The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-26

day that the different states decided upon for
themselves without presidential recommends
ton.
There has been some controversy over the real
origin OF a Thanksgiving day in America 1t
seems, however, that the first one was in New
England. established not by Puritans, but by
men OF the Church of England. In 1907 at None
gan, near the Kennebeck, a thanksgiving was
celebrated and Chaplain Seymour preached
sermon, giving God thanks for our happy meet
ings and safe arrival into the country"
The colonial Thanksgiving days were either
ordered by the British government for British
events, or else were purely local in the observ-
ance. The national Thanksgiving late in the
fali probably had its origin in New York, as i'm
nediately after the Revolution It became there
more regular celebration than Ii had ever been
before, and II took place in the autumn. Cover
nor John Jay In 1874 appointed November IL for
the purpose, but his recommendation was re-
cefved with much criticism by his opponents,
VINO regarded 1t as savoring of an interference
OF the state with the church Afteryard the
mayors OF New York were accustomed to issue
PRESENTATIONS setting apart a certain day each
year, the first one being December l6, 1899 Not
until alter the beginning OF this century and
during Governor Ciinton's time, there real
regularity In the observance, and he like JAY
got into trouble because of it IL appears
that the day he selected clashed with
the local custom on Long Island, where
Tor some time back there had been a
Thanksgiving eacn year on the Thursday fol-
lowing the day when the cattle had been driven
to the several houses Of their owners from the
common pasturage at Montauk point There
was contest between the adherents of the To-
cal custom and the adherents of the governor,
ana this struggle may have been tho original
cause OF presidential proclamations, although
they were special, and only followed one an
other at irregular intervals, with years between.
he rat Il
ton came from George Washington in 1889, and
set apart Thursday, November &c, as the day for
giving thanks. 1t asserted that it was the duty
OF all nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God and obey His will and be CRATE
ful for His benefits, and that therefore it was
proper to thank Him for His kind care dur
ing the Revolutionary war and for the rational
manner in which, under His guidance, the con
stitution had been formed.
No further national proclamation was issued
until 1875, when Washington recommended Feb
ruary 10 as day for general Thanksgiving
"When we review the calamities which affiict so
many other nations" he said, "the present con-
dition OF the United States affords much matter
OF consolation and satisfaction" Three years
later, when John Adams was president, and
when war with France seemed imminent
very different proclamation appeared. In view
OF "the unfriendly disposition, conduct and de-
inands OF foreign power, evinced by repea red
ton and peace" therefore a day was set apart
for feasting, humiliation and prayer Nor was
this the Inst day which the people of the
United States were called upon to cele-
brate in this humble way, as Madison
issued similar proclamation in 1914,
because of the war with Great Britain, then in
progress. The following year, however, he
called upon all the people to rejoice on the Sec
ond Tuesday in April. saddest of all the proc
lamstions recommending national humiliation
and suppication was the one issued by Presi-
dent Lincoln. On August II, 1861, at the recon-
/ mendation OF congress, he proclaimed in noble
language:
Our own beloved country, once by the bless
ing OF God united, prosperous and happy, is now
afflicted with faction and civil war. 1t is
| peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of
God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful
remembrance OF our own faults and crimes a
nation and as individuals to humble ourselves
before Him and to pray for His mercy-to pray
! that we may be spared further punishment,
| though most Justly deserved; that our arms may
| lishment of law, order and peace throughout
| the wide extent of country; and that the
| inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty
earned under His guidance and blessing by the
| iabors and sufferings OF our fathers, may be
| restored in all its original excellence.
| On April 10. 1862, he asked for national
| Thanksgiving because of the "signal victories to
| the land and naval forces engaged in suppress
| ing an internal rebellion" In this year began
| the regular custom of an annual thanksgiving.
| For some reason or other the South never ac-
cepted the custom until il was in measure
forced upon it, In 1858, at a time when ii had
| long since become general a. the North, although
| not yet a matter of presidential recommends
ton, eight southern governors followed the pre-