ed of an ample fortune, Hay had lived much abroad and in the
society of the men who governed Europe. He was experienced in newspaper
work and in diplomacy, and he came to be Secretary of State fresh from a
residence in England where as Ambassador he had enjoyed wide popularity.
With a lively wit and an engaging charm of manner, he combined
a knowledge of international law and of history which few of our
Secretaries have possessed. Moreover he knew men and how to handle
them. Until the death of McKinley in 1901 he was left almost free in the
administration of his office. He once said that the President spoke to
him of his office scarcely once a month. In the years from 1901 to
1905 he worked under very different conditions, for President Roosevelt
discussed affairs of state with him daily and took some matters entirely
into his own hands.

Hay found somewhat better instruments to work with than most Americans
were inclined to believe probable. It is true that the American
diplomatic service abroad has not always reflected credit upon the
country. It has contained extremely able and distinguished men but
also many who have been stupid, ignorant, and ill-mannered. The State
Department in Washington, however, has almost escaped the vicissitudes
of politics and has been graced by the long and disinterested service of
competent officials. From 1897 to 1913, moreover, the service abroad was
built up on the basis of continuity and promotion.

One sign of a new epoch was the changed attitude of the American public
toward annexation. While the war was in progress the United States
yielded to the desires of Hawaii, and annexed the islands as a part of
the United States, with the hope of their eventual statehood. In 1899
the United States consented to change the cumbrous and unsuccessful
arrangement by which, in partnership with Great Britain and Germany, it
had supervised the native government of Samoa. No longer unwilling to
acquire distant territories, the United States took in full possession
the island of Tutuila, with its harbor of Pago Pago, and consented
to Germany's taking the remainder of the islands, while Great Britain
received compensation elsewhere. In 1900 the Government paid over to
Spain $100,000 for Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu, two islands really belonging
to the Philippines but overlooked in the treaty. Proud of the navy and
with a new recognition of its necessities, the United States sought
naval stations in those