The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-12-05
TO BE THANKFUL.

III is well Tor people and a nation
at least once in every three hundred
and sixty-five days to have time for
retrospect, for careful introspection of
its past. The first of each January
may be proper time for the mer-
chant and business man to cast up
his accounts, strike balance from
his books; but that is a season which,
following upon the heels of the years
greatest holiday occasion, affords the
general public and the individual but
little opportunity for quiet and sober
reflection; and so it is another day
for review and resolve has been by us
as nation appropriately chosen. And
has not such day been most aptly des-
ignated Thanksgiving Day? With
peculiar fitness has such name always
been adapted to our condition as a
nation and people, save for the four
dreary, blood-stained years of our
civil war. And has there, in the CEN
fury and more of our history, ever
been greater cause for sincere and I'M
alleged rejoicing than on account of
the year that with today expires?
Barring the terrible Johnstown catas-
trophe, the nation has not been
shocked by the occurrence of any of
those overwhelming events that carry
in their sweep CONSERVATION, despair
and doubt. The south has been to-
tally free from the dread plaques that
in times past have visited her fair
homes with unutterable desolation.
AS nation, but particularly as a
southern people, have we been in bust
ness most successful, in material
growth most hatteringly progressive.
The seasons throughout the circuit of
our compass have been most
propitious, and in every state have
bountiful harvests rewarded the toll
of the husbandman. Manufactures
in every direction have reached out
towards the raw material, and in
Winning these wealth producing
means has the south been very sue
cessful. Everywhere capital has
been confident, labor contented.
An educational and social review
will prove equally as satisfactory. The
moral tone of the Union is being
yearly 1elevated and illiteracy and
vice are everywhere giving place be-
fore the advance of education and re-
fining influences.
Politically there is also cause for
graduation. The stars on our proud
national banner have grown from 80 to
AZ, and 364, 1850 square miles OF territory
have passed under state control.
This shows splendid growth in
the northwest, whence the new ter
ritories have come to swear allegiance
to the Union. And from a southern
standpoint we must be pardoned for
referring to recent cause for Demo
cratic rejoicing-the victories of that
party in Ohio, Virginia and Iowa.
But even here Republicans can take
some comfort for Thanksgiving day
in the consoling reflection that sit was
an off year in politics"
But other than national, state, COM
mercial and business affairs, each life
has its own joys and sorrows-its own
fruitions of hope,its own dependency
Of failure. All these find fellowship
and comfort in companionship with
citizenship burdened with common
though a varied woe, lightened by as
varied joys all flowing from one foun-
tain spring of happiness. How natu-
raj, then, and how meet that as
Christian nation and Il brotherhood of
people on some fixed day our sixty
million of souls should, around COM
mon altar OF thankiulness reared for
the adulation of kind and directing
Providence, we prove our gratitude for
the blessings past, thus proclaiming
we were not unworthy of them. For
such purpose was Thanksgiving day
set apart, and the nation pauses in its
work and rests while such purpose may
be conserved.
WHAT OF PRESIDENT HARRIsON'S
MESSAGE?