Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-03

1
| full corner and finds IN my speech no
word Of thanks for him-ior with regard
| to these things he has no occasion for
ihanks,-hnds perhaps that before his
| God he Is represented only by a dis
! cordant note which, amidst the haf.
monies Of Thanksgiving, hurhedly rs a
memory best to be passed over, men
| tons his misery with hollow petition
for the Divine mercy and then inirides
| him upou the notice Of human charity
| which, howsocvcr loving aud genial,
/ must 10 him be most ungrateiully
| paiiugY BE thankful ior what you have,
/ and for what you have attained. THIS
/ IS your private concern. AT times Il IS
/ an appropriate theme, likewise for re-
/ ligious xpfcasion-howcvcr not ON an
American thanksgiving. as long as there
/ is one worthy American who Is sick, VINO
| s,arves, who Is ignorant Charity can
/ not be urged too often, and too would
/ press you 10 il on every excuse OF IN
occasion. Comfort the sick, feed the
hungry, cloihe the naked, make work for
the unemployed, bring light and knowl.
/ edge 70 the uneducated. Open the
fountains OF your hearts into generous
/ streams Of kindness and lot your gifts be
as lavish as your sympathies. Let your
thanks 10 God be evidenced by the
sacrifices you bring IN the spirit OF HIS
/ command. But while charity may cvl-
dcncc, 1t does not yet ariieulaIe grau'
udc.
To be thankful that we are good men
and women. that we have blisslul
moral consciousness, may lkewisc give
rise To- inyidious comparisons Of fortune,
for none Of MS can even approximately
estimate IN how lar morality Is string,
the result OF circumstance.
In strictly national conditions we can
not ind much cause for Thanksgiving.
II we have less bitter dlshing Of the
classes we must account for II, not In
our superior form OF government, but
IN the fast that as n new country our
| population is as yet comparatively light;
and we must confess that the clashing
that does exist Is only too bitter MS il Is,
resulting IN many a high hand procedure,
and but too often IN most cruel carnage.
| Our courts, constantly engaged with
crimes and criminals, must force US TO
| the admission that while most efficient
in the punishment, yet equally with all
others is also our legislation utterly de-
licicnt in the prevention OF crime.
Then, too, whatever advantages we may
possess in these and similar respects, the
| repeating accusations OF official and Of
legal corruption, and also the frequent
recurrence q communities taking the
law 10 their own hands-an abuse which
all efforts TO stay or to punish prove
alike futile In all parts OF the country
make It very manifest TINT We too are
liable TO our own peculiar sins and
objections.
It thus being found tina, international
relations aud universal conditions,
rigidly taken, have no place IN q dis
tinclively national celebration, that
private circumstances OF health, means,
knowledge or even OF morals occasion
IN unequal gratitude which n literally
interpreted American holiday can not
righteohsly countennnee, aud that the
state Of national affairs does not give
special warrant TO q day for special
American congra,ulaticn, therefore the
President Of this country, and the
governors Of the various States anC
Territories In officially recommending
q devotional thanksgiving, and the con
grcgations throughout the land in nc
ceding to that recommendation by
instiluling thanksgiving services II
which they require of their preacher,
, thanksgiving sermons and addresses
force into the pulpi,s and upon th,
ministers the only one topic in which
; America has her distinctive glory, anC
; IN which all Americans without cxcep
r ton aud without differences of interes
= can feel full aud equal pride and salts
Z faction, for Il concerns that IN which ON
] | American is no more nor less than nm
! other, through which every American
l whatever his degree or circumstance,
i made an equal prince among tn
s princes o, the earth, through which h
, becomes vested with the full dignity q
s manhood and wiolds scepter OF mani
8 power, more than which would b
J. usurpation and less than which woul
c be vassalage. The only appropriat
= topic for thanksgiving and congratulr
c tons this day is, therefore, the America
o franchise.
Ills generally deprecated In a mini,
+. ter to speak upon this theme. But thi
J, Us all that Is left TO him on n Thanksgi,
p ing Day Nay, even too generally
y while hold that minister should neye
!, take advantage of his sacred office I
!, influence purely political results, yS
u after they have once become results il
y not only his pTerogative, but even hi
= bounden duty, TO comment upon then
y. or should he forever take his illus,rj
Y tons and supports from the mummihe
:, relics of Ancient Greece and Rome an
u Israel or from the embalmed carcassc
, of foreign events aud concerns whic
" even all spices cannot save frol
" puirescence on their long passages ovt
~ the lands aud sensl Are not Pharp.
~ and ALBANIA swoe,cr than all the water
Z. Of Israeli Must we draw Our inspiration
~ n we would say word, for instance, to {
y In behalfoT labor, merely from the whist
y cred agita,ions OF Gracchi, and not Civ
" religious uttcrances the force OF graph
'e lessons from the living events and d.
y, cussions about MS. in our very mids
" May the minister hammer away iorev,
=, At the ancient publican, Of whom scare
" even his prineval dust remains, al
" never be permitted word for or again
50 his direct heir and offspring, the modeI
" tax collector or the assessor What u
VI manhood and the occasion compel
N claim privilege TO talk upon and expire
y, unto Americans what Americans Nh
!" day should be thankful for, aud VIII
too as an American, which Is all tn
DO right now propose TO represent, ic
be my patriotic gratitude in.
us am thankful for the franchise, NJ
at for the heallhiul manner OF Us eNerct
or in this our country. In It ! see u
.e. guarantee Of q lasting greatness ~
Eel glory for excelling that Of any other u
~, ton that has yet crowned itself wi
IS immortal credit. II is the safeguard
ID, our liberties and OF our republican !
be s,itu,ions, which first tauy Int mankindt