Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-05
His Varied Qualities.


He had the imagination of poet, the In
sight and judgment of a historian, the
kindling inspiration of an orator. the COM
prehensive vision and plan of a statesman
the lofty ideals and the direct methods of
an ancient Hebrew prophet. Selhshness
even In thought seemed foreign to him.
He could never have mastered the arts of
intrigue He had righteous scorn for
base politics and for mean men, He alb
horred the policies of indiscretion, subterfuge.
detraction, self-aggrandizement re was
equally patriot and a cosmopolitan; per-
fectly devoted to his own country and its
Institutions perfectly capable of rrecogniz-
ing good in other lands and peoples and
governments. His love of liberty burned
with quenchless flame.
Forever in thine eyes o Liberty,
Shines that high light whereby the world Is saved,
And though thou STAY us Will trust In thee"
This faith In liberty was but the reflex
of his faith in God. Not the blind super
stition that too often poses under the holy
name of faith. but the reasoned, unfalter-
ing trust that is the comfort and the stay
Of strong, noble, free spirits. Mr.. Hay
was a reverent, devout, humble man. He
knew and loved the Bible, and in his pub
lie utterances quoted 1t more freely and
appreciatively than any other American
of his time. Only last September at Lake
Sunapee, in long daily walks among the
hills that he so dearly loves, he spoke with
unWonted and beautiful freedom OF MS re-
ligious life; of that sustaining trust in
which he lived and worked and in which
he has now died
This large and lofty nature had adequate
training At twenty-five, with his college
course and his legal education as basis.
he entered the best postgraduate school
under the best auspices. 10 De ior TOUR
momentous years the almost houriy COM
panion and helper of Abraham Lincoln; to
be trusted as a friend and almost as an
equal; TO watch the workings OF that orig
inal and capacious mind; to catch The
contagion of thatssolemn and instantaneous Us
spirit: this was a privilege vouchsafed to
few. men, Meanwhile he learned at first
hand the awful realities of war; and though
his military service had been obscured py
his greater labors. 1t was Intelligent, vigof-
Gus and effective, and won him successive
promotions.
Then followed his novitiate in diplomacy.
At Paris Vienna and Madrid. as secretary
of legation and charge aHaires, ne
mingled with leading statesmen. learned
the temper of European courts. perfected
himself in several modern languages. and
laid deep and solid foundations Tor his
browning services TO mankind.
Mr. Hay was true poet and Ntterateur.
In brilliancy and profundity OF thought, In
severe simplicity and refined delicacy OF
taste, In vigor and polish of style, he was
poems. his "Castilian Days" his brilliant
journalistic labors his monumental history
OF the civil war under the modest guise OF
biography, these In themselves constitute
life-work.
A New Diplomacy.
But thus far he had only begun his life
work On March TO- 1897, in his Atty
eighth year, President Mckinley commits
stoned him ambassador to Great Britain.
Within less than two years of service he
had strongly cemented the friendship be-
tween the two nations, won the confidence
of the continental powers, and averted the
threatened complications that grew out OF
our war with Spain. Then he returned to
this capital as Secretary of state. 1t was
a nomentous hour, and almost every hour
since has been momentous. The treaty of
Paris. the acquisition of Porto Rico and the
Philippines. our sudden. unexpected en-
trance upon the scene of international poll
ties, were quite enough to tax the re-
sources OF the ablest and best-equipped
faith at once lifted our American din1onaenv