The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-14
As to Thanksgiving Proclamations.

As to Thanksgiving
The Republican newspapers of this
State are finding fault with Governor
Albeit, and also with Governor Hill,
for issuing their Thanksgiving procla-
nations in advance of His Imperial
Highness, Benjamin /.
But custom, from a time that will
soon become memorial, has made the
last Thursday in November Thanks
giving Day. We have not noticed
the date on which Governor Hnl's
proclamation was issued, but
Governor Abbett's proclamation
bears date November II, which
is barely two weeks notice of a
somewhat important event. Ger
tainly the people of New Jersey are
entitled to that much consideration.
Neither President nor Governor has
any right to spring a Thanksgiving
trap upon his constituents at a mo-
ment's notice. Governor Albeit GER
tainly waited as long as Difference to
the Chief Executive required-longer
than he should have done in Difference
to his own immediate constituents. 1t
has been customary to issue Thanks
giving proclamations at least a month
before the day set, but it is possible
that Mr.. Harrison didn't think be had
much to be thankful for this year, and
so was in no hurry about it. Perhaps
he wasted valuable time in consulting
Platt and Fassetr, or it may be he
waited to ascertain if the Philadel-
phia prophet couldn't induce Quay
to dream another and different dream.
But whatever the cause he delayed
beyond all reason, and gave COVER
nor of commonwealths good reason
for indedendent action.
And this brings us to another phase
of the question. Why should not
governors act Independently of the
President in this matter of setting
apart a day for Thanksgiving. 1t is
easily within the memory of very
young men when the governors of
states invariably discharged this iunc-
ton, each for himself and for his
state, without reference to the Presi-
dent, who took no part in the bust
ness. Mr.. Lincoln was the first Presi-
dent to issue a national proclamation.
and the innovation has hardly had
time to chrystalize into set custom or
common law. Still, the people of this
country are too glad of a holiday to
quarrel about who shall giveitt to them,
consequently when President Lincoln
broke in on the gubernatorial us
tom-for it was custom in that case
There was no objection on the score
of Capitalization or violation of the
dogma of States Rights.
There was, however, a consensus of
opinion among the boys of the period
that governors should assert their
power, and appoint a Thanksgiving
Day of their own. But this was
looked upon as an effort to get two
holidays where one would do, and
as The boys couldn't vote no eHo
was made to conciliate them.
One argument used against it was
that if the President made n
holiday, the Governor of New Jer-
sey another and the Governor of
New York a third, the boys who
lived in New Jersey and worked in
New York would get three holidays
instead of one-a clear waste of tim Q
and encouragement to idleness and
gluttony.
Thus it was that the custom of set
ting Thanksgiving Day was allowed
to pass into the hands of the President
without protest, but there is no more
reason why the President solely
should exercise the privilege now
than there was "befoh the wah."