The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-30

enjoyed; for the peaceabIe and rational
manner in which we have been enabled
to establish constitutions of govern-
nent, Tor our safety and happiness,
and in general, for all the great favors
which He has been pleased to confer
President John Adams thought that
the safety and prosperity of nations
Ultimately and essentially depend upon
the protection and blessing of Almighty
GOD and the national acknowledgement
of this truth
During his first term as President
tnere was a great deal of trouble among
the nations across the water and his
hrst thanksgiving proclamation showed
that What he was most thankful for
was that the "calamaties which af-
hicted foreign nations visited not the
United States, and, further, that its
people We're exempt from boring wars,
enjoying great degree OF internal
tranquility
short while before there had been
FORMED IN certain counties in PennsvI-
wanna combinations to defeat the ex-
ecuIlon OF the laws laying duties upon
spirits distilled within the United
states, and these were the source Of
In9Gh 93i annoyance to the government
All Ihese com binatiOns were scattered
and IN the close of his proclamation
recommending that the 9Th day of Nav
6 6lSo, be observed as Thanksgiving,
president Adams requested the people
70 be especially grateful for the con-
tlnuat1on of internal tranquility by the
suppression OF recent insurrectiOn
py course of our public affairs"
President Madison felt that the bles-
sings for which the American people
should be thankful were many and
varied, but he was particularly grate-
full because God had blessed the Unit
ed States with a political constitution
founded on the will and authority OF
the whole people, which guaranteed to
each citizen unbounded security. not
only to his person and property but to
| those sacred rights of conscience SO
| essential to his present happiness and
so dear to his future success"
THANKFUL FOR PEACE.
On March 4, 1914, President Madison
| issued what was perhaps the most i'm
portant proclamation of his admin
| istration. It was just after the treaty
of peace between the United States
and England had been signed at Client,
and in appointing the second Thursday
in April to be observed as Thanksgiving
| be specially thankful to Almighty God
| for His great goodness manifested in
restoring them to peace.
| We have no more records Of Thanks
| giving prOcIamations of Presidents un-
! til the time of Lincoln in 1862, when he
| appointed no particular day, but re-
QueSted that the people of the United
| States should, on their next weekly
| assemblages after the declaration OF
| this proclamation, render thanks TO
| God for the signal victories of the land
| and naval forces engaged in suppress
| sing the internal rebellion and for His
| goodness in averting from our country
1 Lue hangers OF foreign Intervention.
| The next year, 1858, the President on
| the 9Th OF August set aside the last
| Thursday in the following November as
/ a day to be spent in prayer and ser
| vice to God for the victories which had
| been gained in a civil war of uneQualed
| magnitude and severity"
| President LincOln's last proclamation
| was issued on the goth of October, 1864
| in which he thanked God for His
| guardian care against unfriendly de-
| signs from abroad, and for His vouch-
/ ceaf inc fn in Tfz
/ signal victories over the enemy which
| was in our own household" and recon-
| mended that the last Thursday in No
| Vember OF that year be known and OBJ
/ served as Thanksgiving Day.
The first Thanksgiving proclamation
| after the close of the civil war was is
who was most grateful to God for hav-
| ing sent the country peace during the
| year, and further for the presence OF
unity ana harmony with great en-
! largement of civil liberty and aversion
| from the calamities OF foreign wars,
pestilence and famine.
| President Grant goes down in history
as issuing more Thanksgiving procla-
| nations than any other President, the
! number being nine. None had any
! special significance, save for the bles-
| sings which come naturally to a coun-
| try that is daily increasing in wealth
| and power, except the extra message
issued for the special observance Of
| July 4, 1876. In addition to the usual
| Observances with which we are accus-
| toned to greet the return of the day.
| proclaimed the President, Z recon-
| mend that we mark its recurrence with
/ special devotion and thanksgiving to
| Almighty God for the blessings which
| have been bestowed upon US as ma
ton during the first century of our ex-
| istence" The usual Thanksgiving ser
vices were also held that year on the
last Thursday in November, making
two holidays of the same nature within
a twelvemOnth.
President Hayes was most greatfuI
for the exuberant harvests, productive
/ mines, ample crops Of the staples Of
trade and manufactures that have en-
riched the country; for peace with all
the nations and the general prevalence
Of the blessings of health"
During each year President Cleveland
| recommended that the last Thursday
be spent in prayer and fasting and re-
happy the poor of the country.
| President Harrison was most thank
full for the marvellous prosperity which
attended the country" and like Presi-
dent Arthur, no special event was mem
toned in his proclama tfons
/ President Mckinley is thankful. this
fall of 1899, that mo great pestflence
has invaded our shores. Liberal en-
ployment waits upon labor. Abundant
| crops have rewarded the efforts of the
| husbandnen. Increased comforts have
| come to the home. Churches and
| schools have hOurished. American pa
| triOtism has been exalted. Those en-
! gagged in maintaining the honor Of the
| flag with such signal success have been
| in large degree spared from disaster
and disease. An honora BILE peace has
been ratified with a foreign nation with
which we were at var, and we are now
on friendly relations with every power