Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20
WHY We SHOULD BE- THANKFUL
Sentiments Of Many Noted Men in American
Public Life.
RESULTS OF THE WAR AND PROSPERITY
Two Chief Reasons why the People
of This Favored Land should
Observe Bccomingly the
National Festival.

Thursday next, what causes for thanksgiving
Will they find In the events OF the last year?
Some OF the most eminent men OF the coun-
try nave written their opinions on this ques-
ton. Fighting leaders, General Miles, Com
modore Philip and Colonel Roosevelt, mem
bers OF the cabinet, Lyman j. Gage and
John d. Long, Financiers Russell Sage and
Henry Clews, and other famous men repre-
senting different careers in life. have con-
tributed their sentiments, and they agree
that not for many years have Americans had
so many reasons for observing Thanksgiving
as a great national festival.
A war OF worldwide Significance carried
to complete success in 100 days. an enlarged
commerce, which will this year make an
American city the greatest shipping port in
the world, a reunited country from which the
last trace Of f~actional bitterness has been
wiped out. the Anglo-American understand
ing, the settlement Of our disputes with
Canada. general business prosperity. i'm
portant scientific discoveries, bountiful har-
vests, Klondike gold, Dewey and all the
other heroes Of the war, are mentioned as
among the things for which we have to be
grateful on November "a, 1898.
Secretary Gage Tells of Prosperity.
Secretary of the Treasury Lyman J. Gage
writes: "In the midst OF geleral rejoicing which
comes With peace after strife let us not fail
to measure the good we are enjoying from
other causes. 1t has not been many months
since Industrial and commercial depression
were widespread. and both at home and
abroad grave doubts existed as to our fnan-
ciaf ability, II not In fact as to our financial
integrity. All this was reflected by grave
unrest.
Nov there Is an era Of good feeling. The
tide OF hope for the future runs high, and
confidence is master Of the situation. A
marvellous change has been wrought. Since
the days Of trial our harvests have twice
surpassed all former yields, and our sur
plus stores Of grain have gone to feed the
people OF other lands less bountiful. The
conjunction of unusually large harvests with
increased foreign demand has brought bet
ter prices, and those who work the soil
have thus been raised to a higher plane
Of living and happiness. Excepting now
and then some particular Industry Is re-
stricted by peculiar conditions. not those
Of general application, there is everywhere
activity which can only be measured by
comparison with former prosperous years.
All the evidences point to the fact that
commerce.. both domestic and foreign. Is ex-
banding rapidly. The Treasury department
will report this year that New York has
become the greatest shipping port Of the
world. Is this not a wonderful achieve
ment for the republic which is but a little
over a century old? London and Hamburg.
thrifty though they be. after centuries Of
vast trade must give way to this new mart
Of the west. New York is but one Of our
great cities. In the nearby years others.
now giving indication of a growing trade,
will Of necessity respond to the constantly
increasing demands OF On our
I western shores there yet remains to be de-
veloped a vast empire, one which will
participate In the rich trade Of the coun-
tries bordering on the Pacific. For our
present commercial and industrial strength
! we have abundant reason to be thankful, yet
more so indeed for what the future holds
in store. .
"a Righteous War;" Says Roosevelt.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt said: From
the point Of view OF the nation and
Of every patriotic American as we'll 1t seems
to me that we should be especially thankful
this year for our success In a righteous war
and for the enlarged opportunities which 1t
has brought"
Henry Clews, the veteran Of Wall street.
! writes as follows: 1--WE should be thankful
for our brilliant achievement in whipping
the Spaniards, for the success OF our at
tempt to advance the cause OF humanity
and freedom and for the worldwide advant-
ages which are resulting to the nation there
from.
Another advantage which has come to
us with the recent war and which Is not to
be gainsald is the fact that the pride Of the
American people Is exalted with the knowl-
edge that the SANE spirit which inspired the
- - 80 - ,c1 -kt11 lu,ao1c a no II
has brought to all the nations Of the world
q recognition Of the United States as a first
class power.
I'm the business world there Is much to
be thankful for. Business interests gener-
airy have felt the impetus which has come
with our new awakening. During the year
we have emerged from a period Of depres-
sion and entered one of expansion. In the
face OF rising instead Of failing values. Of
new opportunities for investment, and Of a
healthful activity In all lines OF Industry,
! the business man can eat his Thanksgiving
turkey In q thankful, cheerful and hopeful
spirit"
DR.. Field GIories in the War.
DR.. Henry NJ. Field. the eminent clergy
man and editor Of tho Evangelist, declares:
~ am thankful that one dark blot mas
| been removed from the face of civilization
| during the present year. am thankful
for the glorious success OF our war with
| Spain, and thankful that ! have lived to
see it.
LET me not be misunderstood. War Is
a terrible thing. but there are other things
which are worse, and one Of them was the
cruel starving Of helpless men. women and
| children In Cuban pest cities. Thanks be
to God, America has done away with that
| crime against humanity.
IT believe hat the recent war with Spain
| was Inevitable. l know something OF the
| Spanish people, and ! know that they would
never voluntarily have relinquished their
| claim upon the island Of Cuba. There was
no cure for this fostering sore except the
knife, and l rejoice that the operation s
| now safely over.
Therefore I am one OF those who glory
| in our recent war, and who see In Its course
| the hand OF the Almighty. In the general
| exultation over our complete success We are
ant to forget the terrible risks which we
| ran when we took UP the cause OF humanity
and the remarkably small loss we have sus-
tanned in championing that cause. Truly
| Gods mercy has been manifested to US In
| many ways within the past twelvemonth,
and In the midst Of our rejoicings at the
coming OF Thanksgiving We must not forget
that fact"
Secretary Longs Sentiments.
Secretary Of the Navy John D.. Long says:
--I- g..