Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-07-08
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- INES have changed since
sgQlMM Americans felt called upon
SEk to deuounce John Hay as
OF Anglomaniac, aristocrat,
SAoWI un-American. To-day, the
N&sH country over, the present
secretary of state is held In
highest esteem, his distinguished
services to his land recognized, and in
some measure appreciated.
John Hay is considered the foremost
hiplomatist OF this period. American
diplomacy, which Europeans have been
wont to refer to with contempt, in the
present is not lightly spoken of. And
John Hay ii is that has done much
70 bring our diplomacy TO this place.
n was in 1898 that Mr. Hay, under
President Mckinley, became head OF
the state department. A short time
afterwards the world was impressed
with the fact that the secretary was
no ngurehead, but statesman, wide
awake to opportunities and duties. We
refer to Mr.. Hays celebrated circular
note of July 3, 1900.
Aondition of affairs in China; the
Chinese instruction, following upon
Russian and German aggression in
that land. The Chinese, not relishing
the activities of the foreigners in
snatching at the wealth of their native
land, at their policing of coveted dis
tricts, rose in armed resistance, muir
;nf Cfn M
attacked the legations. 1t seemed in
evitable that war would follow, China
be dismembered, with Europeans TAX
ing a fat share, and Americans quite
left out.
Regarding Mr.. Hays decisive move
ut this portentous moment. we call
from an article in Mcclure, written by
Brooks Adams The only minister of
foreign affairs in the whole world who
grasped the situation was John Hay.
In the crisis of his life, Mr.. Hay was
ready, and on his promptitude and eff
ficiency at that moment must rest his
highest claims to craftsmanship. II
war were declared against China, moth
ing could prevent the Americans from
sooner or later losing control of the
situation, and the Europeans acquiring
It. Consequently, at any cost, nominal
peace had to be maintained and Peking
occupied before Field Marshal Won Wal
dersee could arrive. Mr.. Hay issued
the circular note. in which he laid
down the principle that the disorders
In China had produced condition of
virtual anarchy, whereby power and
responsibility were practically de-
yoived upon the local provincial au-
fhorities. These local viceroys Mr.
Hay declared himself ready to assist
In restoring order, and 80 long as
these provincial governors did not re-
bel, he maintained that the United
States and, indeed. all the world, must
remain at peace with China. Mr.. Hay
advised the president to land an army
on the coast and march to Peking
while yet he could be master. AS soon
as Gen. Chaffee took command, Mr.
Hay advised an advance, though the
americans marched alone. The lega-
lions were relieved, Peking was occu-
pied, and the campaign ended precise
~ as our cabinet could have wished.
Mr. Hay succeeded ir detaching first
one power and then another from the
coalition"
1t is not often that the possessor of
the artistic temperament makes a sue
cess In practical politics. John Hay,
perhaps, is the exception that proves
the rule. Early leaning towards the
profession of literature, a graduate of
the profession OF law, fortune so di-
rected his career that he was to de-
vote himself to neither the chosen nor
the adopted line of work; but was to
grove his versatility and adaptability