The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-04
THE LATE SECRETARY HAY.

THE LATE SECRETARY HAY.
The whole country will be distressed
to hear of the death of Hon. John Hay,
Secretary of State, which occurred at
his summer home at an early hour
yesterday morning.
The announcement in the press dis
had a chill, followed by an attack CT
uraemia. caused general u~neasiness. 1t
was feared that, because of his low
condition of health existing for some
time past, he might not be able to
stand this later attack, though subse-
quent reports indicated that his chances
of recovery were very good. Still, the
people were anxious for more encourag-
ing news from him, and were dreading
his disease might take the turn which
they are now told that it did Friday
night.
In the death of Secretary Hay the
administration has lost n of its
most trustworthy and safest advisors
and the country has been deprived of
one of it's foremost men. In the field
of diplomacy he was unsurpassed by
any man in the service of this Or any
other country, and his equals were
few. With fine intellect, an aptitude
for diplomatic work, a believer i'll
Americas ability to become one of the
world pOwers-and with a determina-
ton to help make her such, he had
brought all his forty-four years ex-
| perie1ce in public work to his aid in
helping to place our nation in the
exalted position among the powers OF
the world which she now occupies. In
his diplomatic work he was honest n
broadminded. There was no chican-
cry or double-dealing in his intercourse
Or negotiations with other nations. He
| adhered strictly to the American idea
| of open and honest dealing with >otner
powers, as contrasted with the idea
that diplomacy means deceiving ard
taking every advantage possible YOU
can of the country with whose repre-
sentative you are dealing, as is taught
in the school of diplomacy of most
nations of the Did world. Since he
became the head Of the state depart
ment nearly seven years ago he has
had some very delicate and intricate
questions involving our foreign rela-
tons to settle. In not a single one
of these has he made a failure, but
has concluded every such negotiation
to the advantage and honor of his
country.
From the Congressional Directory
we take the following sketch Of his
public career:
John Ia was born in Salem. Ind.
October s. 1898: graduated a.: Brown
University in 1858. and studied law in
Springfield. ILL.,: was admitted tC. Drac-
tice before the supreme court of Illi-
nois in 1861. but Immediately came
to WASHINGTON as assistant secretary
to President Lincoln. remaining with
him until his death: acted also as his
adiutant and aid-de-camp. and serv-
ed under Generals Hunter and Gill
more. and was brcvetted colonel: was
appointed secretary of legation to
France March %. 1865: retired March
is. 1867: appointed secretary of lega-
ton to Austria-Hungary May 20. 1867.
where he acted as charge d'affaires
until August IL. 1868: appointed sec
rotary Of legation to Spain June %.
1859: retired October /. 1870: then
became an editorial writer ON The
New York Tribune. remaining five
wears. during seven months of which
he was editor in chief: removed to
Cleveland in 1875 and took an active
part in the presidential canvasses IF
1876. 1880. and 1884: wa appointed
assistant secretary of state November
/. 1879: retired Nav 3. 1881: in that
year Me represented the United States
at the International Sanitary congress
iE Washington. of which he was pres
ident: was appointed ambassador ex-
traordinarv and plenipotentiary to
Great Britain March 10. 1897: retired
September 10. 1898: appointed secre.
ta1v of state September 20. 1898.