The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-12-01
THANKSGIVING.

THANKSGIVING.
As Holiday. Thanksgiving Day owes its
origin and growth to the devout religious
sentiments and social cherishings of the New
England Yankees, or Puritans. Thanks
giving is the Christmas of the Connecticut
Yankee. There is 4 most happy mingling
or reunion Of the conscientious and devout
religious, with the social family and race
loving sentiments in the creation, and OBJ
servances of this peculiar Holiday. The
forceful and aggressive moral and religious
thought of the New England Puritans, has
directed and indoctrinated the nation in its
mavelluous development. The profound rev.
crence for the Supreme Ruler Of the world,
and the deep, solemn conviction of depend
cnce upon Him for life and all its blessings,
united with the highest and livliest feeling
of GOODWILL toward mankind, and love of
family, are the chief elements of character in
the Puritanic New Englanders, ont of which
We have coined a NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
The growths of these thoughts and traits
were good. The New England States,
through the Solemn Proclamation of their
Chief Executives, dedicated day TO such
observances as would the most fttingIy ex-
spress the religious obligations of the people
of mankind-to the Divine favor for the
good gifts-the blessings of this life.
There was a barrier to the general disse;n-
ination of this New England though; and
sentiment, before the war-the rebellion.
The idea of this Holiday pushed It's way
westward into the new free States, settled by
New England enterprise, energy and perSe-
verancc. The line which divided the free
The war, was the Alps which arrested Its
missionary progress southwark. There is
not slave State, or one that has been such,
that cares for this Holiday. And
yet i, is through the potent moral,
religious and good social Jorce uf
New England mind and character that We
have Thanksgiving as NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
There is nothing Fetish in the observance of
this day. Ii is grand and glorious spec
tacle to contemplate nation of men,
women and children, drawing, with one
accord, as nearly as they can to the Supreme
Intelligence, and acknowledging both in
solemn terms, and in thoughts Of their kind,
their utter dependence upon his wise provi-
dence. OF course, it was crysta!lized into Il
national religious social ordinance. Hence
forth 50 long as the nation lives Il free and
enlightened one, we shall have 4 yearly
proclamation from the Chief Magistrate o;
the United States appointing day Tor 'Na-
tional Thanksgiving" With the good things
of this life, the bad, unpleasant things mingle.
This is so in the individual life. 1t is also
the order of things in the national or aggre-
gate life of mankind. The United States
are At peace. There is no sufficient fact upon
which 10 ground the opinion that We shall
hot live as we are now living-in peace.
There is nothing between lis and any other
nation out of which war could be prophc-
sled or justified There is nothing in our in
ternal affairs but points to a higher harmony
and a fuller growth in all that is good and
benefcent The nation is prosperous. The
immense burden of debt resulting from, the
war for the preservation of its life is being
rapidly and certainly lifted from the shout
ders of the people. This is the result which
the record of no other civilized nation can
show. of the well directed efforts of free
and enlightened labor wisely guarded by a
government which WILDLY aprrehendS and
firmly pursues its highest interests.
Our fellow men of Kansas have calisc for
nothing but graduation. No State in the !
Union has had such growth.
In ten years-most of them given Ia strife |
and turmoil-it has increased its population |
over four hundred fold Ii is realizing the |
benefits of the construction of over |
one thousand miles of railway within |
its borders. The great industrial interests of
the State have made surprising advances.
The farmer has Ieiped his reward in abund-
ant crops. The other industries building up,
have flourished because the farmer has made
great gains. In the history of the develop
ment of no other new State are there evil
dences of educational growth at all compar-
able with those which emphasize the record
of Kansas. The climate is genial, and the
general health of the people has been good.
We have hid neither pestilence or famine.
Herein is enough to urge the religious, en-
lightened mind to the devotion OF one day
out of three hundred and sixtv-ire 10 praise
and thanksgiving to the Oliver Of all Good,
and to friendly, family, social gratnla;ions.
There is, with us, a peculiar interest in the
observances Of this. day. We have made
GLORIOUS advances in the upward
path Of pablic morality. Polite
ally, We have achieved enough 10
Justify the dedication of many more days TO
In Kansas the party Of pro-
sress is being lifted ont of the mire. Its
ranks are closing and dressing for the new
march toward the light Good, will hence
forth, be done. Truth shall be recognized.
The right shall be protected. We devouily
bow down and thank the Supreme Ruler of
the Universe for all these things, given and
vouchsaied Us.
CAUSES FOR THANKSGIVING.
The people of our State, County and City
have abundant reason for gratitude 10 God
for the blessings which he has showercd unon |