New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-25
THE BLESSINGS OF THE YEAR.

Once more the day Of National thanksgiving
srevlves the thrill Of Joy and gratitude for
great deliverance which was fresh In mind a
year ago. The escape OF the Nation from the
perils of anarchy and dishonor has been rem
.dered more complete and sure by the events OF
the last year. The restoration Of prosperity, for
which the millions then longed and hoped, has
now been in large measure realized. The de-
cision of the people for National policy which
promotes well-being has been carried into effect.
The education Of the people has been pushed
forward by contrast Of conditions so impress
sive that 1t cannot soon be forgotten. The ma
terial blessings Of the year have been such as
TO inspire profound gratitude, but immeasur-
ably greater is the blessing Of better compre-
hension and larger knowledge Of the causes
which bring prosperity and avert disaster and
,dshonor.
1t has been a year Of wonderful benefits. So
great have been the material gains that multi
tudes think rather Of these than of more en-
during causes for thankfulness. The crops
+ have indeed been bountiful, but the country has
been blessed with greater crops when there oc-
CURED not a 1.-THE Of the glad change In the
condition OF the people which has been realized
this year. Rarely In the Nations history have
conditions In other lands been more favorable
70 the material welfare Of the United States
and the discharge of vast body Of depressing
Indebtedness by the people OF the farming
States has given them a safer basis for the
future than they have known since the devas-
tatlng deluge OF land speculation swept over
the country nearly a decade ago. But bounti-
Z full crops and hungry foreign markets would
not alone have given 10 the whole people such
confidence and such solid ground for confidence
as the events Of the last year have brought
The fact tha. millions are now well employed
In productive industry who were employed only
partly or not at all a year ago is gain which
cannot he measured. To multitude Of happy
homes, at this season Of festvty, II recalls
the strangely different circumstances which
made Hope rather than Abundance the chief
dish at the feast year ago. But even this
great and positive gain, much as II means to
a vast body Of workers, Is OF less importance
than the revolution which has been wrought in
the conditions governing not merely the pro-
ductive industries OF to-day, but their progress
and development for years 10 come. Security
for the future, and not past or present profits,
has made possible such advances in the wages
of labor as were announced on TueSday-2O
per cent 10 furnace and limestone workers Of the
Mahoning Valley and 10 per cent to iron miners
OF Michigan Such changes have been so nu.
merous ms 10 constitute real revolution IN the
rate of wages The freedom from financial
anxiety, the dispersal OF dark clouds OF appre
hepsIon regarding the monetary future. and the
certainty that home industries are not TO be
Frustrated again by foreign invasion or stunted
in their growth, mean TO all working men and
all business men incidentally more than any
benefits which have yet taken material form
The blessing greater than all others. never