The National tribune., 1899-11-23
THANKSGIVING DAY,
Next Thursday is Thanksgiving

This is one of The most elevating as
customs. 1t is peculiar to tn" United
States, and has no sort of counterpart in
any other country in the world. 1t is the
direct outgrowth of the Puritanism which
| has had a predominant influence in mold
| ing our National character. 1t is essen
tally republican and democratic in its ma
ture. The Government, State and National,
has nofarther share int than toselecta day,
and recommend it for general observance.
Then each man and woman does as he or
she thinks fit about it-goes to whatever
church he or she may think fit, or does not
go at all. The great mass, however, go to
some church, and there devoutly offer
thanks, not merely for life during the year,
and all that life has given them, but with
equal earnestness, for all that the year
has brought TO their community, their
State, and the whole country. The Ameri-
can is peculiar in this, above all men, for
he has more deep-seated love of his entire
country than any other man in the world.
The first reason of this is that he has really
had great country longer than any man.
This statement may seem singular, but
1t will not appear so upon a little comparl-
son with other Nationalities. The Eng
lishman undoubtedly feels as strong an
attachment for England proper as does
the American for the United States, but
no Englishman feels as deep, loving in
terest in Scotland, Ireland, and other sec
lions of the British Empire as an American
does in every part of the United States,
no matter how remote it may be from his
own particular home. Though they have
been united for centuries, the English,
Scotch, and Irish are still distinct peoples,
and have vivid memories of the time when
they We're not united. The French are
nearer homogeneous than the Britons,
yet there are something like the same
riffs between the north and south and east
and west French as between the Three
Kingdoms of Great Britain. The Germans
have, of course, been a Nation less than so
years. Before that they were simply
Prussians, Bavarians, Hessians, Bruins
Wickers, SaXons, Hanoverians, ETC., and
though they have made rapid progress in
developing a National spirit, the old di-
visions yet remain. Prior to 1870 there
were no Italians proper. There were only
Venetians, Sardinians. Sicilians, Romans,
Genoese, LLombards, etc. There are Austri-
ans, Hungarians, Bohemians, Slavonians,
Croatians, ETC., all diverse in language and
thought, in the Dual Empire, and though
the Spaniards have been under the Gov
ernment of Madrid for four centuries, they
are still substantially the 50-odd little
kingdoms they were before the days of
Ferdinand and Isabella, with their ancient
divisions, characteristics, and jealousies
still carefully maintained.
Only Americans have one language,
uniform laws and customs, and entire
community of interests from one end of
their great land to another, and the deepest
affection for their country as a whole.
Therefore, they can rise to higher plane
of patriotism, and their gratitude goes
out freely for all that contributes TO the
whole Nations happiness and prosperity.
1t is beautiful feature that custom has
made the day strongly inducive of family
reunions The family is the basis of the
Nation, and there is something exceed
ingly appropriate in the family gathering
oftimes from remote parts Of the country
to mingle filial and fraternal affection with
gratitude for Gods blessings on the entire
N,,lion.
This year we have exceptional blessings
to inspire our gratitude. The country
has prospered as in no single year in our
history. The harvests have been rich
beyond all precedent. There have been
work and wages for all, abundance every
where, pestilence has halted far from our
shores, unbroken peace and happiness has
reigned within our gates, and the Nations
horn has been exalted among the kings
of the earth. Never before has it seemed
so proud thing to be an American citizen.
For all this let us be duly thankful to
the Giver of All Good Things.