Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-01

ostion made by the American peace
commissioners is TO be commended. To
be sure, she held off until the very last
expected; il was also to have been ex-
pected that she should close the con-
ference by crying, Unfair. Yet never
before in the history of the world was
victorious nation so considerable of
vanquished foe. The United States
took the Philippine islands by right of
conquest, and could have held them
too. Instead, however, 1t very gra-
ciously offered a sum of money quite
equal TO the value of SPANS posses
sions in the islands, and said: "Cede
us the islands and we will give you
$40 ZOO, 900 OF money" by this course
the sting Of defeat was withdrawn and
Spain finds herself enriched by con-
siderable sum of money. Could any
thing be more magnanimous? Had
the United States so determined 1t
could have had the islands for the
taking, but it chose to deal literally
and fairly with Spain. 1t chose to do
differently than did Germany when it
conquered France. Germany not only
demanded "A cession of valuable lands,
two provinces, in fact. but il demanded
a money indemnity amounting TO more
than 100000, 600 francs. The United
States gives to Spain, the conquered,
the equal OF 100, 100000 francs for a
group of partly settled and almost
wholly uncivilized islands in the Pa
cilic. Spain did we'll to accede to the
demands made upon her; to have done
otherwise would have been to play
''boy GRAND Rapids Herald.
~
The decree just issued from Rome
permitting the interment of Roman
Catholics in consecrated ground though
they belong to secret societies, and par
ticularly to the Masonic order, is con-
sidered TO be as sweeping as the
original decree of communicating
those who did not resign from such
orders and organizations. 1t nullities
the drastic decree of seven years ago,
and it is claimed will reconcile many
Roman Catholics to the church who
were banned because OF their affilia-
tions with the Free Masons. Among
many Roman Catholics the decree
means another triumph for the liberal
school of American Catholicism, in
that the Italian clerics who have hith-
erto controlled affairs in the Vatican
have at last recognized different con-
dition in the church In the western
hemisphere than obtains in the CONT
nent of Europe. The decree regarding
those who are members of the Masonic
and other orders caused heart burning
and bitter sorrow among many faithful
Catholics who believe in the Masonic
organizations, the Knights of Pythias
and others because of their benefit at
tachments.
-.
In his report of conducting the po-
litical campaign in Kent county chair
man of the Republican committee,
Jacob Esenhards, said: Il have the
satisfaction of knowing that not one
cent Of the money was spent for beer,
and it gives me great pleasure. None
Of the committee money was spent on
our side for drinks of any kind and |
think we got along just as well without
it. Under the old system of elections
il was necessary for candidate to get
out and make the rounds of the saloons
and halls and whoop it up all along
the line. and IL has always been done.
But this year our committee did not
spend one cent in a saloon nor over
any bar. There is no use 10 it, and no
votes made. 1t has been simply GUS
tom left over from the old days, and
does no good anywhere.
~
Senior Bacardi, an old Cuban resi-
dent, has been appointed mayor OF the
city of Santiago de Cuba by Gen. Wood
who has accepted the resignation OF
Mai. McLeary The first official act
of Mayor Bacardi was to discharge the
entire clerical force in the mayor
Office and to employ Cubans who had
served in the war. He issued II notice
imposing a fine of 81 900 upon any per-
son prohibiting bull fight, and fine
of $50 upon any promoter of cock
fight. In the case Of cock fight the
fine will fall upon witnesses as we'll as
promoters.
~.
The pay roll of the University OF
Michigan for the year 1898 was as
follows: General pay roll, 1859, 025.ll
summer school, "a 1866 81; engineering
department, s27.S97 .04: law, S37 ,522 81
medical, 81 ,OO6.7O; pharmacy, $24,.
s45. "a; dental, 81, $40 96; homeopathic,
SO 300; University hospital, $3.50 %;
homeopathic hospital, S2,7O7.08. The
net income from students fees for the
s.,,,a ,,a,iod ,vas q II ara SO