The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-07-20
!. THE LATE SECRETARY HAY.
Began His Active Political Ca
reer Under Lincoln
HIS WORK FOR THE JEWS
Negotiated Many Trcatics--China,
Through his Influence, Was Kept
From Engaging In the Russian-
Japanese War - Democratic in
Official Habits.

John Hay was an American of q
! particularly good blend. His father
! Charles Hay. was college bred
country doctor from Kentucky. His
mother. Helen Leonard, was a re-
markable woman, born at Assonet
Mass, classically educated by @
learned father, and possessed of
great character and wisdom. DR..
Charles Hay settled in the little
town Of Salem. ia southern Indiana,
and there John was born, October s.
1888.
When he was three years old his
parents removed to Warsaw, ILL.,,
and the boy grew UP in the common
school there. finishing his prepara-
tory education at the academy at
Springfield. He was sent to Brown
University, at Providence, r. l.
He WAS only twenty when he was
began the study OF law In the office
VI Abraham Lincoln. who was his
fathers friend. Lincoln heartily
liked and trusted him. The Presi-
dent-elect. took the young man to
Washington in 1851 as his assist.
amt secretary, under John G. Nico-
lay. One Of the last things that Lin
coin ever did was to appoint young
Hay secretary Of legation at Paris.
March ~. 1888. In 1870 he re-
turned to this country and became
an editorial writer on the New York
Tribune, under Horace Greeley. He
remained with the Tribune until
1878, for n time acting as chief edi-
tor.
Mr.. Hay settled in Cleveland in
1878. There WAS talk OF running
Hay for Congress there, but he had
no mind for the kind OF politics.
From 1879 to 1891, however, he
had a chance to give the country the
bepeft Of his diplomatic experience
as Assistant Secretary of State un-
der Hayes. He built In Washington
in 1884 one of the finest residences
at the capital. 1t was designed by
Richardson.
After that literature. and particu-
iarly the Life OF Lincoln" which
was published in book form in 1890,
until in 1887, he was appointed by
president Mckinley Minister to
England. 1t is here that his later
and crowning career begins.
Mr.. Hay was ia London but little
more than a yeai. being recalled by
President Mckinley to succeed
Judge William Il. Day as Secretary
Of State
He toadied to no one, and bore
himelf with absolute democratic di-
rectness, yet treated every one with
perfect courtesy He knit closer the
bonds OF real and practical under.
standing between America and Brit
ain. His policy resulted In Great
Britain's firm and most valuable ad.
hesion to American interest through.
out the Spanish war.
When he came home to take the
Secretaryship of State on September
20, 1898, the war was over. but it's
fruits remained to be reaped; and
Hays part in these final negotia-
tions was commanding. 1t fell to
his lot to lead the Republic across
the threshold of new career
Mr.. Hay occupied the chair of the
State Department longer than any
Secretary of State since Seward.
His tact and skill are attested in the
fact that he had negotiated more
treaties than any other Secretary of
State. His hold upon the chancel-
leries of the world was due to his
consummate honesty, Joined with a
Ary tah t,,H Ill
his courtesy was unfailing. This
honesty and this ihexibility have led
European newspapers to speak of
American shirt sleeves diplomacy"
Mr.. Hay was good fighter. The
Russians and Germans found that
out. He beat them both in China.
Yet neither has the smallest griev-
Lnce against him. and no man could
DO with their governments more
than he could DO in negotiation.
He maintained the open door In
China, and saved that ancient en-
pire from dismemberment. He gave
the United States foothold far
south In the Pacific through the Sa.
moan treaty. He settled the Alas
kan boundary dispute with Great
Britain. He put the Hague tribunal
on its feet by giving 1t its first case
TO decide.
He made the Panama Canal pos,
sible by bringing about the abro,
sation OF the Clayton Bulwer
treaty through consummate state
craft; and when the Colombian Re-
public threatened to spoil that great
work, he took prompt and legiti.
mate advantage OF the secession OF
The American isthmus to recognize
the independence of Panama. BY
that means the isthmus was detach.
Cd forever from Colombia, and the
negotiation of more favorable
canal treaty was we'll made possible
That treaty. and the great interna,
uonal waterway which will grow out
6 1t, will remain a worthy monu.
msnt Of his service.
Secretary Hay endeared the Ad