The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-11-12
ence or government any more than in
! literal ire and art

|
"The charm of expression that We
all find in his writings appeared no
less in his conversation. He was the
most delightful of companions
His nature had its penalties. He
shrank from rude personal contact
All things fine and noble gave him
pleasure, things brutal and sordid
caused him pain. He could fight for
cause or friend, but he shrank from
, fighting for himself. Everything per-
sonally competitive or assertive was
distastefH. In his later years the
prospect Of public appearance made
him positively ill for days before the
time arrived.
The youth knew Lincoln and be-
came his disciple. During four
years in the white house the inspira-
ton and controlling power of tina;
great nature guided the growth of the
young assistant secretary The rela
tion between them was not the, ordi-
nary official relation between a great
officer and a young assistant. 1t was
personal and affectionate. Often in
later times. when MIR. Hay was prem
ier in the cabinets of President Nc
Jiinley and President Roosevelt. some
vi SSINiSc III lIS w ultC IlOuoC
would recall in his mind events OF the
earlier days among the same familiar
scenes. and the telling of the story
| with all the charm and graphic pow
er We know so we'll would leave an
impression upon his associates never
| to be forgotten. One such recital il
lustrates the relation between the
two. Through the center of the sec
rf bn white
long corridor from the extreme east
to the extreme west. Mr.. Lincoln
slept in little room at the western
end and the young assistant secre-
tary slept in a little room at the
southeastern corner. The president.
oppressed and disturbed by the cares
and perpelxities and nervous tension
of the great war was often sleepless,
and often. when he had long sought
sleep in vain. he would rise and go
down to the boys room and waken
him in the dead of night, and, sit
ting on the edge of his bed. would
| read aloud to him from some favorite
book until the current of thought was
| changed and sleep seemed possible.
Sometimes it was the bible; some
times Shakespeare: sometimes Tom
Hood. The spiritual insight Of the
great liberator OWNED in the soul of
the boy the sympathy, and respon-
, siveness which returned to the reader
calm and solace he could not find
in the cold. dull page alone. How Oft
en- have the listeners to that tale. as
their duties brought them again and
again to the scene, imagined the tall,
gaunt form of Lincoln clad in white,
passing down the long. dimly lighted
corridor, seeking comfort against his
cares from the sympathy of the noble
youth in the thoughts to which he low
ed to turn. Was ever boy so fortu-
nate! Was ever a character 80 in
fuenced and guided in the develop
ment Of its most impressionable
years! From that time we may we'll
believe came the large and kindly
view, the deep sense of the serious
ness of life underlying the wit and
humor and sensitiveness to impress
sions of the beautiful and genuine
love of his country and its people, the
love of humanity, of peace and justice
with mercy, the capacity for loyalty
to great causes, and the unquestion-
ing realization Of duty to play mans
part in the world Of action.
Upon this foundation was built up
the 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.
"Mr. Hays diplomacy opened the
way for the construction of the Pan
anna canal. When he took office all
progress in that direction was block
ed, as 1t had been since 1850. by the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which bound
the United States to Great Britain as
a participant in any enterprise for
the connection cf the two oceans. Up
on his negotiation that treaty was alb
rogated anG the Uatted States was set
free to accomplish the great work IT.
self. Then followed the negotiations.
far advanced towards completion,
with Nicaragua: and then the negotia-
tions with Columbia for the right to
the Panama route, which eliminated
in the Hay-Herran treaty; the nego-
pany, which ended in the purchase OF
their rights; the revolution in Pan
anna consequent upon the rejection at
Bogota Of the Hay-Herran treaty; the
swift and just recognition Of the Pan
ANA republic, an act as to the pro-
priety and rightfulness Of which Mr..
Hay never wavered nor hesitated for
an instant. Then came the treaty
with Panama: and the work Of pierc-
ing the barrier, uniting the oceans,
changing the trade routes of the
world and fulfilling the dreams Of the
great navigators was begun.
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