The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-12-05

none the less quiet. Ever since the death
of Garfield popular interest in politics has
waned, none having desire to go back to
the old issues, and the present presenting
none of sufficient power to raise strong agi-
tation.
The reform of the civil service has gone
into practical operation during the past
year, and henceforth we shall expect that
President and Congressman will attend to
executive and congressional business. A
singular evidence of our prosperity has
come to light in the surplus revenue gath
cred from the people. The puzzling ques-
tion with statesmen is, What shall be done
with its Interest and principal of the
national debt Is met as fast as due; officials
are paid; and still there is something Left
Kentucky cries out, Take the taxes off of
tobacco and whiskey. Pennsylvania pro
poses that the surplus be divided between
the States. Free-traders say, Reduce or
abolish the tariff for protection. But the
mass stand still, not knowing what TO pro-
pose. The investigations of the relations
between labor and capital undertaken
mark q movement in the right direction,
though il is not so much what has been
done as that something has been under
taken which makes the effort encouraging.
There is work ahead for the Government.
The Mormon evil still exists, and all legis-
lation so far has done little towards solving
the question. The temperance movement
has to be reckoned with by political parties
before the future of either can be counted
on. But upon the whole, so far as the Gov
ernment is concerned, we are in prosper
Gus, happy condition.
The health of the nation has been excel
lent. The yellow fever, smallpox and
cholera with which we were distinctly
threatened during the year were controlled
or entirely warded off. The nation's staff
of bread has not been broken. The hard
freezing of last winter threatened the
wheat; the backward, cool, wet spring
made planting of corn and oats difficult
and their crops unpromising; the too early
frosts hurt early wheat and belated corn
but for all these drawbacks there is avon
derfll abundance. OF nothing do Ameri-
cans boast more than the reliability Of our
crops. Mercantile operations have escaped
serious injury. Perhaps several times the
national vice of stock gambling has brought
US near the verge of a panic, but we have
been happily prevented from going over
the precipice So that, taken altogether,
we are happy, prosperous people-a SIM
pie proposition no one would feel like
denying.
Second-A feeling of thanksgiving is in
separable from the enjoyment Of plenty.
We did not get what we have by our own
unaided power. No matter how egotistic
person may be, he knows better than to
claim the entire credit for his success. For
example, all the business men in the coun-
try, though they strive against it with
might and main, cannot prevent business
getting dull at times, whereby they lose
millions they otherwise would have made
showing they do not control business in
any large measure. A Chicago lard-mer
chant and Liverpool woolmerchant un
dertook to control their departments oI
trade, but both collapsed-were broker
like straws on the great wheel of business
Instead of saying, By my power in pursuit
OF business wrested from the world wha'
have, it would be truer to say, Business
on condition Of my diligent pursuit thereof
gave me what have. Men do not drive
business, il drives them. 1t is vast series
and congeries Of mental, physical, socia
facts, whose nature is to give to every mar
joining in with it according TO what h
adds to 1t in intelligence, industry, capital
etc. Farmers are known as an independ
ent class of men, but there is no class NOR
: dependent on natural conditions. Rain
: sunshine, ETC., are not under their power
and the principal credit of their success
therefore not due TO themselves. Now
when our success is due to some powe
outside of US, for the major portion, yet w
enjoy the results thereof as though we di'
it all, we feel thankful to that great Some
what which so kindly gave us thes
: things.
Q. To whom shall we be thankful
: First. the very nature of gratitude sends u
> back to personal cause. 1t is expressed b
a relative term, and its very existanc
I argues to a correspondent, and this canno
Z be an inanimate, irrational, impersona
. being. A person, like the prophet, woul
: feel inexpressible relief in "the shadow {
a great rock in a weary land" but his grs
titude would not be directed towards tn
rock, as there could be no merit in it. w
do not permit ourselves, like heather,
n bestow our gratitude upon the heavenl
a bodies, the sunshine, rain, or upon the vas
, system of business by which we profit. w
, must go back-are compelled in thought
go back-to personal cause. Whom sha
we thank? 40 give thanks unto the LorC
! for he is good; for his mercy enduret
forever"
Second-That mans physical plenty
due partly to Gods providence, partly
his own wisdom and diligence, vindicate
both the providence of God and the fire,
dom Of man. God has ordered and estal
, lished things as they are, man uses then
and thus benefits and blesses himsel
Natural laws are Gods DEGREES, henC
p there is no wonder they admit Of no ipcol
sistencies. What God determines shall
= upon the earth is decided upon Ito spea
. after the manner of men) long before it
committed to the great machinery
= Nature to be produced. That it comes
= . pass in natural ways is not opposed to i
- being due to Divine appointment. Re
son and the Word of God proclaim hi
= the God OF providence. But also here
full scope for the power of man in usir
- what God has established for his benef