New-York tribune., 1910-11-12

/ ts.r,ier uniting the oceans chang3ns -
, trade routes of the world and fulfilling the
Mr. Hay led the world In deterv,iTlinr. {.
l,he relations of Western civilization to the
gast Empire of China and in preservtng the
Integrity of that empire with an omen door
~ e0ual opportunities for the commarre of
the world When he took Office Russia us :
PRESSING down upon Manchuria from tbs
pa-th and held possession of the PsTi,s'I rts
81 the Regents Sword. with the great for
tress OF Port Arthur guarding the entrance
to the Bay OF Chill.
England had acquired q lease Of wa,baj-
wei for a military and naval base with
which TO offset Port Arthur at the same
time holding her vantage ground on fhs
south at Hong Kong, and her sphere OF in
auence covering the entire valley Of the
Yangtse- France was pressing against the
tbe southwest: Germany had exacted nos
| session Of kiso ChaO and part of the Prov
inee of Shantung for her vantage ground in
the anticipated struggle, and Japan was
training her armies and building nm her
navy across the narrow seas awaitinS her
! opportunity for her share when the time OF
| dismemberment should arrive,
a Great Service to Mankind
It had come TO be tacitly assumed that
whatever in China one nation did not take
some other nation would, and so the COM
petition for possession went on The United
States alone of all the powers having in
/ terests in the Orient desired no mart of
!
/ fish purpose in its affairs. Her position
/ furnished an opportunity of which Mr. Hay
{ avatled himself for one Of those signal SER
! vices to mankind which entitle the doer to
a place in history. During his first year in
/ the State Department he began the negoti-
atiOns which resulted in his identic note to
| the powers of September, 1893. and cuimi-
1 mated in the identic note Of July s. 1900
and the universal assent of the powers to
the policy stated in these words
| The policy of the government Of the
! United States is TO seek a solution which
may bring about permanent safety and
peace to China, preserve Chinese territorial
and administrative entity, protect sll rights
J guaranteed to friendly powers by treaty
and International law and safeguard for the
/ world the principle of equal and impartial
! trade with all parts Of the Chinese En-
The assent of au the powers to the prin-
cple thus declared equivalent to a
| self-denying ordinance barring them from
| further aggression. A principle OF right
conduct was esta ablished by which all future
action was to be judged Unanimity OF as
sent carried to each power the assurance
| that it was safe in conforming It's conduct
TO the principle declared. The process Of
! dismemberment was checked and China's 8
| opportunity for regeneration and progress
/ was secured.
American Commerce Aided.
This was followed by the negotiation OF
| the treaty OF October s. 1903, which at the
same time secured larger opportunities for
J
lines for China's rational development. It
! bound China to abolish the Iikin-that sys-
! tenn Of internal customs duties which keeps
her provinces apart impedes trade and pre-
| vents national growth. 1t provided for
uniformity of external duties: for the re-
vision of the mining laws and the develop
ment of mineral wealth; for the pr lection
/ Of trade marks, patents and copyrights;
for a uniform national coinage and a re-
/ form Of the judicial system.
| In February, 1904, when Russia and Japan
I -s- -E,O~ n~r-a
of war, il was to Mr.. Hay that the powers
| turned to secure from both combatants
/ their assent TO respect the neutrality OF
/ Chinese soil and the preservation of China
administrative entity.
The policies which made possible the con-
| struction of the Panama Canal and the
/ open door in China were but parts Of
/ greater policy. broader in its scope and
1 looking far into the future. They were
steps toward the participation OF America
! IN the great future or the PACING. HaIT
/ century ago the Imagination of William H.
Seward was kindled to the belief that, as
! the commerce of the world had broadeued
! from the Mediterranean 10 the Atlantic, IL
was still TO broaden from the Atlantic TO
/ the Pacific.
| The correctness OF that forecast has be-
come each year more distinct and certain.
! We are Just beginning to learn Of the
J enormous mineral wealth Of British CO.
/ lumbia, Alaska, Siberia, China. Improve
ments in transportation and communica-
tion are bringing the coasts OF that vast
ocean nearer together than the shores of
or to the Nenetians. The awakening of the
Orient to the industrial arts OF Western
civilization is opening vast and indefinite
possibilities Of new production and con-
sumption.
Opportunity Of the Pacific.
By i long series of apparently unrelated
steps America has been drawn gradually
toward her opportunities in this great fut-
ure. The cession of California, the Oregon
I
ton Of Hawaii. the taking Of the Philip
pines, reveal themselves in retrospect as
successive steps all in the same direction.
II remained to construct and control the
Western avenue Of approach to the Pacific
through the IsthmuS of Panama and 10
establish in the Orient d standard Of re-
/ SpeCt ana confidence for tie unSeldsh pur-
poses and moral power Of the government
which, with all its faults and shortcomings
stiIl works in the spirit of Washington and
Lincoln. and seeks the prosperity OF its
people in the paths of peace without weak
ness ana or justice with charity. Poetic
vision. wisdom OF statesmanshtp, skill or
trained diplomacy have done their work.
and the great opportunity of the Pacific
/ lies before our people and their children.
In most OF his undertakings Mr.. Hay was
met with kindness and magnanimOus agree
ment on the part Of the powers with which
he dealt It was SO in the Alaska boun-
dary treaty; In the abrogation OF the Clay
( ton-BulWer treaty; in the arbitration
! ITes ties IN the general assent 10 the pres
I erVatiOn OF the integrity OF China Few of
Us realize the long and weary path
leading to such a final assent-the difficult
ties 10 De overcome. the pitfalls to be
avoided: the objections TO be answered; the
prejUdiceS to be SInOOthed away: the dis
/ cOurag ements sufficient TO daunr any but
the stOutesJ heart
He Dsarned Pettness.
The international statesman finds in the
powers with whom he deals a response ac-
Cording TO the spirit in which he works.
Narrow selfishness meets suspicion and dis
trust Considerate fairness and the broad
views Of generous craftsmanship meet a re-
sponse in kind The spirit OF John Hay
narrow and petty in dealing with him: and
guided by his sensitive appreciation of the
character and feelings OF others made
effective by wisdom and skill that pure and
noble spirit achieved d great work for the
country he loved He himself has said:
There are many crosses and trials in the
life OF one who is endeavoring to serve the
commonwealth. but there are also two per-
manent sources OF comfort. One is the sup
port and sympathy of honest and reason
able people. The other is the conviction
dwelling forever, like a well of living water.
in the hearts OF all Of US who have faith in
the country, that a Il We do, in the fear Of
God ana the love of the land, will somehow
be oVerruled TO the public good: and that
ei en our errors and failures cannot greatly
check the irresistible onward march of This
mighty Republic, the consummate evolution
OF countless ages, called by divine voices 10
destiny grander and brighter than we
can conceive, and moving always con
sclously or unconsclously. along lines of
Denefcent achievement whose constant
aims and ultimate ends are nesCa and
righteousness
think he would not greatly desire thar