Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-03-06
country depends upon the majority

) country depends upon the majorit.
we give here.
Our local cleo tion is now at hand
we should, not as we have done i'm tn,
past, but in one solid phalanX, marcl
TO the ballot box and administer I,
the opposition such a crushing defea
that ii will take time TO repair
We have candidates for county of
flee, can we conscientiously and will
a bold face go TO the County Conven
tion next summer and ask for the
nomination of our fellow citizens, i
we have suffered defeat at the hands
of the Democracy but a few short
weeks before. Success can never bC
attained by internal dissension
There is in this party's present cir
cumstances that which inspires us
with wholesome consciousness of its
powers and its destiny. We have
witnessed the prayers and gratitude
of millions for its public and private
blessings. These blessings were the
achievements, not of jealousies, nor
factions, but of hearts as pure. and
minds as enlightened, and judgments
as sound as ever graced the annals of
mankind. Among its leaders are
statesmen and scholars, as well as
heroes and patriots We have but a
short time ago seen its greatest
statesman and scholar, hero and pat
riot carried to his tomb blest with
the honors of his country.
| may not at this time presume to
pronounce funeral panegyric of
this extraordinary man, VIM. McKin-
ley. He lived, not for himself, but
for his country; not for his country
alone, but for the world. He belongs
to history. He belongs to posterity,
as the instructor of all future ages in
the principle of national liberty, and
the rights of the people. He belongs
to us of the present age by his glory.
by his virtues, by his achievements
These are memorials which can never
perish. They will brighten with the
lapse of time, and as they loom upon
the ocean of eternity, will seem pres
ent to the most distant generations
of men.
Nature had given him strong and
brilliant genius. Whatever belonged
TO human manners and pursuit, to hui
man interests and feelings, or to gov
ernment. he enveavored to master
with a scholarly diligence and taste.
Few men have united such manly
sense with such attractive modesty.
His thoughts and his style were gov
erned by a judgment in which energy
was combined with candor, and benev-
olence with deep, unobtrusive, and
fervid piety He was in possession of
the principal blessings of life-of
position, of domestic love, of univer-
sal respect. And in the words of I'm
mortal Clay "He needs no statue-he
desired none. 1t was the image of
his soul that he wished to perpetuate,
and he has stamped it himself in lines
of flame upon the souls of his country
men.
Not all the marbles of Carrara,
fashioned by the sculptor's chisel into
the mimicry of breathing life, could
convey to the senses a likeness so per-
feet of himself as that which he has
left upon the minds of men He car
we'd his own statute: he built his own
monument.
He concluded by introducing as the
toastmaster of the evening Mr.. T.
Frank Ireland, who filed that import
ant position in a most pleasing and
satisfactory manner. He introduced
as the first speaker, Mr.. Hal II, Smith
upon the toast "Republicanism Liv-
ing Creed" He said:
Republicanism is living doctrine
creed that is throbbing with virile
life. So great have been its achieve
ments as to lead to the belief that
this strength is inherent in its very
principles. The party is a party of
moral action. It came into life the
creation of great moral force, dedi-
Gated TO a great cause. 1t has but
lately rededicated itself to the cause
of morality and redoubled its activi-
ties.
The party has done some things
that have aroused discussion, it is
charged with failure. This is not a
misfortune. The democratic party
has done so little that il can hardly
be censured more than praised.
Two of these charges are: Dishon-
est voting in the caucuses and dis
honest taxation of railroads and pub
lie utilities. No republican will deny
that the first has i'm measure exist
ed. He who does mistakes his duty
The second, the party is pledged to
remedy. Already it is trying a re-
form bill in Kent county and if il sue
ceeds there, we may confidently ex
meet its enactment throughout the