The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1886-11-25
!4a4sksnf9iaaZ EVA 4,
ion

~
1t was either happy thought OF, a
fortuitous coincidence,-the desjgna-
ton by :th.s, President Of the United
States, of to-day as one Of thanksgiy-:
n, for blessings had and received ,
for one hundred md three years ago
to-day the last vestige Of British gov
ernmept,bn American soil, disappear,
ed with the last. of the red-coats az
they embarked from the Battery ID
the haxhor, Of Nsw York. -:
The time was:when this occasion of
rejoicing and: thanksgiving by the
American people was celebrated with
great fervor and we can remember
when Evacuation day was looked
forward to with gleefll anticipation,
commemorate. in 1.-The following
rhythmic lines lis -!
On Evacuation day,
The British ran away,
Please Mr.. s~cheolmaster,
70 give US holiday.
But the ecollectiou of that event
as of many Others that signalized the
early struggles of the American col.
onies, is quickly being permitted to
pass into oblivion, unless it was the
intention Of President Cleveland to
revive it by making tia conjoint
anniversary of the safety, and
deliverance of those honest, freedom
loving pilgrims, who for the sake Of
religious liberty, hraved the perils of
the deep and in the bleak mouth of
November 1920 landed op the barren
and inhospitable coast Of Massachu-
sets and were safely moored in the
harbor Of Cape Cod,
This event so pregnant with good
to mankind, is the n we celebrate
to-day with Thanksgiving and praise,
for there vas in it the germ which
has fructitied and given to the people
Of America the priceless gift Of popu-
lar constitutional liberty: AS the
eminent historian, George Bancroft
eloquently putsit;-it was in the cabin
of the Mayaower where htdmanity re.
covered its rights, and instituted gov
erpnent'on the basis of equal laws"
for the general good"
The document which the little
colony Of one hundred, Of whom forty.
one WERE men, gave to posterity,
deserves recognition and tor'the ediii-
cation Of the readers of the P1oNEER,
is here produced as follows.
In the name Of God, amen we, whose
names are underwrittsn, the loyal subjects
Of our dear sovereign King James, having
undertaken for the glory of God, and I'D
vancemept of the Christian faith, and honor
Of our king and country, a voyage to plant
tho first colony in the northern parts Of
Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly
and mutually, in the PRESENCE Of God, and
one Of another, covenant and combine our
selves together, into q civil body polite, for
our better ordering and preservation, and
furtherance of the ends aforesaid !: and by
virtue hereof, to enact, constitute and
frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances.
acts, constitutions and offices from time to
time, as shall be thought most convenient
FOR the general good Of the colony. Unto
which We promise all due submission, and
obedience.
In the memory Of those eventful
days, heroic deeds and brave men we
also reproduce the soul stirring words
Of the sweet english poetess, Mrs.
Felicia Hemans
LANDING OF THE PILGRIM
FATHERS.
The breaking waves dashed high
On u stern and rock-bound coast,
And the woods against a stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed.
And the heavy night hung dark
Tho hills aud waters DER,
"a
When o band of exiles moorel their bark