Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-27
Causes for Thanksgiving.

How many OF us, even IN new Lug
land. know the origin OF our Thanks
giving. and realize that we are the only
people on earth who celebrate such n
holiday q? Will not a few be somewhat
shocked on brushing up their history to
find that our blessed, joyous Christmas
was especially hateful to the Pilgrim
Fathers, who thought to kill the heathen-
ish old custom by substituting Thanks
giving in November? In May, 1859, the
General Court passed the following en-
actment:
Whosoever shall be found observing
any such day as Christmas or the like.
either by forbearing Of labor, feastlng,
or any other way > shall be sub
iected to fine of five shillings.
The same enactment forbade "unlaw-
full games, as cards, dice, &c"
So. dear readers, you see that our
day of supposed humiliation, fasting,
and prayer grew ont of miserable blgo-
try, out of a Puritanical frenzy to get
ahead of Christmas and obliterate it by
an eclipse. What harm has such un-
christian fansticism done to the sweet
est day in all the year? | call it sweet
est because even the hardest hearts
soften momentarily in the presence OF
q glorious fact-the birth of Christ
who taught love of ones neighbor.
Christmas could not be abolished by
the enactment OF Puritan court. 1t re-
mains TO be seen whether q malice-born
Thanksgiving will survive many more
generations. Its character has long since
changed from fasting to feasting. Saving
morning devoted to sermons, our
Thanksgiving means indigestion unre-
lieved by Christmas presents.
Ignoring the unloyely origin OF this
weeks holiday, what have we to be
thankful for ? Much.
Recent elections prove that our Gov
eminent, with all its faults-and they
are legion-is government OF the peo-
pie for the people. Setting parties
aside. remembering that patriotism is
not dead, the people have cast their
ballots against tariff act as unwlse as 1t
is unjust. They have cast their ballots
against a force bill the only result OF
which would be to make sectionallsm
more alive than it has been for years.
They have cast their ballots against a
prohibitory system which is not only an
injury to morality but an insult to intel
ligence. For oil these chickering's OF
conscience this nation ought to be
supremacy thankful
What more?
The awful crisis through which the
commercial world is passing makes us
thankful that the brotherhood OF
man 4" is more than phrase. A great
banking house, believed to be impreg'
nable, the Barings, had faith in one OF
our sister republics, and when IN conse'
auence ruin threatened them, the Bank
of England came to their rescue, while
the Bank OF France extended helping
hand to the Bank Of England Go back
to the days of William the Conqueror,
OF Joan OF Arc, and then ask whether the
change is not for the better. How can one
nation take up arms against another after
sharing the same loaf of bread? Call II
enlightened selfishness if you will, but
it is such selfsbness which makes
honesty the best policy. The world to
day is SO closely united that the failure
of bank at the Cape OF Good Hope
means the depression Of securities on the
New York Stock Exchange. The foistine
OF wildcat schemes on London CAPT
talists means dstrust OF the best o.
American enterprises and the despair
OF thousands of innocent investors.
The brotherhood of man in France
England. and the United States relieves
the pressing necessity OF individuals,
and humanity is saved, let US hope
from the worst financial panic eyel
known in this or any other generation.
For such salvation man, woman, ant
child must be thankful. II the lessor
learned is that wrong done in one cor
ner OF the earth avenges itself on all hu
msnity, may not higher standard o
commercial honor be adopted?
Would not such consdmmation de
serve pens Of Joy
Let us have faith that such goo'
time is coming and be thankful.