Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-11-29
nELIsrous HOLIDAYS.
rEs..y No. I. written By . school osy.l

rEssay No. I. written By = school b,y.l
Now that Thanksgiving day has come
and gone. perhaps . few thoughts sus.
eested to the writer BY the occurrence
may serve to while away. not unplsas-
antly, Q few minutes time to the readers
OF the News.
The appointment Of Q day for public
thanksgiving to Almighty God for his
msrcies seems to imply that the appoint.
ing powers believe that the ohols people
have much for which to bs thankful.
Otherwise the Thanksgiving proolams.
ton is q mooksry. for to request q large
minority Of the people, whose ills dur
ing the past year have overbalanosd the
good things received. TO assemble In
their usual places Of public worshlp TO
offer up thanks TO Almighty God for
losses sustained, for privstions, sickness,
and death OF friends, would be cruel In.
deed, and an outrage to their feelings.
There IL no doubt that to q large minor.
ity Of our people the Ills which have
fallen to their lot during the past year
have overbslanoed the good received.
This proposition admitted. Il follows
logically that Q proclamation requesting
the whole people to Offer up
thanks to God upon this day
10 an insult 70 . large minority
and 10 trifing with their feelings. But
a. 1. IL generally admitted that good and
evil, blessings and the Withholding Of
blessings. proceed from the same source.
IL would seem that the appointing
powers in order to DO oonsisteut and to
dispense equal and exact justice to all.
should, alter appointing . day OF thanks.
giving for the fortunate majority. also
appoint for those whose harvests have
been destroyed BY erasshoppers, whose
barns have been struck By lightning.
whose vessels have been lost at sea, aud
for sufferers and the afflicted generally.
q day upon which they all csn publicly
free their minds In their wi way, aud
pour forth their psut.up feelings 10 the
manner that would naturally suggest
itself to unfortunate and miserable men.
Another question which naturally sug.
Rests itself here Ii this: II It the duty
OF prosperous persons 70 Offer up thanks
to God for food and raiment obtained,
for good harv.sts and fortunate invest.
msntsf Man came into existence with.
out any choice Of his own, hs had o
voice 10 the matter. his entrance and bis
exit are matters about which he 10 not
consulted. II an almighty power sees
1t to bring man into the world. are there
no responsibilities which attach to the
act from which this power cannot 60.
ospe2 Il not man entitled by his birth.
right to all the good things which the
earth produces II be acquires them hon.
estly2 Do We not BY human laws i'm.
pose upon parents the responsibility Of
feeding. clothing aud educating their
oY.pripsf And do We not punish parents
Tor neglect Of these dutiesi Viewed
from this standpoint 10 IL not the duty
Of an all.wiss and almighty power to
provide for feeble man, whose choice 10
the management Of winds and rains,
heat and cold, day and night, 10 not
oonsulted2 And II II 10 the duty Of the
Almighty to provide for man. and II man
obtains that which be enjoys BY virtue
Of birthright and by his own industry.
who shall say that IL 10 his duty to offrr
up on Bonded knees and In set phrases
that which 10 too often y hypooriiical
prayer Of praise and Thanksgiving .
Pope, in his universal prayer. says:
"For God 10 paid when man receives.
10 enjoy ID 70 obey"
II there 10 o personal God who con-.
Germs himself with q little adairs Il
would seem that he would have more
respect for Q man who enjoys, a. his
right, all the good things he can honest.
ly obtain aud then goes about his busi.
ness quietly, than He would have for q
whining. csnting and lazy man who 10
continually running to Him With his
petitions, his grievances and his iulsoms
thanks.
The concluding thoughts suggested
by the foregoing remarks are that the
sppoin,msnt Of religious holidays by
the President Of these United States and
by the Governors OF the several States,
ought 10 DO discontinued. The custom
has outlivsd Its appropriateness, even II
It ever was q proper one The practice
10 contrary to the spirit Of oar inssitu.
tons. A Q people We have no national
religion, and are bound to worship NO
mans god. Jews and Gsntiles, Mo.
hammsdans and heathens, inhdsls and
atheists, Catholics and Protestants, In
respect to religion, stand, under our
Federal Constitution, upon equal loot.
ing. and when the President appoints .
religious holiday he tramplss upon the
letter and spirit Of the constitution a.
much in principle a. did Jef. Davis
when hs attempted TO destroy the Fed.
eral Union. Secular holidays are need.
ed by our hard working people. and II
We had more Of them IL would DO better
for ~, but 90 long a. We live under our
present form Of republican government,
aud desire to keep Church and State
separate. religious holidays should have
no existence BY virtue Of law. or BY ap.
pointmsnt OF Executive power.