The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-02
JOHN HAYS DEATH.

a
John Hays death removes from
American public life one Of its dearest
minds and most scholarly men. from
the field of diplomacy one of its fore
most figures. from the Republican par
ty. the balance wheel that has done
much TO keep it in power and from the
nation a man whose memory will be
universally respected, regardless of
politics.
His political career, which has
brought him into worldwide prOmi-
nence since he entered McKinley's cab
met in 1898, will probably be the chief
basis of his fame, although his literary
work alone entities him to a high place
As a diplOmatist he earned a great rep
utation, in foreign lands as we'll as at
home. As an Illustration of the respect
in which he was held abroad, a noted
European correspondent directed at
tention to the high compliment paid
Colonel Hay during his recent visit to
Europe when the king of Belgium made
a two hours railroad journey to pay
his respects to the American secretary,
in striking violation of the usual rule
which requires foreigners to seek audi
ences with royalty.
When Colonel Hay became secretAr
of state in 1898, the burden of shaping
and directing the new American diplo-
macy fell almost entirely upon him. He
brought to the task an exceptionally
well-trained mind and a long expert
ence in public affairs. His first great
diplomatic achievement was in the ad-
justment of the complications that fol-
lowed the Boxer uprising in China and
the attack on the legations at Picking.
His success in the negotiations in this
instance secured for him the confidence
and respect of European dipIomatists
and did much 10 make easier his future
dealings with foreign powers. His last
notable diplomatic feat was in con-
nection with his efforts to limit the
scene of military operations in the far
east.
There is good reason for "a belief that
Colonel Hays ability and the general
recognition of il made him an object of
envy to certain elements Of the Roose-
Welt administration. His value to his
party was fully appreciated. 50 fully
appreciated that il was deemed good
politics to officially announce during
the last campaign that Colonel Hay
would retain his post of secretary of
state Yet Of late there have been in
dtcations that Colonel Hay was slated
for retirement. possibly on account of
his falling health. but more likely be-
cause of d desire on the part of Roose-
Welt TO elevate Taft
Among prominent Republicans OF the
last generation. Colonel Hay shared
with the late Senator Hoar the respect
accorded to scholarly attainment.
Hays public addresses and documents
are models of composition. which IS not
surprising when it is remembered that
their author had achieved a wide repu-
tation for literary skill before he be-
came secretary of state.
Probably his most important literary
work is to be found in Abraham Lin
coin. a History" prepared in coIlabora-
ton with John Nicolay, and now uni
vcrsally accepted authority on the life
of the great president The authors
were secretaries to Lincoln during the
war and thus had unusual opportuni-
ties to gather information. which they
afterward gave TO the world in ten vol
umes Colonel Hays Jim Bludso"
and Little Breeches' are ranked with
some of Bret Harte's best creations.
faithful deIineation and local color be
ing cited as justification of the coarse
ness that aroused much criticism. 9th
er well known works are Pike County
Ballads and other Pieces ana cas-
lillian Days"
Colonel Hay was born at Salem, Ind.
oct. .. 1898. and graduated from Brown
university in 1855. He was admitted
to the bar in 1861. but never practiced.
He became one OF Lincoln's secretaries
In 1851 and remained with Lincoln un-
iii the Iatter's assassination, except for
a short period OF service in the field,
where he reached the rank OF major
and the brevet rank of colonel. Dur
ing the years Immediately succeeding
the war he was secretary of legation at
Paris and Madrid, and charge d'affaires
at Vienna He was member of the
STAFF OF the New York Tribune from
1870 TO 1915, when he moved TO Cleve-
land He was made first assistant sec
rotary Of state in 1879, and remained in
that post until 1881. He was appointed
American ambassador 10 Great Britain
I'm 1897. bat was recalled in the follow
ing year to become secretary os state
the positioB he held at the time of his
death.