Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-05-12
WHAT 1T MEANS

know that Dewey's victory carries with
it spoils of war probably larger than
were ever decided by the issue OF one
battle. The future value and influence
OF this conquest is almost incalculable.
Studying the situation as ii exists, we
assume that with the fall of the Philip
pines the United States will claim as
their due all the natural results OF
such a capture. BY this one victory
the United States acquired at least the
right of disposal OF the destinies OF
more than 100000 people. Together
with the Philippines go the Marianne
islands and the Pelews and the Caro-
lines. The Philippines have an area
of IA, $50 square miles, the Marianne
or Ladrone islands have 440 square
miles, and the Pelews and the Caro-
lines have l,450. Stretching eastward
from the Philippines these groups ex-
tent about 45 degrees of latitude. A
little further to the north and east are
the Hawaiians Should the United
States then build one of the lsthmian
canals she will not only control the
Oceanic water passage, but in the most
strategic portion of the Pacific ocean
she can, as it were, cross that vast
expanse of water upon her own step
ping stones.
1.-THE magnitude of this victory"
says President Mckinley in his mes
sage, "can hardly be measured by the
ordinary high standard of naval war
fare. Outweighing any material ad-
vantage is the moral effect of this
initial success. At this unsurpassed
achievement The great heart of our
nation throbs, not with Boosting or
with greed of conquest, but with deep
gratitude that this triumph has come
in just cause and by the grace Of God
an effective step has thus been taken
toward the attainment of the wished
for peace. To those whose skill, cour-
age and devotion have won the fight,
TO the gallant commander and the
brave officers and men who aided him,
our country owes an incalculable debt.
~
Vermont has special reason to re-
joice over the great Manila victory.
Commodore Dewey, commander of the
American feet, whose name will go on
record with that of Decatur, Perry and
Farragut, is Vermonter. HIS broth
ers, Charles and Edward, are well
known residents of Montpelier. Com
modore Dewey is about go years of age
and saw service in the Rebellion. His
triumph shows that the confidence felt
in his ability was not misplaced.
Another Vermonter prominent in the
battle was Lieut.. Commander G. Z,
Colvocorresses of the cruiser Concord
The antecedents of this man are inter
esting. His father was Greek refu-
gee who was picked up in the streets
of Boston away back in the 20's by
Capt Alden Partridge, founder OF
Norwich University and by him reared
and educated. The father went into
the navy and was captain of the U. S.
storeship Supply during the Rebellion,
his son, the present officer of the Con.
cord, then only II years of age, serving
as his clerk. Young Colvocorresses
has passed his whole life time in the
navy. These two Vermonters have
given a good account of themselves
Capt. Clark of the battleship Oregon
and Capt. Converse of the cruiser Mont
gomery yet to hear from are also Yer.
mont men.
~.
The fertility of Cuban soil is unsur,
passed in any part Of the world three
crops being no unusual thing. At the
beginning OF the present Cuban insur
rection there was supposed TO be a pop
ulation OF about one and half million
people in Cuba, about one-third ne.
groes, but the population has been re
duced fully one-third through the vicis