The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-11-18

It was not until during the war that it
became customary for the President OF
the United States to appoint, by prOcla-
nation, a National Thanksgiving day.
AS our readers know, the celebration of
the day itself began in the very early
history of the Massachusetts Colony.
The first Thanksgiving day was called as
fast day, at time when the colony was
almost starving, but was changed to a
feast day, and has spread from New En-
| gland westward and southwark over the
whole land. For many years it was ap-
pointed In the various States by the Gov
ernors thereof, and, there being no con-
cert Of action between them, would be
held at different dates, though almost al
ways on a Thursday. An effort was
made to unite on one day-the last
| Thursday in November-as the day of
Thanksgiving, and in 1859 thirty of the
thirty-three States then existing held
their Thanksgiving holiday on that day.
In 1863 President Lincoln issued his
first National Thanksgiving proclama-
ton, and the custom of Presidential
Thanksgiving has since been kept up.
| The National Thanksgiving day, APP
pointed by Presidential proclamation,
/ is, however, by no means so new an idea
as is generally supposed. President
Lincoln was only following the example
set by President Washington, in the first
| year Of his Presidency. Washington
was inaugurated on the 4th of March,
1889. On the third of October of the
same year he issued proclamation for a
National Thanksgiving day to be held on
Thursday, Nov. 26, 1889. That first
National Thanksgiving proclamation is
worth reproducing here:
WHEREAS, 1t is the duty of all nations to
acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,
to obey His will, to be grateful for His bene-
fits, and humbly implore His protection and
favor and, whereas, both Houses of Congress
have by their joint committees requested me
to recommend to the people of the United
States day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
to be observed by acknowledging with grateful
hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty
God especially by affording them an OppOr-
tunity of peaceably establishing form OF gov
eminent for their safety and happiness. Now,
therefore, do recommend and assign Thurs
day, the twenty-sixth day of November next, to
be devoted by the people of these States to the
service of the great and glorious Being, who is
the benefcent author of all the good that was
that is, that will be. Es haa
"That we then all unite in rendering unto
Him our sincere and humble thanks for His
kind care and protection Of the people of this
country previous to its becoming nation
for the signal and manifold nlercies, and the
favorable interpretation of His providence in
the course and conclusion of the late war
for the great degree of tranquility, union,
and plenty which we have since enjoyed for
the peaceable and rational manner in which
we have been enabled to establish ccnstitu-
tions of government for our safety and happi-
ness and particularly the national one more
lately instituted /; for civil and religious liberty
with which we are blessed, and the means we
have of acquiring and diffusing useful knOwl-
edge, and in general for all the grea5 and vari-
GUS favors which He hath been pleased to con-
fer upon us. And also that We may then unite
in most humbly Offering our prayers and sup
plcations to the great Lord and Ruler of ma
tons, and beseech Him to pardon our national
and other transgressions to enable us all 4
whether in public or private stations, to per-
form our several and national duties properly
and prudently to render our national govern
ment blessing to all people, constantly being
q government of wise, Just and constitutional
laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and
obeyed to protect and guide all s0vereigns
and nations especially such as have shown
kindness na.o us), and bless them with good
government peace and. concord; to promote
the knowledge of true religion and virtue, and
the increase OF science among us ;; and gener-
ally to grant unto all mankind such degree
OF temporal prosperity as He alone knows to
be best A i;.s
! Given under my hand, at the city of New
York, the third day of October, in the year Of
our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and
eighty-nine. GEORGE WASHINGTON"
It is now proposed that Congress shall,
by law, set apart the last Thursday in
November as an annual legal holiday, q
day of National Thanksgiving for the
blessings of the year. The suggestion
is good one, and we heartily sec
ond it. --.a aa