Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-22
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Thanksgiving Day.-A correspondent write

2hSnAbkiFInk Ohy "A esponueuIW lites
~ a. follows:
Mr.. Editor: As ther best of editors are
liable to place wrong constructions on ia
miliar events, be pleased to allow US space to
make what we conceive to be some corrections
IN the sentiments Of your thanksgiving editO-
rial Having examined history to fair ex
tent, We are confident that it cannot be shown
that ID "the day was originally designed
(nor is it pow) as a rebuke to those who ad =
here to the propriety of observing the ami
yersary of the birth of Christ" Far other
wise. For, all accounts agree that the day wa
first observed by the Pilgrims in the autumn
of 1922, in obedience to spontaneous desire
TO offer up thanks to the Supreme Ruler for o
favorable harvest after an almost certain and
destructive famine. Holmes, in his "Ameri-
can Annals and cOrrobOrated by other his
tory, gives the particulars Of this event, which
are truly touching to peruse. Then, there
were no Catholics in that section. So that the
day came in from the pure altering Of tie
heart Besides there is every reason to be-
lieve that Thanksgiving has been steadily kept
up from that time; yet, eight years after 1880
Governor Winthrop arrived with his feet, and
such was the Joy on this acquisition that a new
impetus vas given TO the day, which continued
Till the Independence of the Colonies, when,
as may be well supposed, GROWING joy was
given TO the whole. General Washington, "
TOO, evidently became imbued with the i'm
portance Of the day, rs be united in it, and
wrote the general Proclamation after our In
dependence which is a model of its kind. We
see, therefore, that the day arose from very
different motives than those you intimate.
Gratitude and thankfulness, under all their
trials and sufferings, was evidently the pro-
curing cause Of the observance of the day.
~ From this examination, come to the
conc,u that it is best to encourage Thanks
giyings rs peculiarly BETTING, and as an aux
Hilary TO thu perpetuity of our country and its
Institutions. We cannot well pass it, like to
our Glorious FoL;rth") without recounting
our privileges, both in tie press and pulpit,
and this is needful. 1t is one Of the channels
to keep in mind how greatly blest we are. ~
Nor do I conceive that il does or can conflict
with Christmas. That is properly religious
festival, alike applicable to monarchical gov
ernments as republican-the one appertain-
ing TO our future welfare, while the other is
American and pertains to our present welfare.
Besides, il is certain that in the New England
States, the Catholics, Episcopalians and Uni
versalists have for the last one hundred years
observed Christmas as heartily as Thanksgiv-
ina, and we 81 think all denominations will
do SO soon.
fs) 1t would, indeed, be regretted to have
ons day as Southern, and another as North
erg but rather every section Of our country
elOQlQ All%s dS Oucj VI csCIy hhC
We do on he Fourth Of July" hence We
think that 6t.h days should be encouraged
and observed. ".
NorEs.-QD The observance Of the day was
the original conception Of men whose religion
consisted in great part Of intense hatred Of
most time honored religious customs, arising
from their dislike to the churches practising
such customs. Of men who, seeking to change
many things regarded as venerable and yalua-
bic in church practices, abandoned the OBJ
seIvance Of Christmas day, as being one Of the
idolatrous customs Of the churches Of England
and Rome. Of men who kept, in its stead,
Thanksgiving day. We doubt not that it was
originally kept by sincere christians as at
present by such persons, In spirit Of due
thankfulness to Providence flor in their wrathy
religion they we're thankfully while we cues
ton the wisdom Of j;s substitution for that Cf
the birth Of the saviocr Of Men. Gradually,
the same class Of religiOnists in New England
have been inyenting (amoIg themselves, more
popular christian doctrines and practices than
those handed down to Us from tie days Of the
Apostles, until their christianity hss become
in some localities Millerisn, in others 2pi-it-
ualisn, in others WOmen's Rightsism, and in
others again, as in the pulpit of Theodore Par
ksr, unadulteratsd SkeptieiIm; all such doc
trines being preached, as Thanksgiving day is
kept in the land of its birth, q: being tho very
QuintesseLce Of tue christianity boiled down
to precisely the right point Of refinement.
a. Because General Washington wisely
asked his cOuntrymen 20 join oa PARTICULAR
occasion in giving due thanks to the Giver o.
all Good for the successful termination of the
American Revolution, il by no means follows
that, were he alive now, be would approve Of
the result Of keeping Thanksgiving day where
IL has been kept for any considerable length
Of time. Viz: in gradually irdisposing the
popular mind to keep the Christie as fe tival Of
christianity, Us il was kept every whe1e in tn Is
country cut Of New England in his time Nc
one thought more Of the obligation of the due
Observance Of Christmas tina. did George
Washington. Nor was there ever sn Ameri-
caa more sternIy opposed on principle to such
innovations as Thanksgiving day has become
sinoe lie left this world for a better one
az II Thanksgiving day was really wha
our correspondent believes it to be-that Ia, IL
the land where its observance 10 now univer
ssl-we should be 10th indeed to pen augh
against it. Unfortunately, however, such il
not the case. 1t is there popularity seized OF
- the Occa,iCn for preaching death and dam
nation to the people Of the South-for stump
speeches in the pulpit about . bleeding Kan
sas," aud for eItOlling and strengthening al
such New England isms, as are fast lin tbeil
alarming growth Of late years) increasing the
causes Of sectional irritation, and rendering il
veil nigh impossible for the l&aveholding see
tlOo Of the Union to maintain Ter guaranteed