Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-11-25

with a savage, and. as yet, unknown
people upon their north, south and
west. The early snowfall gave assur-
lnce of a long and severe winter. and
the winds soughed dismally through
the tree branches. Yet these Puritans
were pious as well as brave people,
who were grateful to God for their
safe landing after long and boisterous
voyage, and they were especially pleased
that, though the country was bleak and
bare, their industry should convert the
forests into fertile fields, which each
returning year would yield rich har-
vests of golden grain.
Before all, however, they were CRATE
full that in this new world they could
worship God as they pleased, without
fear of social prescription, stripes,
stocks or the gaol. Thanksgiving day
was born distinctively of a consuming
love for civil as well as religious liberty.
| They err who claim that as a nation we
| do not recognize God and His control
| ling power over men, collectively as
| people, ,as we'll as individually. Upon our
coins are engraved the words: "In God
we trust" while every proclamation of
Thanksgiving recites the blessings we
receive at His hands as we'll as our duty
of confessing our obligations to Him.
Nothing could be more appropriately
expressed than these proclamations,
each in its turn.
Our fathers thus set the fashion of
commemorating the duty and obliga-
tion resting upon men. But they could
not possibly grasp the thought how in
blessing, He could bless them, and in
multiplying He would multiply them =
they and the little colony down in Vir-
ginia, until within three centuries
there should spring from them the fore
most nation upon the face of the earth.
If the newly-arrived Pilgrims could find
| occasion for fortitude, assuredly their
descendants, with all other Americans,
may do SO with fervent hearts, moved CT
joy, because of the infinitely superior
blessings which rest upon them. They
can thank God that this is a nation of
peace, not given over to war; that we
are united people, filled with pur-
pose TO make the nation yet more glo-
rious; and that the earth yields every
where of it's richness, for the sustenance
of the people. They can thank Him be-
cause the wheels of the factories are
whirling and that the marts of trade
are crowded; for the jealousy with
which our schools are guarded and for
healthful moral influences that are
everywhere extending. They can bless
Him for homes that are happy and that
their indwellers have none to molest or
make them afraid. For advance in art,
in music and all the material things in
the world beautiful, one should find
cause for thanksgiving, because culti-
vation of these beatitudes means ad-
vance in moral and intellectual growth.
There has been deliveran3 from the
pestilence that stalked at monday and
from the storps that make desolate the
habitations of man. No great public
wrongs remain to be redressed, the poor
are not oppressed and the fatherless
and the widow have found friends.
Herein do the wronged of all nations
find secure habitation, and our coun-
try shonored by all the countries. Each
person can find cause for gratitude fol-
personal blessings, and all may unite
in giving thanks in this great national
holiday, peculiar institution of this
great people.
WILLIAM ROSSER COBBE.