The New York herald., 1870-11-24
Thanksgiving DAY.
The Festival Of To-Day and tho Thsnksgivings
Of tho Past-The National and State
Proclamations- The Programme
for the City Of Churches"

morning the proclamatlons which we publish be-
low-hiding beneath dun mood Of 01icial verbiage
the CHEEKY burden Of gratitude for the past Of hope
for the future, Of solemn trust and always In
the goodness OF the Governing Mind that controls
and guides the restless shuttles Of the Loom OF
Lfe-wIn pass Into joyous effect. Not for the drst
time does thus pleasant duty Of usherin0 ia with
words OF welcome the ono grand festival Of our
national year fall to tho lot Of the writer And as
the sands or this eventful century out It seems
to the never-weary sentinel en- the watchtower Of
journalism as though each recurring THANKSGIVING
must find us with fuller hearts ana with eyes swm-
ming over In livelier Witness Of our gratitude, re-
spending to the invitation Of our appointed rulers to
humbly and heartily recognize the opened hand OF
Him ''whose mercy endureth for ever" ~ g.
Much, indeed, have we to be thankful fort But
few short years ago this wide and beautiful nert-
tage Of was stained with the foul blot-and no
slender minority Of people were drunk with the
fasclnations-of the hiaeeus sin Of human bondage.
Through years Of tears and blood, embitter aud
hallowed with priceless sacrifices through weary
summers and winters Of af1iction, Of atom cment
and Of works "meet for repentance" We struggle1
on. until at last the edince Of our national
life, rsposing on the sure foundation Of equality
and universal brotherhood Its stones unpoluted by
crime snq its neshing DONG QsMeynted not merely
With the form but also with tho living spirit Of
Liberty, challenges In the meek majesty Of blameiess
purity the admiration and even the reverence, Of
suffering world. Far across the ocean the air Is
ever heavy with the sigh Of sorrowful and unre-
Quilted labor, the low moan Of unptied misery, and
the hopeless. reckless laugh Of mental dark
ness and spiritual degradation And within
the last few months moro awful sounds have
mingled in that pitifu ltany Of pain and want ana
wrong. Two vast, mercless despotisms have met
together In the sAock Of battle, and all the horrible
dscord Of warthe wild death shrek Of the stricken
soldier, the sobs and groans ana delirous oaths Of
the wounded, the sullen booming OF cannon and the
sharp crack Of musketry-the veritable music Of
Hades-nave swelled that sad chorus OF misery.
The fairest parts Of q wide land have been devas
tated by fire and sword, ana les SOIL stripped Of Its
present fruits, has been fertllized for future
narvests by the spilng upon its mute bosom
Of noods OF precious blood. Burning komesteads
starving muItitudes, ana millions Of armed men
struggling together In deadly conflict and innamed
by the worst passions Of cur nature-shese make up
the sad spectacle that greets our gaze we wander
In though across the Atlantic. rfsyfsfss
But here, at home, how differenti Peace daily
growing into profounder and heartier sincerity;
material plenty, without parallel In human annals;
intellectual activity, which seems like the dawn OF
the coming golden day, in which no essen
tial truth. whether moral or physical shall
be hid from mortal Ken-a happy, tndnstriOuS con-
tented, prosperous, enlightened, thOughtful nstlon
Some weak places there may be In our national and
social system; but we see good men everywhere
banding together to set them right and we can
take comfort in tho thought that their efforts win
assursdly be crowned with success. ~
In eur own city this Thanksgiving promises to be,
indeed, day Of rejoicing and consolation for all
who by misfortune or by misconduct have been
thrown into the cold shadow Of poverty. All our
charitable institutions will be fragrant with the
fumes Of good cheer, and radiant with the bright
faces and noisy with the harmless rth OF those to
whom life yields but rare occasions sf enjoyment.
Even our prisons viii for once relax the rigid &C.
verify Of accustomed discipline and the SAD tenants
Of their cheerless walls, IN the satisfaction OF an
forgotten % long for ,Se e
friendship Of good men. Many q weary
worldJaded neart, oppressed by the undeserved
malice Of destiny. Or weighed down BY the mertted
utter despair by the kind ana merciful charities
that will mark with white stone In their memories
this welcome gala day. N4 tM
eled round the cheerful hearth VIII point the hours
Of this anniversary Of gadness with the tender utter
ances OF afYecnon and gay outbursts OF harmless
merriment. Some hearts, perhaps, that have long
viii be knit together again ints closer ties Of aec
ton BY the genial spirit Of this glad festival and
certainly the memory Of this happy day win be
o. youth and hope and WIN light Il the p path @ over
which they viii pass, long years hence, after many
q bereavement and sorrow, to the last home Of ali
the dwellers upon Earth. 81 a1st
servances Of the day IN New York city were pub
lshed Yesterday, and It Is therefore needless to
repeat them here.