The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-11-24

-.--s.e
years ago appointed a regular day. and
the other northern states quickly fol-
lowed, the southern states joining in aft
eI the war.
The staid and chastened rejoicing with
which the honest but austere pilgrim
fathers observed the day may be learned
from the proclamation IN 1857 of Petrus
Stuyvesant, or rather of the council OF
the New Netherlands, In which he en-
joins thanlxfulness, but forbids certain
worldly pleasures In the following words:
In order that these services may be observed
with the greatest harmony the director gem
aeral and council forbid during the exercises
on the said day of Thanksgiving ali such Mess.
ures as playing tennis or bail. hunting fishing
driving, blowing, moving, together with all for
hidden plays. as dice, convtyiality and such ike
under pain Of arbitrary Punishment, and we adj
nonish at the same time all ministers of the
holy gospel within our jurisdiction TO formulate
their sermons and prayers accordingly. Given
in council held at Fort Amsterdam, In New
Netherlands. 9th of February, 1857.
As to the cause for national thanks
giving, no true American can say there
Is not abundant reason for thankfulness.
This is the year of the commemoration
of the centenary of the institution,
greater liberty is enjoyed than in per-
haps any other country, and while there
always viii be rich and poor, there are
less poverty and higher wages proper
tionately for workmen than in any other
country In the world. The chances of
rising to wealth are open to all. The
laboring man of today may possibly be
millionaire 10 or 90 years hence. The
agricultural resources of the country are
so great that double the present popula-
ton Of this country could be sustained
In the United States without increasing
the area of single farm or adding one
to their number by merely bringing the
product up to the standard Of reasonably
good agriculture. Besides this, there
might remain for export twice the guam
tity required for home use, which could
be sent abroad to feed the hungry.
The first Thanksgiving proclamation
Of Washington as president of the United
States was made in New York on Oct
8, 1889, setting apart Thursday, Nov.
26, of that year ''to be devoted by the
people of these states to the service of
that great and glorious Being who is the
Author of all the good that is, that was
or that will be-" etc.
His second Thanksgiving proclama-
ton was made in Philadelphia on Jan. 1,
1895, the occasion to be one of special
observance.
OF all the Thanksgiving proclama-
tons ever issued, that which caused the
bitterest comment was the one by Gov
ernor John Jay of New York. It stands
conspicuous in the pages of history by
marking the acrimony and enmity of
his assailants in the way in which it Is
worded, and is as follows:
Whereas. The governor OF the state of New
York Is vested with authority to appoint day
for this purpose, and to require and enjoin the
observance OF it is a question which, circum-
Stanced as it is, ] consider as being more ap-
propriate for the legislature than for me to de-
eide. But, as the people of this state have con-
stituted me their chief magistrate, and being
perfectly convinced that national prosperity
obtained and ought to obtain national graft
tude to the Supreme Ruler of all nations, /
think 1t appropriate to recommend, and
therefore do earnestly recommend, to the
clergy and others of my fellow citizens through
out this state to set apart Thursday, the 18th
of November, for the purpose aforesaid and to
observe 1t accordingly.
The question why the turkey becomes
the national bird as far as the tablets
concerned; On Thanksgi living day;h new
er been settled and probably never will
be. Most likely it is because this gaIlina-
ceous fowl is in prime order for killing
at this time and possibly because most
of the pilgrim fathers cried Turkey" at
their first Thanksgiving feast. The same
mystery prevails regarding the associa-
ton of cranberry sauce with turkey at
this time. 1t will probably never be re-
vealed. Let those who wish to lift the
veil beware lest their curiosity to see
what is hidden may reveal a cause so
utterly prosaic as to take away some Of
the charms of feast consecrated by
over two centuries Of observance.