New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-29
GIVE THANKS.

Tho first THANKSGIVING proclamation in this
country was issued 10 the colony Of Massachu-
sets Bay and commanded the people To rcnuo'
thanks for the continued life or George H. ioi
additions to his family. giving ASSURANCE 'ii''
his gracious and bcneficent rule would be per
petuated, and incidentally for good harN'S'S'
We have advanced so far since that time 'hat
to-day one Of the chief reasons Tor thahkS2'N'nE
by the people from Bangor to the Golden "''e
Is that something has been done TO get rid oi Il
rule essentially British in spirit ana interest,"
and as lawless and hostile 10 the VIII oil the
neonle In all the States. and in many cltlcs Us
cor11,pt. as the government of King George was
NJ its worst To declare independence ana To
achieve it are different things. For many years
the people Of this country have been ba''IinS
10 ernancipate themselves and their industries
from the tyranny Of British ideas and interests
and from the corruption which, pervading hri'-
ish government long before the KeVoiu'loh'
has lis roofs here as it had there in the feeling
that Government exists not Cor the good OF 'he
Governed but for the enrichment of The govern
ing class Only two years ago the election "i
a President whose foreign. financial ana ihuuS-
trial policy has been wholly British, ny Inc
crimes of n governing arlstocracy In Southern
States and In Northern cities seemed 10 tuTh
hack the hands of time moro than century
The Nation gives thanks to-day that govern
ment Of the people and for the people does not
perisb An arstocracy Of fraud In Southern
States has been overthrown in some. An aris-
,ocracy of rascals In Northern States has iallen
10 defeat the will Of the people by outrageous
entertainments and false returns, and in cities
nv copartnership with shame and crime. Inc
masters against whom free Americans had 10
assert their freedom were not hereditary rulers
but defcd the wishes and rights or the people
rs If they were and were as lordly, insolent
and defiant MS II voters were their serfs. And
the National policies arrested by the decision Of
November were professedly for the good OF
Americans. though in fact for the benefit of
foreigners only. 1t may be that all these Of
fences against genuine Americanism would not
have produced general ovcrurn had not Inc
rockets of the people been assailcd. Not until
the tax on tea kindled colonial resentment did
the revolution take positive form. SO when
twenty million American wagccarncrS found
their wages reduced, and many Of them were out
of work because Of an attempt to surrender the
markets Of this country to foreign competitors.
then they revolted The millions who Judge
government, not by It's prc;cnces but by its re-
policy as soon as possible. Appointments
that were without honesty, returns that were
without truth civic administration that was
nothing but a sale Of indulgenccs to crime ana
infamy, did not alone inspire the popular up
rising 1t was likewise revolution against
government for Great Britain and in favor OF
government for the United States.
The soldiers Of Cromwell gave thanks after
.;,J I,air IraW
The beginning Of independence is not the end.
The fidelity Of the victor has yet 10 be shown,
and the shrcWdncss Of the vanquishcd tested.
In the struggles yet TO come there may be dark
hours for the cause of American free govern
ment But it is gladdcnng and glorious that
the people have found purpose worthy Of their
highest efforts, and have proved that they mean
TO have this country governed by Americans and
for Americans. They mean to have aristocracies
Of vice. whether called Tammany or by any
other name. stamped out Of existence. They
| mean 10 make II impossible for scolndrcls In
any State TO defeat and defy the will OF the
people They mean to have American rights
and interests in foreign lands regarded by their
! agents, rather than the interests OF other ma
tons They mean that American worklngmcn
shall have the first chance In American mar
kets. In short they mean American indepcn-
donce In its broadest and fullest sense, and for
that we may well give thanks with profound
gratitude.