The Worthington advance., 1885-11-26
THANKSGITIN0 DAY.

1HANhSGIPlNO DAf.
Today is the day set apart by procla-
nation Of the president Of the United
States, and also by proclamation If
the Governor Of Minnesota, rs 4 day Of
Thanksgiving throughout this broad
land of ours for the many blessings
youchsafed to us as people. 1t is
proper and right on such day to take
q retrospect over the past year. and
call to mind the numerous blessings
and favors sl'owered upon us, both as a
nation and as individuals. The nation
at large has had u year of peace and
quietude from all the wild alarms
of war, no pestilence has visited Our
shores, although the dreaded cholera
has played havoc in Spain, and the ter
rible smallpox has ravaged Montreal,
and is still doing so, bnt there is good
ground for hope that its further pro-
gress may be stayed; the year has been
one of abundant harvest for the hus-
bandman and q reasonable degree Of
prosperity has been the lot Of all.
The people Of the northwest, and of
Minnesota and MOBILES county especial
ly, have abundant reason to be thank
full. The labors of the farmer have
been crowned with an overflowing har-
vest, and the promise of the coming
year is exceedingly bright indeed. The
mechanic has found remunerative en-
ployment, and the merchant has en-
joyed 4 good trade. The outlook for
the future in the way of improvements
in the village and country are good,
and another year is almost certain to
see i considerable increase in our pop
ulation.
Thanksgiving day is essentially an
American institution. Christmas.
New Year, Easter and the other
church holidays have been imported to
this country from Europe. But today
the great new world ceases from its al
most ceaseless toll aud worry, and
gives thanks to the Creator of all
things, celebrating his bounty with All
office and ceremony that none reject.
The Catholic church in America. rec
ognizing the place this religious event
holds in the republic, has aligned itself
with this institution. The president
has for the last twenty-five years, in
official proclamation, designated and
set apart this particular day for public
thanksgiving and prayer, and for re-
union of families. Not only does he
invoke obedience to his wishes, but
resorting to the imperative mode oil
our language, he says, under the great
seal of the United States Of America
''let these things be done by all the
people of the land.' The festival
! dates from the year 1873, and was de.
signed to srpplant Christmas; but
while it has become i memorable and
national institution. it has not inter.
fercd with the celebration Of Christ
mas to amy appreciabIe extent. Indeed
the tw" holidays have come down tt
us from the past side 10y side, and nov
are considered the happ;est and most
gladstone days Of all the year. IN 1S6
| and 1868, when the nation was pvacti
cally as,lnder, it WAS demanded o.
| President Lincoln that lie should sum
mon his people to thanksgiving after
Victory Or to supplicetion after defeat
This he did. The fashion became til,
habit Of the land and every president
since 1868 has, Oh the fourth Thursday
of November, commanded the peopl,
to gather in public places and return
thanks to heaven for its bounties. TIN
spectacle, viewed from the standpoint
"f the pure pnblcist, is at least /. pc
culiar one. AS body the people Cal,
not be said to obey the order Of til,
president to gather in the churches
But that God is good, which is th'
moral Of the day, they nevertheless
aver in a manner that permits no cavil
They respect this holiday us no othe
is respected. They gather in families
aud nowhere on earth are longer jour
neys undertaken than are made b,
such portions Of our people as NIGH
without such Journeys remain ava,
from the central roof-tree of thei
tribe. Thus let it be. We have ,
great national celebration which i!
without t)msoolery and fatigue.
Geo. N. Baxter, of Faribault, ha.