Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-23
CHRISTMAs.

In the midst of the great holiday
season of the year, between "a mer-
ry Christmas and q happy New
Years day," we tender 10 our read
ers one and all the compliments of
the occasion. The past has been
wear of prosperity, and we have en-
loved our share of the blessings |
which a bountiful Providence has |
youchsafed to men. Thanks TO our |
appreciatiVe friends, the WING AND |
TRIBUNE has held its onward course, |
increasing, and we think, improving. |
We are grateful to eur patrons Tor
their favors and support, and IN the
midst of the general rejoicing we
should be less than igst-almost less
than human-if our hearts turned
not to the Giver of all good with
feeling of thanksgiving.
We cling TO the good old-fashiOned
endowment of Christmas time with
the affection that is born OF habit,
and education, and reverence for its
object and its history. 1t was ia
yorite institution of the Cavaliers
those merry knights and mobiles
whose brave, warm hearts would
not believe that religion consisted
of long faces, and sanctimonious
sighs, and eyes upturned in white
horror at the sound of laugh, or
the tinkle of a guitar, or the trll OF
happy song. They saw the bright
side OF the Christians life; and
while they were willing to regret
all that was wrong, and to detest all
that was evil and bad, they would
not have the world deluged in vine
gar. and life made one long penance
! from the cradle to the grave, simply
] because Adam, the first and noblest
/ of the race, set us the example OF
: faithful love, preferring TO partake
; Of Ewes sin and go out of Eden IN
! her sweet company, rather than linz
ger alone among its luxurious and
! fruitful groves. How well have his
! children followed his grand exam
ple, sacrificing themselves to wo-
mans charms and woman's will for
the rich reward of woman's love
and companiOnship
/ We love Christmas not alone be-
cause it came to us from the gay
and gallant Cavaliers. We cling TO
it from a feeling of sympathy, for II,
too, has suffered Puritan persecu-
ton. The fanatics who cut their
hair close, and practiced loud pray
ers and sanity grimaces before the
glass, and fined fozd husband for
kissing his wife on Sunday-the
Pharisees of modern times, some OF
whom came over in the MaytlOweT
and would have burned our magnifi-
cient forests if they could or dared
because the trees would grow on
the Sabbath day-turned up their
"uncopious" noses at the Christmas
festival, and substituted Thanks
giving Day in its stead. But as the
birth of our Saviour is of far more
Importance to mankind than the
landing at Plymouth Rock, so we
prefer commemorating the sacred
, coming and grand mission of the
Messiah to following the custom Of
those who sought this country
mainly because there was no Que
here to check or restrain the eXer
else of the bigoted and intoleran'
! spirit. They planted and reapec
: their crops. and plundered and mur
dered the Indians, all Summer anC
: Autumn, and then, with full grana
ries and much stolen furs and othel
! spoils, Just as the season sat in whel
l their stripped victims must suffe
, most from hunger and cold, and tn
snow and ice and piercing blasts o
: northern winter encircled the rob
: bers like a rampant, they gathere'
= in houses built over the ruins of tn
wigwams of the innocent natives
: piously thanked God for their abun
u dance and safety-and then wen
out to lay the cruel lash upon tn
= backs of their Indian slaves. Thei
= Thanksgiving Day is red with bloc
a and crime, redolenet of Puritanism
: and resonant with cant. Every da
&C should be day of genuine thanks
giving; but let US continue to celC
y brrte Christmas with gratefI
hearts and joyful faces, and kee
4 Thanksgiving Day-when the at
u thOrites order il.