The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-01
COLONEL HAYS CAREER.
He Was Soldier, Journalist, Author
and Statesman Successfully.

He Was Soldier, Journalist, Author
and Statesman Successfully.
John Hay was born in Salem, Ind,
on October 8, 1888. His ancestor was
the son of a Scottish soldier who left
his country in the beginning of the last
century and took service in the army
of the elector Palatine. The son with
his family, emigrated to this country,
and two grandsons served with distinc-
ton in the war of independence.
John Hay took, while in college,
high rank as a writer, and after gradu-
alton at Brown in 1858, studied law at
Springfield, Ill. He was admitted to
practice in the supreme court of Hi
nois in 1861, and Immediately after
wards went to washington as assistant
secretary to President Lincoln, remain
ing with him. both as his secretary and
his trusted friend almost constantly
until his death. He acted also as ad-
jutant and aide de camp, and served
ter and General Gilmore, with the rank
of major and assistant adjutant gen.
eral. He was also brevetted lieutenant
colonel and colonel. He was first sec
rotary of legation at Paris, and several
times in charge in 1865 and 1857. He
was charge de affaires at Vienna in
1867 and 1853, when he resigned and
came home. But he was soon after
wards sent as secretary of the legation
at Madrid, where he remained more
than a year. Leaving that post in 1870,
he came tC, New York and became an
editorial writer on the Tribune, where
he remained about five years. He was
afterwards editor in chief of that pa
per for about seven months, during the
absence of Whitelaw Reid in Europe.
Removed to Cleveland.
He removed to Cleveland. o., in 1875,
and took an active part in the presi-
Dental canvasses of 1876, 1880 and 1884.
Under the administration of President
Hayes, he was first assistant secretary
of state in 1881.
In 1897 he was appointed ambassador
to the court of st. James, as successor
to Thos. E. Bayard.
He has published Pike County Bal
lads, one of the best known of which
is Jim Bludso.' Another of his works
is "Castilian Days" which is a study
of Spanish life and character. For
many years he was engaged with John
G. Nicolay in writing a history of the
administration of Abraham Lincoln,
which was issued in ten volumes.
Entrance to Public Life.
The entrance of Mr.. Hay into public
life is described by an admiring writer
as follows:
at was the eventful year of 1860.
pregnant with a mighty future. The
North and the South had come to the
parting of the ways. The Democratic
party, so triumphant in 1852 and in
1856, was rended by faction The
Republican party was new, but It was
terribly in earnest and intrepid as an
army with banners. Now it was to
discover itself to be what it has been
for nearly half a century-the most
perfect and magnificent political ma
chine our country has known. In a
moment of inspiration it chose as
leader a man who was born in a cabin
in Kentucky and nurtured in squalor
in Indiana. His early manhood was a
heroic struggle and his later man
hood pathetic success. And now the
time was come when this man was to
be one of the immortal Saxon trinity
Alfred, Washington, Lincoln-a king,
4 gentleman, and peasant.
''In that town of Springfield was a
| young law student, and he attracted
the attention of Mr.. Lineoln-old and
cunning in wisdom, young and sad in
heart And so it came that the pen
of John Hay and his tongue were en-
listed in the cause. He was very
young man. but %, but he has not
been a stranger to the intelligent
American public since.
HE was one of the private secretaries
of the great president and later his
biographer. He was educated for the
| Office he last held. The friend and
sanest common sense, he was an
American diplomat at Paris, at Vienna
and at Madrid; student always and
I everywhere, and student with wis
dom ornamented with imagination.
He saw states and he saw men. He
saw history, the past and contempt
raneous. He was ripening for a great
future. Not even John Quincy Adams
had finer tutelage for the Office OF
secretary of state.
/ Hay as Journalist.
''Mr. Hay has been a member OF
that noblest of professions, the grand
est of fields for an honest man who
believes something and is not afraid
to say it. He was an American jour-
naIist, a member of the New York
| Tribune staff. when Greeley was at his