The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-07
THANKSGIVING.

Whereas" proclaims President JOHNSON,
at has pleased Almighty God.during the year
which is now coming to An end, to relieve our
beloved country from the fearful scourge OF
civil war, and to permit us to securethe bless
ings of peace, unity and harmony, with great
enlargement Of civil liberty" And further,
as "Our Heavenly Father has also during
the year graciously averted us from the c.
lamities of foreign war, and pestilence and
famine, while our granaries are full OF the
fruits of an abundant season." for these and
other considerations has Mr.. JOHNSON ap-,
pointed this an day of National Thanks
giving.
1t has been fasting and humiliation hitherto.
Upon people whose growth and prosperity
had been without parallel in history, came
the bloody waves of civil war; Apeace long
continued that had fostered the arts and sci
ences, and multiplied industry and capital,
and populated the sea with busy commerce,
was broken by strife which portion of our
citizens inaugurated. A strife which con-
verified our merchantmen into naval arma-
ments, and took manly strength from peaceful
avocations and familiarized it with the use Of
arms. There came the first great shock at
Bulls Run. Then the clouds had gathered
and the storm really came. How the scenes
have varied since! We have been depressed
BY defeats like the Peninsula campaign and
Fredericksburg and Charlottesville and the
Second Bull Run, and elsted with victories
like Donelson and New Orleans and Vicks-
burg and Atlanta and the siege of Richmond.
But whether victory or defeat, it has been
Deaths Carnival, all the same. The sons of
the nation fell. Homes we're darkened There
was mourning in the land. A mourning Thea
eliminated and spared no loyal household or
heart when the news went out over the land
that April morning that the diabolism of tres-
son had done its worst, and that ABRAHAM
LINCOLN had also persisted.
Through all these alterations of grief and
gladness was the strength Of a high resolve,
the incentive Of great purpose that led the
people on through it all with a firm heart to
the final triumph. The unity of the Govern
ment was to be preserved. The Union that
had been inherited should be transmitted.
Heat the purpose to pliability in the battle
flames, or with blows harden it to GOODNESS
again on the anvil of defeat-twas an iron
one and ever unbroken. There was republi-
can virtue among the people and patriotism
and love of liberty in the popular heart
During this year the end has come. The
garments rolled in blood have passed away
The mighty effort is over. The places in
broken family circles have not been filed
The shadows have not been removed. There
are graves to be kept green names that must
not be forgotten; MANNED heroes of the Re-
public to be remembered and rewarded. Bnt
ehastened as we have been as people, when
we regard the mighty struggle through which
we have passed, and the grand result-the in
tegrity of the Union maintained and the
cause of human freedom riumphant-regard-
ing the recent past, the present, and the
brilliant promise of the future, the people
have great cause to observe this las day of
National Thanksgiving TO the Creator of the
Universe for these deliverances and blessings,
and TO make confession of our national sins
against his infinite goodness, and with one
heart and one mind implore the Divine guild
ance in the future of our nation