New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-30
THANKSGIVING DAY.

y
has again dawned upon us, calling us from
I ordinary pursuits to meet and 'praise
God, from whom all blessings flow,
it is fit that each household in the land
should assemble in the public temples OF
worship and around the domestic hearth
to celebrate with grateful hearts the
festive occasion.
1t is good thing to give thanks. It is
humanizing, civilizing, elevating ard
spiritualizing. Is it not cause for thank
fulness that with our liberty there was
also established a Thanksgiving day
There is something in it more than the
mere sensuousness Of feasting and the
qualification of the appetite. While these
blessings are being enjoyed we may recall
others richer and more enduring. which
call for the highest exercise OF free
nations thanksgiving.
The day means that Americans. both
native and foreign born, above all other
nations and races, have country, form
of government, institutions, and a free
religion for which they are thankful.
Consider the mere physical features Of
our country, with its mountains and val
leys, forests and prairies: with the great
est lakes, the longest rivers, and all the
minerals in inexhaustible quantities:
while for growth of corn, and cattle, roots
and fruits, no country in the world can
equal it. We are in possession Of millions
on millions Of untouched acres Of the
richest and most productive soil. These
acres are open to the occupation and set
Element Of the oppressed people Of the
Old World, where they can sit under their
own vine and fig tree, with none to modest
or make them afraid. We have room
enough and work enough without crowd
ing, for one hundred millions of men and
women. We have no expensive monarchy,
no useless royal family or lazy lords to
tax or eat out our substance. Here all
are equal, and if they are obedient to the
laws, COMFORTING themselves as good citi-
zens, may enjoy comfort, security and pro-
lection. Is there not in all these cause
for thankfulness?
Consider the additional blessing of
free education. Here are common
schools for all classes, without discrim-
nation, in which all children who desire
it may obtain practical common educa-
ton. In monarchial, priest ridden and
heather countries only the privileged few
are educated, and the great masses of
the population are kept in ignorance and
There is no reason why in
this land there should be low and
brutal class of idlers and paupers such as
overcrowd the monarchies Of the Old
World, because no one who is able and
willing to work at honest labor need be
without employment, and every oppor-
unity is afforded for self-support, enter
prise and thrift. Neither are We bur-
lened with the incubus Of an imbecile |
state church, to be supported 10y taxa
ion. This is the only country where all |
,eligions are absolutely free, 50 that every
me is allowed to worship God according
o the dictates Of his OWL conscience
Let US thank God for this. Nor is this
III. Are we not nation whose institutions |
re established in accord with Christianity |
nd the laws Of God Admit that there |
re wrongs, violations Of law, corrUp:ions
n the administration Of government
These are all corrected in God ; own good |
ime, and the fulfllment OF the declara-
ion that the way Of the :ransgressor is
ard" is certain. Perfection is not
laimed for man, though the aim of every
Nv is to be just, and enforce righteous
administration.
No royal ruler inheri:ing authority by
divine right has any place IN this coun-
~. The people have the power 70 choose
heir own rulers as their servants and not
} be their masters. They make their
wn laws, each man being a sovereign
nd peer, responsible to God, his own
0nscience and his fellows for al his acts.
Is not all this worthy of Thanksgiving
hough there have been calamity and
lffering in our land, the wants Of the
hicted have been supplied and their
oes have been alleviated by the hands
the charitable of ali nations. Waste
aces are being rebuilt, and cheerfulness
i'd hope are strengthening the hearts
I'd hands Of those who had been de- .
rived Of their possessions
In grateful recollection, then. of all na- I
onal blessings specified, and of many .
hers which will suggest themselves to
cry thoughtful mind, besides the indi- {
dual causes of gratitude peculiar to each q
lie of US, let US all with one accord rem |
II praise and thanksgiving to Him who I
veth and upbraideth not, and from {
hose bountiful hands We have received Y
cry good and every perfect gift. {
FEDERATION