The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-26
rug e,Rp is FROM THE SOUTH.
....a.,< AYthur's Poetic Proclamation
-L,nceln's Call TO the Nation
Glorious Day.

~to finds Its sorrowfuI
impression toward the God before whom we put
lately bowed In grief and supplication, yer the
countless benefits which have showered upon
M during the past twelvemontn can ior our
,srvent gratitude. and make it fitting that We
ssa,ld ,eioice With thankfulness that the Lord,
IN His infinite mercy, has most sgnally favored
nuy country and our people, and II In
our vast domain sore affection has visited
~, brethren in their forest homes, yet even the
calamity has been tempered and IN manner
s.uet;fed by the generous compassion Tor the
.uNsrerx which has been called forth through
out the land"
so runs the Thanksgiving proclamation which
prssident Arthur issued In the autumn OF 1851.
chen the country was still lamentlng over Cen
eral Gsrfeld's death, and when terrible forrest
s,es in Michigan had made many people home
- OF all the proclamations since the begin
nins OF the government this is the most poetic
nd touching. II was Mr. Arthur's only at
teupt at an unusual style in a state paper His
subeouent Thanksgiving proclamations were
thoroughly conventional in form and matter.
Here is a well-expressed proclamation from
President Hayes in 1880:
Health, wealth and prosperity throughout all
our borders; peace, honor aud friendship with
ali the world; Arm and faithful adherence by
the great body OF our population to the prin-
cples Of liberty and justice which have made
our greatness a nation, and 10 the wise instl-
tutions and strong frame OF government ana So
ciety which will perpetuate II; for eli these let
the thanks OF a happy aud united people, as
with one voice, ascend in deyout homage TO the
Giver OF all good.
Nevertheless, President Hayes usually wrote
proclamations OF the stereotyped order, and
they were not notable He was especially fond
of putting in plea In behalf of charity. Nor
were Mr. Clevelands invitations to the people
to give thanks out OF the ordinary way. The
one before his last was worthy of note because
OF the earnestness of his tone and because OF
the length OF one of the sentences: otherwise.
It was conventional
What may be considered the conventional
Thanksgiving proclamation starts out with ON
slusion to the observance of the day being a
anshonored custom, sets forth the abundance
Of the crops, speaks OF the gratifying output
from the mines, and SAYS a word about the pros
parity Of the tolers In the workshops Because
OF 81 these blessings the good people are in
vitsd TO give thanks, and the president may,
and generally does, suggest almsgiving for the
benefit OF the poor and needy. The capitalist,
and the qualification he may be supposed to feel,
because OF the size OF his percentages, and the
ehagrin that defeated politicians are the victims
Of, are not alluded TO. They are left to take
care OF themselves. and are not to be prayed for
or given thanks for.
This "time-honored custom was, notwith-
Standing, not a national institution until 1862,
and Andrew Johnson. as late as 1867, began his
PROCLAMATION: "In conformity with a recent
custom that may now be regarded as established
on national consent and approval" ETC. Pre-
Nlous TO 1862 the observance OF the day under
national auspices had been only occasional. A
certain day each year was, generally speaking,
get apart as a day for giving thanks, but It was a