Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-07-14


In his sermon Sunday morning, Rev.
F. G. Blanchard, pastor OF the Congre-
gational church in Grand Rapids, said
s'This nation has entered upon war
that Is bound To have its effect upon all
the world This effect will be felt in
several different directions, but in none
OF them more strongly than in the
Characterization OF the entire world.
This war cannot help but have an in
tiuence for good. 1t marks a step in
the progress Of liberty, and liberty and
. Christianity go hand in hand. The
revolution OF the American colonies
| gave to this country its political free
dom and cleared the way for the build
ing up OF an immense Christian nation.
The war for the freedom of the colored
race removed hideous stain from our
civilization and gave to this people a
spiritual quickening that has made
them the nobler and the better for it.
I see the hand of God in the fact that
this war of ours is with the nation that
has proven itself the wickedest, cruel
est and most despotic of all OF the
so-called civilized nations; nation
which Expresses its people, robs its
possessions and turns murder and
rapine loose among its colonies. The
destruction OF Spain will hasten the
universal Characterization of the
world"
The session of congress just ended
has been in some respects one OF the
most remarkable on record. Both
houses have accomplished consider
BILE amount OF work, and some of their
acts will loom up large on the pages OF
history. It's prompt and unanimous
grant OF money to the president in an
ticipation of the war which finally
came, the adoption of the war resolu-
tions, the passage of the internal rev.
enue law, the annexation OF Hawaii,
were all acts of great import, and were
all in addition to the regular work of
the session. They were all accomplish
ed with dispatch, a harmony OF senti-
messed in legislative bodies. In all OF
these acts, with the exception OF the
war resolutions, partisanship played a
far less important part than is usually
L. 4o.Ixr la tica =
and the factionists failed in their at
tempts to compel recognition OF the
spurious paper government of the
Cubans, and in view of the subsequent
developments none is more rejoiced at
their failure than themselves. On the
whole a more patriotic and business
like congress never assembled at Wash
ington, and the questions which came
before it were wisely treated.-G. T.
Press.
-
Who is Shafter? he is the general
commanding the invasion at Santiago.
He is brigadier general in the United
States regular army. He is sixty
three years old. He is not "a West
Pointer. He has been promoted on
the field twice in the same battle for
bravery in the face OF the enemy.
Shafter was 20 years old when the
north and south went to war. He en-
tered the Seventh Mich cavalry as a
first lieutenant in 1861. He fought all
through the bloody four years, always
in the front, and always with energy,
ability and gallantry. And when the
fighting was ended he had attained the
same rank that he holds today-he was
a brigadier-general by brevet. Pro-
motion had been rapid, he was major,
lieutenant-colonel and colonel in rapid
succession. He was thin then. Now
he is the heaviest officer in Uncle Sam 6
pay, weighing 305 pounds. Yet with
all these honors Shafter was once a
bare-legged farmers boy following the
reapers in the harvest fields of Michi-
gan. He came from what Lincoln
liked to call the "plain people"
~.
1t is stated on official authority that
the bombardment Of Santiago will
begin today unless Gen. Toral surren'
ders Internationally TO Gen. Shafter
At conference held between the lines
by Shafter, Wheeler and Toral, the
latter asked for time to communicate
with his government at Madrid and
was given until Thursday noon. If the
conditions are not complied with, every
mortar and battery on land will oper
fire on the city and the naval force:
will also assist from the gunboats
Santiago is doomed city If the bonn
bardment begins and the destruction o.
property and the slaughter of lives viii
be terrible.
-.
The war revenue measure hits the
preachers and others who officiate at 8
III, rts Y,nt,at ba