Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-03-06


lands would be flung into our lap as
readily and as gladly if we were the
protector of its nations rather than
sovereigns of its territory. The trade
of ten million people is there and the
trade of countless millions beyond.
China, Japan and the Orient are open
to us. American cotton can now be
found i'm the heart of China and Am
erican manufactures enter the ports
ON all China seas. There was trade
and commerce in it for the business
men of this country and there is
wealth and prosperity in it for the
Filipinos themselves. The develope-
ment of their resources need but Yam
kee ingenuity; the opening of their
mountains and the tilling of their fer
tile soil, these would give to them
and not TO us the greatest benefits.
We have claimed also that provid-
ence was in it: that His hand wrote
the declaration of was against Spain;
guided the pen that signed the treaty
of peace.
To one who meditates on the
strangeness of life and of the work
ings of the Almighty's will, there is
nothing so astounding in all the his
tories as this Cuban war.
! do not know why our friends speak
slightingly of providence. At no
time from the inception of the war to
the landing before Manila were we
left to deliberate or reflect. The ir-
resistible course of events bore us on
You may call it destiny or deviltry: |
know not when or where we could
have stopped.
When you stop to think of it, we
are the moral element in the Islands,
not the immoral. We are struggling
for civilization, not degradation. We
are advancing education not ignor-
ance. What have we done already
for them? We have established civil
governments i'm more than 500 towns:
we have established judicial system
of native and American judges; we
have unlocked prison doors and set
the victims of the Spaniards free; we
have organized a police force to pro-
tect the people; we have imposed land
taxes for local Improvements; we
have paid the expenses OF the central
government by customs duties and ex-
pended three million dollars in inn
proyements in Manila harbor; we
have set up a common school system
and S35 teachers in 40 towns to carry
it forward; highways are being con-
structed: light houses have been built
telegraphs connect the cities and all
the agencies of civilization are at
work under our guidance. Along with
these material Improvements we have
given to them every guarantee of
civilized liberty that we possess.
The progress of civilization and
education has always demanded sac
rifice. Sacrifice is of no account; cost
is not to be reckoned; the greater the
sacrifice, if the result be righteous,
the more is the reward. So the test
is not, "What are we doing?" or,
"What have we done?n but rather.
"What shall we do in the future?" So
far as what we are doing, the facts
are unanswerable and are republican.
So far as what we are going to do, the
republican party will speedily declare
its entire purpose.
Mr.. Smith was greeted with very
hearty applause both at the opening
and closing remarks as well as at
other points during its delivery. The
next on the program was "Some
Needed legislation and the toast
master introduced our State Senator
Geo. +. Nichols to respond, who was
also greeted with cheers and said:
| congratulate the Young Mems Re-
publican club on the success of this
meeting and wish to express my APP
probation of the honor done me in in
viting me to be one of the speakers.
My experience in politics has taught
me that such organizations as this do
a vast amount of good in the general
work of promulgating the faith and
bringing victory at the polls.
Belding and Belding republicanism
are entitled, in my opinion, to any
thing they may demand of the repub-
lican party of Ionia county within
reason. They are always to the. fore,
and the loyalty, work and vigor of
the republicans of Belding can always
be relied upon. | have, before this,
planted my faith and hopes upon them
and never have been disappointed.
My experience has impressed upon
me as needing attention, certain glar-
ing DEFICIENCIES i'm the laws of the state,
in regard to the paramount question
of all time, that of taxation.
BY act 154, Of the public acts of
1889, the legislature of this state Gre
ated what is known as the Board of
State Tax Commissioners, whose duty