Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-01

1923, after a season of great
drougt, on the return of the
rain. And again is 1852 the
Plymouth colony was almost
destroyed by famine. A time OF
fasting and prayer was appointed.
Before the time expired, the look
ed-for and longed-for ships, bear
ing the needed provisions, ap-
peared in the harbor. The record
shows that it was recognized an
nually by Congress during the
Revolution, but there was an in
PERMISSION after that due to the
prevalence of deism and scepti-
clsm traceable to French infu-
ence. In 1880, President Wash
lngton appointed a day ofThanks-
giving for the adoption of the
Federal Constitution. Subse-
quently various days in Novenl-
Der were recogniz ed by Presidents
and Governors till the third year
OF the Civil war, when President
Lincoln proclaimed the regular
observance Of the National
Thanksgiving on the last Thurs
day in November.
"There is no law that can rob
us Of this day. This day is the on,
oasis IN the corruption of Anerl
can politics. 1t is on this day that
the American people, under the
voice of our President pay testi-
mony of gratitude to Gods prov
1dence over the nation. There is
an old saying that God takes care
of fools, women, and the United
States | believe that is true, but
not IN its exclusive sense; but it is
true of the United States, and
Gods hand has been seen from
the very first beginning of our
Republic, guiding its destinies,
fighting its battles, and prosper
ing its people. He helped eight
thousand men-but a handful
compared with the English ar
m1es-to win victories in the face
of overwhelming odds, and to
finally command surrender which
secured liberty for the struggling
colonies And not only was his
power felt in securing this indie
pendence, but he has preserved
the nation.
"Forty years ago the hearts OF
thousands of patriotic citizens
were set on the election of Henry
Clay as President. They believed
defeat would be a national cal
a1nity. Everything pointed to the
success of the Wing cause; but
God had ordered otherwise, and
the detection of fifteen thousand
AbolItionist votes in New York
to Birney elected Pope This
brought about the Civil War ten
years later, and decided the ques-
ton OF slavery forever. If Clay
had been elected, there would
have been no Mexican War and
the struggle over slavery doubt
less would have been postponed
fifty years.
"God has blessed the nation in
its material development. The
citizen may give thanks that he
lives in country in which nature
has been most prodigal of her
blessings. We have 100000
square miles OF territory. Its area
is equal to that of Great Britain,
Ireland, Norway, Sweden; Den
mark. Germany, Austria, Ho1-
land, Belgium, France, Spain,
Portugal, Switzerland, Italy,
Greece, European Turkey, Pales-
tine, Japan and China. What a
vast extent of land Our mining
industries exceed those of Great
Britain three per cent, and are
greater than all continental Ell
rope. Our manufacturing pro-
ducts exceed Great Britain by
5000, 100000. Our agricultural
resources are able to feed I,ooo,-
100000 people, We talk about
our population of 65 900 900, but
the day is possible when I,ooo,-
600, 900 inhabitants will occupy
the territory between Maine and
California. Our wealth in 1890
was $6I,450,ooo,ooo. In 1880 it
was only 81 5000, 900, 900. Today
our wealth is over S75,ooo,ooo,-
900, an increase in the last thir-
teen years of almost double. We
are richer than Great Britain by
$4,000, 900. In the record of
our achievement of the past de
cade. we read that in ten years
from 1880 to I80o-We have add
ed 81 900, 100000 to the capital
invested in manufactures, an
increase of nearly seventy five
per cent. In the same time the
value OF Our manufactured pro-
ducts had risen from S. 100000,
900 to IS, ,ooo,o 900, gain of
$500, ooo,o 900.
"Second-It is the Christian
Day of Thanksgiving. We enjoy
absolute religious liberty. Reflect
that you might have been born
i'll country in which the State
would have throttled your con-
science and dictated your relig-
iO1,c 1,,tiac How 1Itt1o do wa an