Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-12
ROOT PAYS TRIBUTE TO HAY
New York Senator Speaks at Dsdica.
ton Of Memorial Library.
DEMOCRATIC, WITH HIGH IDEAS
He Took Men at Their Character
value, without Regard TO Place,
Power or wealth.

! PROVIDENCE. r. T. Nov. 1.-THE life
I and influences Of the late Secretary Of
State John Hay in the fields OF diplomacy
were eulogized in an address Of United
States Senator Eiihu Root Of New York at
I the dedication Of the John Hay library at
< Brown university today. Senator Rect
said:
High credit is due TO q country that
can appreciate such a man as John Hay:
that has Justly estimated his merit has
valued his service and honors his memory.
people capable Of this have something
about them too fine to permit them 20 be
given over TO the worship Of merely ma
terial things It would be difficult to con-
ceiye Of a sharper contrast than between
the character Of Mr.. Hay and the conf
dent. thick-skinned. self-assertive pushing.
hustling character ordinarily associated
with success in the practical affairs OF this
hurly-buriy world. The note in his daily
life which most challenged the attention
Of an observer was that OF extreme refine
ment, sensitiveness and reserve. He was
unassuming, retiring. self-effacing. He was
thoroughly democratic in his sympathies
ana convictions He took men at their
character value without regard 70 place or
power or wealth He was indifferent 70
popularity. while he was keenly alive 70
the approval Of all those whose Judgment
he respected and whose friendship he
valued His life was his own and he shared
Il only with those he loved. He never put
It in evidence at the bar Of public opinion
or entered il in competition for the prizes
Of public life. The proud modesty OF his
self-respect made IL impossible for him 10
testify IN his own behalf OF to aileEe hts
own merits He left others to judge what
he was and what he accomplished. without
even aid from him, while his generous and
loyal nature was never weary Of giving
credit and praise and honor to his as
sOciatss and contemporaries to the extreme
limit OF their deserts.
Enthusiasm of HumanitT.
He was sensitive 20 beauty In all its
forms-beauty in nature, in art, In form
OF literary expression, in thought IN human
character. The principles Of Christian
ethics controlled his judgments and his
practice A dns and correct taste deter
mined the attractions and repulsions Of
his life, but he was not narrow OF nnicaL
He had the enthusiasm Of humanity. He
had breadth Of view and kindness OF judg-
ment He had the saving grace Of humOr
to a very high degree. and his hunor was
mates Of men and their lives cut through
ali appearances 10 the realities. were in
dependent OF clothes and houses and the
accident OF manners. and seized upon what /
ever was true and human, whether Il was
In the miners hut or the farmers ranch |
or the milhonaire's palace The scope OF
his human sympathy was universal He
could write both the Pike County Ballads
and Cssuian Lays. Quality appealed to
him. whether in an earl or a longshOreman. /
He had q fine sense Of proportion ana Of |
the fitness Of thinga He had Imagination. |
without which no man can be great IN /
business science or government any more /
than in literature and art
The charm Of expression that We all /
ind in his writings appeared no less in
his conversation He was the most delight !
full OF companions.
His nature had It's penalties. He shrank /
from rude, personal contact As things /
nne and noble gave him pleasure things 1
brutal AMI sordid caused him pain. He /
could fight for cause or a friend, but he /
shrank from fighting for himself Every 4
thing personally competitive or asssrtivs /
was distasteful. In his later years the /
prospect Of a public Appearance made him 4
positively III for days before the time ar
rived
Contact with LincoIn.
The youth knew Lincoln and became /
his disciple During four years in the
White House the Inspiration and control
Ing power Of that great nature guided the i
growth Of the yong assistant secretary. /
The relation between them was not the /
ordinary official relation between a great
officer and young assistant II was per
nonal and affectionate. Often in later
tines. when Mr.. Hay was premier in the |
cabinets Of President Mckinley and Presi-
dent Roosevelt some incident Of service 1
m the White House would recall 20 his I
mind events Of the earlier days among 4
the same familiar scenes, and the telling
Of the story with an the charm and graphic 4
power We know 50 well would leave an i'm
preston upon his associates never TO be
forgotten One such recital illustrates the /
III --..-- $780, -