Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-16
FRED CUTLER JR. Secretary.

The war must be faced with courage
and resolution, says the Review of Re-
views, and ought to be pushed with
desperate energy. But the country
will learn before this war is ended to
sympathize with the intense desire felt
by President Mckinley that the bitter
cup might pass from his lips and that
of the nation. There was, in fact, no
honorable escape from the war, but for
US it is grevious and "A fearful thing
not jaunty and inspiriting enterprise.
It's sole justification, as matters now
stand, must be found in great contri-
buttons TO the moral and material pro-
gress of the world. We must see that
Cuba and Porto Rico are delivered
from the incubus of medi9valism, and
it must be our task to leave our bene-
fetal impress permanently upon the
fate of the Philippines. What Amer
lean missionaries have done for the
Micronesians will indicate the posi-
bility of American usefulness to the
kindred inhabitants OF the Philippines.
We believe that while giving good
government to the Philippines, il is
also our imperative duty to turn the
Spaniards out of the Caroline islands
and to retore and guarantee the happy
conditions which had been produced
by many years of noble American effort
before the Spaniards laid their blight
ing hand upon that island group
~
The value of Cuba has long been a
mooted question. Were it not for her
periodical rains and epidemical fevers
she would be the most valuable spot of
land on earth. The United States has
made three distinct offers to Spain for
Cuba. President Polk thought Cuba
was worth about 81 100000, and so
offered the dons that amount. They
laughed at him Then President
Pierce, on the strength of the "Ostund
manifesto" offered $50, 000,0O 1t was
no 90. Then President Mckinley raised
the bids to 800, 100000, but Spain
wanted double that amount and finally
resolved that money could not buy the
beautiful queen. Even the insurgents
: offered to buy the island at Mckinley s
, figures, provided they got ten years
, credit, and Uncle Sam indorsed their
note. 1t is now to be seen what the
cost of this bone Of contention will be
to both nations, when the present un
pleasantness between them is settled
~
The Washington Correspondent OF
the Grand Rapids Herald said last
, Saturday: Representative William
! Alden Smith has returned from his
| trip to Michigan in the best Of health
! and spirits. He is enthusiastic over
' the improved business conditions in
the western part of the state, and in
reply to question said: L found bus
mess Of all kinds in a highly prosper
Gus condition, and few are now com
! planning OF hard times. In fact the
, hard times are over, and business men,
! farmers and laboring men are all doing
: well, getting good prices for their pro
' ducts and having plenty OF work at
living wages, and an era Of prosperity
. seems TO be firmly established. Then,
Y too, the people are almost a unit in
their support Of the administration in
its conduct Of the war and believe with
7, the president that we need and should
) at once annex Hawaii
-
!, The cremation Of Frances Willard Z,
: following that OF several other famous
: people, shows that the new mode OF
, treating the dead is increasing in pop
7 ularity. When IL was started, nearly
7 thirty years ago, il was a nine days
:, gossip. At the time the theosophists
= cremated Baroa de Palm and strewed
& his ashes in the waters OF the Hudson
it was the talk Of the city. But now it
is so common that no one pays any at
tention to the practice.