The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-25

THANKSGIVING.
To-day has been designated by the Presi-
dent and the Governors of the States rs one
to be devoted TO thanksgiving TO God for
the prosperity and blessings that we as in
diyiduals, MS communities and as Nation
have enjoyed.
II is very fitting that day should be so
designated, and that il be mainly employed
in a retrospect OF the good that has come to
us in the year now waning to its close, and
in contemplation Of how much we have real
reason 10 he grateful for If this is gone
about in the right spirit, il will profit us
much 10 take a day from our usual voca-
tons and appropriate it to this purpose.
We viii find 50 many substantial reasons
for being grateful, SO many things COM
bining TO make our lives fruitful Of good TO
others aud satisfactory 10 ourselves, that we
wiz grid up our loins anew for the duties
that lie before us, and go forward with our
life work with fresh resolution and higher
purpose.
TO no one does the occasion speak with
such elOquenoe as TO the ex-soldiers and
sailors Of the Nation. They know as no one
else does the desperate extremity Of the
country's need at one time, and how near it
drifted TO the abyss of destruction. They
know this, for they know by actual, personal
knowledge how many countless hecatombs
Of heroic men had TO be sacrificed TO the in
suitable nav of rebellion before the country
could he rescued from its peril. They recall
all the fears and agonizing disappointments
Of those years-the dark days when it
seemed that nothing but a miracle could
save the country from destruction. They
recall the weary, fruitless marches, the dis
couraging retreats, the wasting of precious
Young lives in the hospital, the camp, on
the sllirmish and picket-lines; the frightful
and useless losses at Fredericksburg, Chan
cellorsville, Chiclasaw Bayou, Kenesaw,
Cold Harbor and in the Southern prison
pens; the gloom that settled upon the coun-
try after the failures Of Burnside and Hooker
and of the first attacks upon Vicksburg.
They recall all this, and contrasting ii with
the bright sunshine Of prosperity of day,
Lift up their hearts in a thanksgiving that
is deeper and more intense than can be any
from those who did not pass through that
valley and shadow of death.
All Of us were stimulated TO highest
efforts on the march and in battle-in all the
trying positions in which soldier was
placed-by bright anticipations of what our
victory would win for the country, but the
reality has outstript the hopes of the most
sanguine. None could have conceived OF
such prosperity as has descended upon the
Nation in direct consequence Of the triumph
that cost the lives Of 100000 Of our COM
rades, and manning and lifelong misery to
fully as many more.
Such a country as we had IS years ago was
well worth fighting and dying for, Such .
one as we have to-day is vastly more so
Dear as was the price paid for its prosperity
and greatness, it is worth every life, and
every sacrifice that IL cost.
Let us, therefore, be thankful to-day thai
we are the freest, happiest, richest, mos
prosperous people on whom the sun shines
that Plenty smiles from every furrowed field
and green meadow over which the Flal
waves; that from ocean to ocean the wheel
Of busy factories hum the glad song Of Con
tent; that war, pestilence and famine ayoiC
our shores; that there is work, food and raj
ment for every man who dwells within on
borders, and for his wife and children, an,
while we lift our souls in thanks for thes
our hearts may swell with pride that on
services and our sacrifices, our unninchin
endurance to the end. made all these thing
possible.