Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
Thanksgiving Proclamation Issued
by the President.
An UNUSUALLY LONG DOCUMENT
Conference With Commissioner
DENLY Regarding the Philippines.
OTHER CALLERS RECEIVED

President Mckinley today issued the an
| nual Thanksgiving proclamation. The
| proclamation was issued earlier than usual
| and in many ways will be found of unusual
| interest. 1t Is longer than any similar
| proclamation issued from the White House
| in mary years. 1t contains about Goo words
and is twice as long as the proclamation
| issued last year. when the war with Spain
had just closed.
President Cleveand's longest message
was in 1894. It contained 300 words. Presi-
| dent Mckinley's message, in 1891, contained
| 314 words
| The message is as follows:
BY the President Of the United States:
\ Proclamation
a national custom dear to the hearts OF
the people calls for the setting apart Of one
day in each year as an occasion Of special
| thanksgiving to Almighty God for tn bless
| ings of the preceding year. This honpred
observance acquires with time a tenGerer
significance. 1t enriches domestic life. II
summons under the family roof the absent
children to glad reInion with those hey
| love.
Seldom has this nation had greater cause
for profound Thanksgiving. No great pesti-
| lence has invaded our shores. Liberal en-
| ployment waits upon labor. Abundant
| crops have rewarded the efforts Of the hus-
| bandman. Increased comforts have come
! to the home. The national finances have
been strength h, ned. and public credit has
| been sustained and made firmer In all
| branches of industry and trade there has
| been an uncqualed degree of prosperity.
| while there has been a steady gain i'm the
| moral and educational growth of our ma
uonal character. Churches and schools
have ilourished. American patriotism has
been exalted. Those enEa ged in maintain
ing the honor of the flag with such signal
| success have been in large degree spared
| from disaster and disease. An honorable
peace has been ratified with a foreign ma
ton with which We We're at war. and we
are now on friendly relations with every
power of earth.
The trust which We have assumed for
| the benefit of the people Of Cuba has been
| faithfully advanced. There is marked
! progress toward the restoration Of healthy
| industrial conditions. and under wise sani-
! tary regulations the island has enjoyed un-
usual exemption from the scourge of fever.
The hurricane which swept over our new
! possession of Porto Rico destroying the
homes and property of the inhabitants.
called forth the instant sympathy of the
people of the United States, who were swift
to respond with generous aid TO the suffer
in the Island of Luzon, business is resum-
ing its activity, and confidence in the good
purposes of the United States is being
rapidly established throughout the archi-
pelago.
For these reasons and countless others, l.
William Mckinley. President of the United
States. do hereby name Thursday. the 3uth
day of November next, day of general
thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed as
such by all our people on this continent
and in our newly acquired islands, as well
as by those who may be at sea or sujourn-
ing in foreign lands; and / advise that on
this day religious exercises shall be con-
Quoted in the churches or meeting places
of all denominations in order that in the
social features of the day its real signih-
cance may not be lost sight of. but fervent
prayers may be offered to the Most High
for continuance Of the Divine guidance
without which mans efforts are vain and
for Divine consolation to those whose kin
dred and friends have sacrificed their lives
for country.
1 recommend also that on this day so far
as may be found practicable labor shall
cease from its accustomed toll and charity
abound toward the sick, the needy ana the
poor
In witness whereof l have set my hand
and caused the seal of the United States TO
be affixed
Done at the city of Washington this 18th
day of October, in the year of our Lord
1899, and of the independence Of the United
States the one hundred and twenty fourth.
(Seal) WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
By the President: -
JOHN HAY