River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-27
meeting.
Thanksgiving.

The Thanksgiving season has again
reached us, but its approach has
hardly been noticed in the varied
changes which have marked this year.
The excitement of an unusually holly
contested election. the long delay be-
fore the final count was reached and
the slow settling back of the minds OF
the people to the ordinary business of
life has all tended to make this
Thanksgiving less marked than usual.
Yet 1t should never be permitted to
pass without a proper observance.
More than any other day, except pos
sibly the Fourth of July, ithas become
a national holiday. Originally it was
local in its character, being confined
to the New England states, but the
dark DAYS of war with their absorbing
power upon the nation at large, has
caused change in that regard.
President Lincoln was the first Presi-
dent to make it national. Before his
grand proclamation, asking the nation
to unite in Thanksgiving, the only
announcements came from the govern
ors of the several states. Since, how
ever, he requested a general thank.
vember, that day has been invariably
selected as the proper time for the OBJ
servance of the peculiar rites which
marked its inception on the day that
feasting succeeded the season OF fast
ing which had been appointed by IL o
pious governor of Massachusetts te-
cause of the scarcity of provisions,
fortunately however averted by the
arrival of shipload of supplies from
England. Primarily the day was one
of religious services it is true, but
the enjoyment of the good things OF
life has ever been marked feature
of the day. In this respect this gen.
Grafton is not whit behind its ances-
tors. but it may be well doubted
whether the more religious aspect of
the day has been fully preserved.
Yet no one can feel the influence OF a
day so long devoted to this idea with
out at least giving some recognition
to the fact that great things are done
for us and each year brings new eau
ses of thankfulness both to indivtdu.
ais and the nation. We can with
Measure contemplate the fact that our
nation has passed through another OF
those exciting seasons which nave
been looked upon as our chief scarce
of danger by foreign statesmen with
out great disturbance, and that after
the heat of the battle all is now quiet
and the nation resumes its wanted
course. Bountiful crops have reward
ell the labors of the husbandman, and
while trade has been duller than usu-
al our business men have with more
than ordinary foresight prepared for
depression, and commercial disaster
has been for the most part averted.
The nation is at peace without even
cloud of war above the horizon. Ey-
en- the Indians are quiet and no
trouble apprehended; and what is bet
ter still they are gladly receiving the
rudiments of education and tending
rapidly toward civilization. Trouble
ut the south has been growing less and
we hope that the colored resident may
as he advances in education receive
the proper recognition Of his rights as
4 citizen. The benev0lence of north
ern Christians is supplying a want
which should be the duty OF the gov
eminent to provide for, and are send
ing annually million Of dollars to
educate the negro. All these things
are causes for thankfulness, and we
should not permit the season TO pass
unnoticed.