New-York tribune., 1905-07-23
recovered or became imbued with an almost |

recovered or became imbued with almost
European sense of the proprieties
He gave it new tone; he also gave it new
character. Edmond About defined diplomacy
the art of cravat tying. Mr.. Hay never so
egregiously mistook underrated its functions,
but the stiffest stickler for etiquette could not
complain that the American Secretary of State
was wanting in any of the fOrmulae of politeness
and consideration. A grave courtesy in
Stinctive in him. and it probably never occurred
to him that its suspension would add to the
tional dignity or effectiveness. Naturally a
truth loving and straightforward man in pri-
vate. he saw no reason why he should be any
thing else in public. He would have repudiated
with vehement scOrn the notion that dissmula-
ton and deceit are necessary part of the con-
duct OF diplomacy. His whole nature drove him
TO play the game with his cards on the table
ana his Keen and comprehensive intelligence
penetrated at once the tricks and evasiOns and
futile subtleties of his antagonists. No Ameri-
can since Franklin had a surer grasp of a situa-
ton than Mr.. Hay; none could disinter its es-
sentials more readily; none could meet them
with greater fexibility and resource or with a
happier union Of practicality and imagination.
While in the influence that character alone can
give he probably transcended all the diplomat
lists of American history. In him the passion
hcarnate; his failures, few and insignificant in
any case when compared with his Ions, LIST 30
memorable successes. We're due to the INABILITY
OF some Of his cOuntrymen to rise to his own
height Of craftsmanship
But Mr.. Hay impaired to American dfnlop,ac,,
not merely new tone and character but a now
range and spaciousness. Eight years ago the
United States was the most contained and in
some ways, the most provincial of the great
powers. SIN exclusively interested in American
questions. still repeating Washington's warning
against "entanglng alliances" still REGARDING
any participation in world politics with curious
and unconGuerab ble timdty. The Spanish war
produced an undoubted upheaval, but the natura
VI lhat upheaVaI was long. and perhaDs IS still
an open question Nations are sometimes SOW
! TO accept the conclusions of their own acts. and
| ii is not vet by any means sure that Americans
| realize how far the inexorabe stream of events
! must carry them. They overthrow Spanish
| power in Cuba and the Philippines. but the far
| harder task Of Overthrowing the mental habits
and the received traditions and instincts Of
| hundred years growth they have not yet ac-
! complished. They have empire, but thev have
not yet become imperial. They have expanded
| physically, hut they have still TO expand mental
| ly They delight TO call themselves world
power and in hard fact they are a world power,
| but it is doubtful whether they are also one in
consciousness, in breadth of vision. in a resolute
acceptance of new conditions, in a not less resO-
| lutte emancipation from the precepts of an out
| worn past Mr.. Hay, however. realized from the
| first the consequences that must flow from the
American occupation of the Philippines and the
fnality with which it committed the United
| States TO the assumption of leading role in the
| Far Eastern drama. He, for one, in no way
| shrank from the consequences, and it was the
consistent object Of his diplomatic activities TO
induce his countrymen to accept them, too; to
educate them in other words. in the realities OF
| their new international position. He succeeded