The times., 1898-11-24
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER "a, 1898.
THANKSGIVING.

This is easily the most important
Thanksgiving Day in the more than
quarter of a century that has passed
since the close of the domestic war.
Among the things for which we
have reason to give thanks as a
nation. according TO the custom of
a century, are the successful end
ing of a righteous war for the
emancipation Of the oppressed cubans
and the results that have followed-not-
ably the acquisition of the Philippines
and Porto Rico. This. with the preced-
ing annexation of the Hawaiian Islands.
signals the beginning Of the Republics
manhood-the acceptance of the respon-
sibilitiss and benefits Of maturity. But
among all the gains on which we have
reason to congratulate ourselves there
Is none greater than the splendid revival
nf the spirit OF Americanism. OF which
all other gains are an effect. This re-
vival is not local or sectional. II spans
the continent in its sweep. IL is as
strongly manifest throughout the South
as in The commonwealths 0f the North.
The men and the sons Of the men who
fought under Lee stand shoulder to
shoulder with the men and the sons of
the mon who fought under Grant. in up
holding the honor Of the flag that is the
common heritage Of all Americans.
\ year ago the little clique of citi-
zens Of foreign birth or sympathies who
opposed the war with Spain as they now
oppose the policy Of the President,
might have won followers for their mar
row and selfish doctrines. Now they
are impotent. Their hysterical rawlings
and snesrs are outweighed a thousand
times by the cordial commendation of
the masses of the people for the Presi-
dents patriotic course. Not that the
Americans have been unpatriotic since
the close of the Civil War. Deep in
.t,:eir hearts there has been an unfail-
ing reverence for the immortal prin-
cipIes of human liberty and an abiding
devotion to the. welfare and honor of
the Republic; but during the long era of
rebuilding and re-creating that followed
AppomattoX, their public thoughts were
of economic and financial policies and
of whatever related TO material pros
perity. They had, in that domestic
warfare, given 10 the world superb
demonstration OF earnestness and self
sacrifice. With the integrity of their
institutions assured, they turned their
attention 10 regaining what had been
expended in the struggle
The response 10 the cry of the op-
pressed in Cuba aroused again the ma
tional spirit. The expressions of Span
ish bsrbarians. tn rc;hloss war of
Weyler on the innocent women and
children OF Cuba. tnii.nd.ei a flame of
Indignation Throughout the land. 1t
was no longer pnss bic FOR reluctant
Administra ton To shiTk tl.s duty our
position in this hemisphere and the die
tates of humanity impos a IN us We
had been apathetic when the Stars and
Stripes were hauled down in Hawaii.
and when our interests and our honor
were assailed in China, Venezuela.
Turkey. and elsewhere-but no further
act of cOward;oe or periidy would be
tolerated. The spirit OF Americanism
caught the President in its flames and
all partisanship was forgotten in an
earnest. singie-mlnded patriotism. To-
day this people is virtually a unit in de-
manding that henceforth the rights of
the nation shall b. maintained with un.
faltering energy and vigilance in every
quarter Of the globe. and the RESPONSE
biiities Of our civilization recognized and
discharged
This Is cause for supreme gratitude on
the part OF every patriot Now he may
look forward with confidence to the
iabors and even TO the perils Of the
twentieth century. Our nation canno;
shirk or in any way evade its obIiga-
tions as the primate Of the Western