Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-03
Thanksgiving g----Our Country.

preston Ol nation = gid,ltndc-dll III
impulse that springs from general
content; and 1t is the good fortune
cf our country that it has never
wanted occasions of grateful re-
ioiclng. It's whole history has been
a successful progress. The found
inc of the Constitution i'm l1o9
gave it al once an meqnalled I'M
pulse. Within twenty years New
York became "A great commercial
metropolis, and the thin line OF
settlements that had formed the
colonial confederation began to
press swiftly over wilderness to the
Mississippi. 1t was the laboring
classes and the wOrking-men that
first found their true home under
the flag Of freedom. Jefferson and
Franklin were never weary OF con-
trasting the happy condition Of the
industrious in their own country
with the suffering, toil-worn peas
ants of France and England.
With wonderful strides the coun.
try, under its new Constitution.
moved onward in its ceaselcss i'm
provement. From 1900 10 1870 it
was always the most fortunate Of
nations. 4 war ravaged its coasts
and decimatcd It's people: it sprang
up again into new life. Its eX-
ample gave hope to the laboring
classes Of Europe the tide Of eml-
grafton began that has since risen
to proportions greater than was
ever known among men. The
wilderness began to disappear, the
great States of the centre were
founded, Ohio and Illinois invited
the immigrant, aId Missouri claim
ed a place among tine congcrles of
States. Again danger hung over
the people, and the question of
slavery threatened rs with destruc-
ton. But knowledge and good
sense triumphcd. Slavery was
limited by the Missouri Compro-
mise. and at once free labor began
to pour into the fair lands conse-
Grated to industry and human
equality. From 1870 to lNlo
the Free States Of the North were
teeming with life and energy: the
happiness Of millions seemed as
sured.
Soon the question Of slavery as
sumed new dangers. and abe iate
of labor in Europe and America
hung Oh it's solution. it was the
cause Of labor against the tyrants
in every land. and human slavery
and human dcspotism were TO live
or die together. They met their
fair foe i'm a dreadful contest But
the victory Of freedom determined
the worlds destiny. Once more
thanksgivinss went up from hope
ful hearts, and the men OF labor
everywerc began 20 move over the
peaceful West. From l,Gj the
tide of immigration sweep over The
Mississippi to the Pacific. Great
States and Territories sprane up,
more powerful than European
kingdoms. Nebraska and Kansas
led the way. Countless happy
homes covered the lleetng solitude.
The happy children of Europe
found hope and plenty n tine new
ly ransomed lands.
1t is for this that We give thanks,
that our country is sull, az IN the
time of Jefferson and Franklin, the
most fortunate Of nations - the
home Of honest labor. L. is the
most fortunate land the sun ever
ShOne upon. Sad history can only
point to the suffering millions OF
the past-to the serls OF the
Middle Ages or the slavery Of early
Persia, Greece, or Rome. If is
quite certain that the great ma
ioritv of our people live in
plenty and have sufficient employ
ment and above all it is certain
that the minds Of our people are
everywhere cultivated, and taught
in the common schools the leading
elements of knowledge. What the
ancient republics ever wanted and
Derished i'm their need. what Europe
has painfully labOrcd for with little
success, we have found in the
general intelligence spread by the
public schools. Against thi' bul
wark slavery dashed itselfto pieces;
against tins safeguard Of industry
property, and good order anarchy
RACES in vain.
We have laid the foundations Of
our government and national pros
perity in knowledgc; we are still
IN the infancy OF progress we
have still TO provide good govern
ment for our cities, and cultivate
our landawith successful skill ; W.
are to provide for the welfare o
those who labor, and see that nj
the industrious are cared for an(
protected we are TO spread uni
versal equality in promoting the
1 general ease.
II is this happy prospect tha
lies before Us. We may employ
our leisure in deylsluga - thousanC
schemes for promoting the welfare
of every citizen. We may give Il
the world an example Of peaceful
progress that shall win ITS tendcres
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