New-York tribune., 1910-11-12

emu ana the young assistant secretary siep
IN nttle room at the southeastern corner
me president. oppressed ana disturbed o.
the cares and peTpleXities ana nervous ten
slon OF the Great War, was often sleepless
ana OFTEN. when he had long sought sleel
IN VAN, ne would rise and go down 10 TN
/ boy room and weken him in the dead o
nlsht; and; sitting on the edge Of his bed
! would read aloud TO him from some favor
lie book until the current Of thought wa
I changed and sleep seemed possible some
times II was the Bible, sometimes SHAKE
sPeaTe' sometimes Tom Hood
Found Sympathy in Hay.
The spiritual insight of the great lib
/ orator OWNED in the soul of the boy the
| sympathy and responsiveness which re-
! turned 70 the reader a calm and solace ne
could not find IN the cold. dull page alone
( How often have the listeners to that tale,
I as their duties brought them again and
again 70 the scene. imagined the tail, gaun'
form OF iancoln, clad in white. passing
down the long. dimly lighted corridor. seek
ing comfort against his cares from the
sympathy or the noble youth in the
thoughts 10 which he loved TO turn
" as ever boy so fortunate, Was ever
character SO influenced and guided in me me
i1eFetOpnlenI or its most tmpressionapie
wears. From that time we NAV we'll believe
came the large and kindly view. the deep
sense Of the seriousness of life underlyns
4 the VII ana humor and senstiveness 10
impressions OF the beautiful the genuine
love OF MS country and its people, the
4 love or humanity, OF peace and Justice with
mercy, the capacity for loyalty 10 great
! causes and the unQuestioning realization OF
duty 70 play mans part in the world OF
action.
Upon this foundation was built up the
I character that Mr.. Hay brought to the
great Office Of the Secretary of state. He
brought also the results of wide and varied
training In his maturer years. Five years
/ as secretary Of legation in Paris, in Vienna
and in Madrid. two years a. Assistant Sec
retary of state service as Ambassador TO
- QaH "a ,frrFfe
/ OF the profession of diplomacy; had taught
him the language Of diplomacy. in which
words 50 often have a far different weight
and meaning from the same words used IN
the other professions. at the bar, in busi-
! ness and in literature
Had Learned Political Tact.
He had learned the methods. the conven-
tons, the etiquette, the prejudices the deli
cate and difficult art, Of diplomatic polem-
les He had learned how TO avoid the
blundering obtuseness TO the sentiments
and real feelings of others which so often
brings 10 nought the good intentions of
well meaning but uninstructed negotiators,
and an occasional illustration of which has
suggested the TeproaCh implied in the
phrase. ''shirtsleeye diplomacy
Five years an editorial writer for The
New York Tribune and a considerable
period as its responsible editor had broad
ened his knowledge and interest in the
multitude Of questions affecting the inter-
nal interests of America and had given him
q familiarity with public men and public
affairs His life had been passed among
men Of thought and men OF action. Let
teTs, art. science. business. public life, the
professions. had contributed the friendships
that enlisted his sympathies. He knew
many places and their people; many sides
OF life: many points Of view.
He came to the State Department Just at
the time when the conclusion of the war
with Spain opened new era in the reia-
tiOns between the United states and the
other nations Of the earth. The establish
ment Of the new relations was important,
eNigent and critical. 1t concerned American
prestige ard prosperity, the country's place
in the estimation Of the world its oppor-
tunity for influence for its own good and
for the good OF mankind
Diplomacy of Highest Order.
The conjuncture OF the time and the man
was most fortunate. Mr. Hay impressed
upon the diplomacy OF the United States
az this critical period quality of courtesy,
Of consideration. OF competency in dealing
with diplomatic questions and a quality Of
simplicity and uuthfulness worthy or the
disciple Of Lincoln The little questions
that trouble so many small men-petty
tricks and deCeDIiOns and subterfuges and
small sdvanrages-had no place in his
scheme Of conduct Always the broad view,
the kindly judgment, the conslderate treat
ment, the true dignity OF nations, the true
interests OF his people and Of civilization,
guided his action.
We may feel warranted in believing that
his administration Of our foreign affairs
evoked sentiments Of respect and friendly
Judgment throughout the world. The i'm
press OF his work and influence viii long
continue 10 be q salutary force in the con-
duct Of our foreign affairs.
Among the multitude Of things that he
did wisely and skilfuly We may recall the
serr le-neut Of the Alaskan boundary dis
puJe. The rough miners on each side of
the disputed line We're wholly intolerant OF
opposing claims and perfectly ready TO
fight for their own rights and at any mo-
menJ a new discovery Of gold in the dis
puIed territory might have led 10 con-
hlCL that would have put all Western Can
ada and " esLern America ablaze. The Joint
High Commission OF 1S9S which was con-
Vened for the settlement OF dozen QueS-
tons between the United States and Can
ada. came 70 deadlock on the Alaskan
question and broke up without action
with the greatest good sense and skill.
practical modus T1yendl judicious treaty
and q tribunal 10 hear and determine the
difficulty was disposed Of forever.
Other Achievements of Note.
The treatment Of our relations with Eng
land as a neutral during the Boer War,
the substitution Of the separate and sole
ownership Of Tutuila for the impracticabie
c0ndomiuium which had existed in Samoa;
the laying Of the foundation for the rescue
OF Sauuo Domingo from the condition OF
anarchy and bankruptcy and the esta bHsh
JuiIed states which is now making that
country peaceful and prosperous. the set-e
-LeIneLJ OF American claims against Tur-
key the sympathetic treatment Of the
wrongs against the Jews in Rumania ana
IN Russia. the mediation between Nene-
Zuela and her creditors. whose action
threatened an infringement Of the Monroe
LUgrrlur-al these are entitled 10 note ana
10 high credit There were. however. three
great fields Of diplomatic action for which
M Hay should always De especially re-
mem Dered.
lie save vital aid 10 the definite system
tignal disputes, which up TO this time has
been known as the system Of arbitration
and which received its form in the f1rsJ
Hague conference Of 1893
The convention for arbitration signed al
The Hague WAS purely voluntary II It's
provisions and il was regarded by most or
the European nations as merely Sentlmen-
tai and academic. Il was the United States,
under Mr Hays direction Of its foreign
office that led the Way in turning this
theoretical scheme into a practical working
system. The first case taken 10 the tribunal
was under our treaty with Mexico Of MAY
-. 1902, submitting 70 its decision the so
called Pious Fund controversy as to the
rights Of the Roman Catholic Church in
California 10 a portion Of the Mexican
church moneys, and the first decision or the
tribunal was its decision in favor OF the
United States in that case.
His Work for Arbitration.
When in 1903 England Germany and Italy
rad united IN a warlike demonstra ton
against Venezuela TO compel the payment
of her debts and Venezuela had appealed
10 the United States for aid, it was under
Mr.. Hays guidance that arbitration was
substituted for war and the nations were
led 20 the bar Of the Hague tribunal for
the determine ton Of their rights