New-York tribune., 1905-07-02


varied fields of effort He was native of In
diana and came of sturdy Scottish ancestry. The
first OF the family 10 come to America was John
Hay who had seen service in the army of the
Flector of the Rhenish Paatinate This John
Hay settled in Virginia in 1850 His Adam
served IN the Revolutionary Army and was
personal friend OF washington. His John
married and reared family IN Kentucky, but
becoming convinced that his home should be in
q eree instead OF nlave State he removed 20
Illinois with all hts sons. save the eldest, Charles
, who was studying medicine. When Charles re-
ceived his degree he settled in Salem Ind. There
he was married, in 1881 to a daughter Of the
Rev. David A. Leonard. g graduate of Brown
University. Ten years later Dr.. Hay removed 20
Warsaw, Ind, where he spent the rest OF his
lie
His fourth son. John the future Secretary OF
State, was born at Salem, on October :, 1o'5o-
After receiving his preparation for college dt
Warsaw and at Springfield, H., young Aay
went TO Brown University, where he was grad
uated in 1855. taking high rank in English COM
position il class containing many fine scholars
Returning to the West, he entered the law
Office of an uncle Malcolm Hay. in Springfield
ui an intimate friend OF Abraham Lincoln
He was admitted to the bar in 1861. but had
already won his political spurs in the Lincoln
Douglas campaign Of 1850 as a writer and
. speaker. When President Lincoln went 10
Washington TO be inaUgurated n 1861 he took
the youthful lawyer with him as assistant pr
vate secretary associated with John G. Nico-
lay. They were associated throughout the re-
rlainder of Mr.. Lincolns life for few
months when Secretary Hay was adjutant and
aide-de-can4p TO the President and later served
In the army on the STATS Of Generals Hunter
and Gilmore. gaining the rank OF colonel by
brevet. His relations with Mr. Lincoln were of
the closest character. and almost those Of son
10 q father. Many missions OF d delicate and
confidential nature were intrusted TO him by the
President.
After the assassination Of Lincoln, Colonel
Hay went TO Paris as Secretary of Legation
serving there while Mr.. Nicolay was United
States Consul in the same city. After three
years at Paris. Colonel Hay went to Vienna
Secretary OF Legation and charge d afaires for
a year, and in 1863 he became Secretary Of Le-
CATION at Madrid
In 1870 he returned 10 this country and for
FIVE years he editorial writer The
Tribune staff. writing principally foreign and
political topics. In 1874 Colonel Hay was mar
ried to the daughter OF Amasa Stone of Cleve-
land, and the following year he gave up news
paper work and removed to that city. He had
already published his Pike County Ballads
some of which were written when he was in
college and -Castlien Days. the fruit of his
stay in Spain a popular novel, The Bread
Winners the scene OF which is laid in Cleye-
land was attributed to him. but he never
acknowledged its authorship.
From 1873 to 1881 Colonel Hay was First
Assistant Secretary of State in the adminlstra-
Jion of President Hayes under Secretary
EvaIts- After resigning, on May 3, 1881 he was
president of the International Sanitary Con-
gress al Washington
In the spring OF 1851 WhiteI1w Reid, in
ranging 10 60 abroad for the summer, put the
editorial direction OF TIE Tribune in The hands
Of his friend and former associate. Colonel Hay.
Instead OF enjoying period Of repose following
the installation Of new President the country
was Immediately disturbed by the designations
Of Senators C0nkIing and Platt and bitter con-
troversy in the Republican party. Then ensued
the shooting OF President Garfield by Guteau
and the long months Of Illness which ended in
the death of the President. During that trying
time Colonel Hay was acting editor-in-chief of
The Tribune He then devoted himself, in
junction with Mr.. Nicoiay, TO carrying out
a purpose they had long cherished of writ
ing a complete life of Abraham Lincoln, their
purpose 10 do so having been formed while
sociated with the President and having his ap-
proval. They spent a number Of years in col
lecting the material and the publication of the
work was begun in The Century Magazine
1
work was issued in ten volumes, taking its
place IS the authoritative biography Of the
martyred President The works of Mr.. Lincoln
were afterward compiled by the editors in two
volumes
After sixteen years Of exclusive devotion to
literary pursuits, chiefly at Washington, Colo
mel Hay re-entered public life in March 1897,
when President Mckinley appointed him Am
bassador to Great Britain to succeed Thomas F.
Bayard- Taking up his duties with the IA
miliarity secured by his previous experience in
the diplomatic service he performed them with
great skill He promoted the friendly feeling
between the two countries previous to the out
break of the Spanish-American War, and his
work regarded a triumph of discreet
tact. His speeches in London called forth the
highest commendation, and he made the most
favorable social impression.
Ambassador Hay was recalled to Washington
in September. 1898. to succeed Judge William
r. Day as Secretary Of State. post in the
government service up TO which all his previous
training led His departure from the London
capital was much regretted by all who had
been associated with him. but his pre-eminent
fitness for the Department OF State was every
where admitted. His administration OF affairs
was soon found TO be marked by vigor, tact and
sagacious foresight Many important negotia-
tions were successfully conducted under Secre-
tary Hays direction In the closing years Of Pres-
dent McKfnley's administration and the first
term Of President Roosevelt The maintenance Of
the open door" policy in the Far East, and the
consequent postponement Of the threatened dis
rnembernent OF the Chinese Empire. was consid-
cred a most notable diplomatic achievement
He was not content with verbal assurances