The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-22


TIE POLITICIANS THANKSGIVING.
other person standing upon West Rock
at sunset, with the shadows falling to-
ward the east, might describe the same
city, so famous for its educational and
classical pursuits, but the average
reader would consider the two state
,ments SO contradictory of each other as
to compel the belief that either one or
both OF the writers had Intentionally
misrepresented the city.
In the home lives of the many readers
OF these Washington letters there is n
belief in the religious observance of the
Thanksgiving day annually proclaimed
by the president, and it is the popular
belief throughout the country that this
day is observed with proper sanctity
and religious fervor in the capital of the
nation. TO such it will be surprising
to be informed that aside from the pur-
chase and preparation of turkeys for
the tables of the entire populacc, from
the president of the republic to the
humblest employee of the government,
there is vast difference between
Thanksgiving day in Washington and in
the towns, villages and hamlets of the
great country. The homc-makers and
the home-keepers Of our people can an
nually set aside one day for Thanksgiv-
ing and prayer, and they do SO. 1t is
well-nigh impossible that such should
be the case in this city, for reasons
which will he apparent to the reader.
On Monday and Tuesday of Thanks
giving week the national republican
committee held its session in the Airing
ton hotel, for the purpose of selecting
city in which the national convention
of that party shall be held next May.
Within another month tho national
committee of the democratic party will
be held in this city for similar pur-
pose; and it is not unlikely that their
meeting will take place during the
Christmas holidays. The meeting
which was held during the first two
days OF Thanksgiving week charged
the atmosphere with politics as the air
is charged with electricity preceding or
during thunder storm. On every
hand our eyes were greeted with the
presence of politicians and our ears bur-
dened with the selfish songs they sang.
One party has already been here start
ing the presidential race for next year;
and the echoes of their deliberations
have scarcely ceased to revcrberate
when the speakership contestants rear
their heads aloft- to shout and cry the
names of their favoritcs in that cam
paign. Thanksgiving day in Washing
ton this year, you will therefore OBJ
serve, has been sandwiched SO closely
between the selfish slabs of politics
that the only thing for which we can
really give thanks is that Thanksgiving
day itself is really past.
It will no doubt be interesting to
those who have never had an opportun-
ity heretofore to see it, to read the first
Thanksgiving proclamation ever issued
In this country.
1t is found in the congressional IL
brary. in the New England Weekly
Journal, of October 81. 1873, and is as
follows:
by his excellcncy. WILLIAM BURNETT
ESQ. Captain General and Governor in chief
I'm and over his Majestys province OF Massa-
chusetts Bay In New England.
"Proclam1tion for General Thanksgiring.
In consideration OF the many updeseryed
blessings which 1t hath pleased Almighty GOD
10 confer on us In the Course OF this year more
especially In Preserving the Sacred Person of
our Sovereign Lord. the. KING, Our most gra-
cious QUEEN, the Royal Issue and the res,
Of the Royal Family, in giving success to his
Ma1esty's Councils, for continuing the Peace OF
EUROPE IN granting us so good a Measure of
Heath, In making our Merchandise and Fish
cry 10 PROSPER, and defending them from tho
Violence OF Mercless Pirates.
II have therefore thought NJ, with tho nd.
vice OF His Mnjesty's Council, and ut the Desire
OF the Representatives. in tho present Session,
10 order and Appoint. that Thursday, tho Sew
enth OF November next. DO solemnly Observed
as Day OF Public THANKSGIVING through.
out this Province and oil Service
Labor Is Forbidden on the said Day"
Given at tho Council Chamber Mt Boston. on
The 18th Day OF October, 7aS In tho Second
gears OF the Reign OF Our Sovereign Lord
GEORGE, the Second by the Grace OF GOD
OF Great Britain, France and Ireland KING,
Defender OF tho Faith. etc.
wv. BURNETT.
Josiah Willard, Seer"
Gov. Burnett had no model nor pre-
cedent In this country, for Thansgiv-
ing proclamation; and under the cir
cnmstances he is deserving OF credit for
remarkable production. lie selected
Thursday as tbe day of the week, aud
November rs the month OF the year.
for thanksgiving. and bis prociana-
xien. tx these particulars. for1aa p-ece-
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