judgments are proverbiallE
| fallacous and they are not least likely to need
revision when they are pronounced upon
statesman who has been a conspicuous figure OF
his time. But there is reason TO believe that his
| tory will confirm the verdict which Secretary
Hays fellow cOuntrymen, in common with the
world beyond our borders had already found
and are now repeating with s0rrowfu admira-
| ton. Throughout period crowded with mo-
| mentouS and perplexing events, under two great
| Presidents whose unbounded confidence he en-
| joyed, he conducted the department of for
eign relations with rare provision with unswerv-
ing loyalty TO high ideals. and, so far it is now
/ possible to discern the future, in such manner
as to confer lasting benefits, not only on his own
| country. but on all mankind.
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