The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02
SECRETARY JOHN HAY.

The death of Secretary of state
John HAY removes from the field OF
municipalities a master mind, "a strong
and steady hand, and clear and far
seeing head.
At the helm of the ship of State dur
ing the period of the Nations great
est progress, most difficult crises and
at the moment of it real entry into the
Congress of the world as potent rae
tor. he so guided it's destinies as to
increase its power and strengthen its
peace. In doing this he departed from
set lines of diplomacy without Great
ing discord or endangering vital in
terests. He went straight to his goal,
displayed always the most robust
Americanism, and brought about re-
suits shat gave him place at the fore
of the statesmen of the world. Dur
ing his administration, he handled sue
cessfully the problem of the new rela-
tions brought about by the conquest OF
the Philippines negotiated several re-
ciprocal treaties of immense value, in
Libre. gained world-consent to the
principle of the integrity of the
Chinese empire during the trying times
of the Boxer uprising and, as crown
ing stroke of diplomacy, succeeded IN
securing the abrogation of the Clay
ton-BuIwer treaty making possible the
pressing work of constructing the
Isthmian canal, at a time when it was
not known whether the route would
be via Nicaragua or Panama.
Taking easy rank with Blaine and
Bayard, it is not without foundation
that Mr.. Hay is today being cited as
among the greatest of American Sec
retaries of State.
In early life Mr.. Hay was Secretary
to President Lincoln and his powers
of state-craft were in part undoubtedly
absorbed from that strong, original
and prophetic character. Afterwards
he had diplomatic experience abroad,
having been charge d'affaires at
Jenna, Secretary of Legation at Mad
ID and, under President Mckinley,
he delicate period of the Spanish
ar, q time when his services in Sc
ruring the friendship of England, the
aonfidence of Europe and the non-in-
difference of powers inclined towards
.riendliness to Spain We're of the most
inestimable value.
Returning from England to become
Secretary of State, Mr.. Hay after the
death of Vice-President Hobart, was
next IN line of promotion to the Presi-
denCy and continued as such after Mr.
Mc<inley's assassination and the as
sumption of the Presidency by then
Vice President Roosevelt.
The latest acts of international i'm
portance, brought about by Mr.. Hay
were the limitation of the war zone
i'm the Russian Japanese war and the
reiuvenation of the Hague Arbitration
Tribunal. to which the first controversy
submitted was one between the Uni
ted States and the Republic of Mexico
During the interim of his public
services Mr.. Hay was both Journalists
and author, having been for number
of years in charge of the New York
Tribune and having published a num-
Der of poems. essays and several pub
LEGATIONS. among them pike County
Ballads" "Castillian Days" and the
Life of Abraham Lincoln" the latter
work having been written in collabora-
r ton with Nicolay.
In person Mr.. Hay was dignitied, In
manner genial, in wit supreme. He
was the ideal ambassador, polished
cultured, wise He could tell a story
and enjoy one. He never lost his griI
on himself, nor did he make in diplo-
matte life a known mistake. He was
a man whorl the whole country will
honour as one who labored with q
heart single to its prosperity, it's pow
er and its better influence in the world
He was great Secretary of State.
1t is delightful to contemplate, how
ever. that a man who had so impressed
himself on the greater measures OF
the world and the deeper problems OF
humanity should have left so touch
ing a monument to his simplicity, tc
his loving touch with the deeper ano
commoner currents of life, as wa:
erected by the poems of his early man.
hood.
Historians may write down his &C.
complishments in State-craft: he viii
be remembered better and longer b,