Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-25

dence The new administration is
well started. The presidents inaug-
ural strengthened confidence every
where. IL has deepened the public
expectation of sound, safe, and conser-
yative policies. 1t has confirmed the
public reliance upon the president s
judgment as well as upon his patriot
ism. An efficient business cabinet has
been organized With these initial
steps the outlook is bright and promis-
ing.
1t is very plain that the president is
thinking more of business restoration
than of Lolitical schemes or party in
terests. His politics are altogether
subordinate TO his solicitude to get the
country out of the mire. Party feeling
is not running high just now at any
point. The people are more concerned
about the return of good times than
about political contentious. With one
accord they recognize the presidents
supreme devotion to this object, and
they show a disposition to strengthen
his hands, regardless of their differ
ences on minor issues. The tone OF
comment in all responsible and intiuen-
tial quarters has been eminently en-
couraging. The representative journ-
ais which are opposed to the presidents
economic views have evinced will
lingness to waive controversy on this
point and To acquiesce in the measures
he shall recommend. The people con-
fronted both existing depression and
threatened dangers; they elected Mr..
Mckinley TO lead Them out of the
wilderness; he must lead along his own
lines; and they are sensible enough TO
recognize the limitations and accept
the conditions.
The president has made this support
easier by his own moderation and by
his freedom from narrow partisanship.
II the opponents who accepted him
have been broad and liberal in their
tone, he has been not less patriotic in
his spirit. He insists that ample rev
enue must be raised, and that it must
be raised by protective tariff measure;
but he seeks that judicious and conserv-
alive action on the subject in which all,
recognising the greater obj7cts, can
acquiesce ii not concur. With these
conditions come encouraging signs.
Great railroad funding operations are
contemporaneous with this change OF
administration. The markets are adj
vancing. Securities appreciate and
enterprise takes courage.
All this is hopeful. The ship OF state
has taken on new pilot; the Prov is
turned in different direction. In
stead Of drifting aimlessly and hope
lessly under false ideas, it will be
steered with distinct recognition of
the surrounding conditions and OF their
requirements. The country has looked
forward To this change with hope and
assurance; the change has now actual
ly come, and the events accompanying
it have deepened the confidence with
which it has been anticipated. There
is distinct improvement in the tone
of public feeling every where, and with
the assurance of the remedial legisla-
tion which will now be adsiduously
pressed, Improvement will steadily go
on.
| am led to some comments on the
late president in this connection. 1t
was from May of 1892 until the election
of that year that Cleveland made very
surprising exposure OF himself as a
master politician.
When Van Allen at a time OF desper-
ate poverty for the national committee
contributed $50,0 and knew when he
did that he would be appointed minis
ter TO Italy, the understanding was not
an exceptional incident of that cam
paign, for although it was not Mr..
pledges and understandings were mem
toned TO him to say, "See Quincy, y
meaning that adroit and cold-blooded
politician who afterward dealt out con-
sulates with lavish prodigality for past
or future political service, yet he could
not thus throw upon other shoulders
all responsibility.
And the echoes OF his Lenox Lyceum
speech, in which he denounced with
characteristic diction the use OF money
in political campaigns, were still ring
ing in the ears of his hearers when he
was listening TO the plans involving
expenditures in Colorado and other
western states, by which alliance, di-
rect or indirect, could be made with
Populists, so that the Republican
electoral ticket might be fully defeated.
Perhaps some day the story OF the
Gresham incident will be told in full.
1t was inspired by pure politics, aud it
served both Cleveland and Gresham
we'll 1t is significant OF their better
understanding OF the politics that Mr..
Cleveland was playing that, notwith-
standing his denunciations of the com
munism OF pelfr and OF the spirit that