Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-30
The Ginning HOLIDAY.
Iron the Phrenelogic.l yearnal.l

linen Will IcoOuuu tuIOuSiiOuI oiA
the land,
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
and each father, mother, brother,
sister, uncle, aunt, and cousin will
vie with the other to bring home
something which will gladden. the
heart and make joyful tie house
hold. All this is the language OF
Beaerolence, the moral sentiments,
and the social affections. 1t is in
deed "a good thing to give thanks"
Let this sentiment of charity add
brotherly kindness become all-per-
vading. 1t is humanizing, civilizing,
eIevating, spiritualizing. Let us
thank God and the founders Of our
liberties for orr blessed Thanksgiv-
ing. This National holiday has a
greater significance than is indicated
by roast turkey, fricassed chicken,
sweet Indian pudding, and pump
kin pie. 1t means that Ameri-
cans-both native and foreign born
above all other nations and races,
have a country, q mode of govern
ment, educational institutions, and
free religion for which they are
thankful. Ours is country with
acres, extending from ocean to ocean
and from gulf to gulf, including
many ATTITUDES and many climates.
It has mountain and valley, forest
and prairie, with the greatest lakes,
the longest rivers, and all the
m.nera,s-iron, coal, lead, copper,
silver, and goblin inexhaustib!e
quantities while for the growth OF
corn and cattle, roots and fruits, no
country IN the world can equal ours.
! We are in possession OF millions on
millions of untouched acres OF the
richest and most productive soil.
These lands await the emigrants
! from the overcrOwded Old World
where the intelligent artisan and
the common liborer can not hope
to better their condition. We haze
room enough without c:owding for
one hundred million OF men and
women. We have 10 expensive
monarchy. no useless royal family
or lazy lords to tax or eat out our
substance. Here, one is as good rs
another willie lie behaves himself
rs well and al, rich and poor
are eqna, before the law. Is not
this something to be thankful Tor
Consider the blessings of Oar com
mon schools, in which al our CHI
.lren m,t.t be educated. In mo-
narchical, priest-ri'l'sen countries
only the privileged few and edu-
Gated, and the great masses Of thei.
population are kept i'll ignorance
and pupcrisn. Here, We can have
10 such low, brutal class; no native
pauperis:n, except the few who
directly o. remotely, through in
temperance, vice, or crime, bring II
upon themselves. Here, every OPP
portu1ity is afforded for sels-sup-
port, and for enterprise and thrift.
Here, we have no great incubus III
the shape of dead-and-alivc state
church, with an indoient or yo!up
tusus priesthood to be supported
by taxation. THIS is the only coun-
try in the world where every man
may worship God according to his
own untrameled conscience. Let
us thank God for this. Il not this
enough? Are We not established
on solid and righteous foundations?
Are not Our institutions in accord
with Christianity and the laws of
God? Is it objected that there are
wrongs, violations and corruptions
in the administration of our gov
eminent? Granted. We do not
claim perfection for our law
yers and legislators, though the
aim of every law is to be Just. BY
the neglect Of well-disposed citizens
who take places OF trust, and being
themselves perverted, they pervert
their Offices and bring reproach on
all. The correction Of this evil is
in the hands Of the people. No he
reditary tyrant holds by "hvine
right" any place in this country, and
it is the privilege of Americans to
choose their ssrtunts,-not rulers.
And TIL is something to he thank
full for. In fact, our system OF gov
eminent is the best in the world.
1t may be everlasting if ever just