The Philipsburg mail., 1899-11-10
OUR THANKSGIVING day
President McKin|ey's Proclamation
for Its Observance.
THE BLESSINGS OF THE YEAR
The People of the United States Have
Great Cause for Profound Thanks
giving Labor Should Cease
From Toll That Day.

President Mckinley has issued the
following proclamation:
"a national custom dear to the hearts
Of the people calls for the setting apart
of one day in each year for special
thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
blessings of the preceding year. This
honored observance acquires with time
a tender significance. 1t enriches do
nestle life. 1t summons under the
family roof the absent children to glad
reunion with those they love.
Seldom has this nation had greater
cause for profound thanksgiving. No
great pestience has invaded our shores.
Liberal employment waits upon labor.
Abundant crops have rewarded the eff
forts of the husbandman. Increased
comforts have come to the home. The
national finances have been strength
ened and public credit has been sus-
tanned and made frmer.
In all branches of industry and
trade there has been an unqualified de.
gree of prosperity, while there has been
steady gain in the moral and educa-
tional growth of our national character.
Churches and schools have hourished.
American patriotism has been exalted.
Those engaged in maintaining the honor
of the flag with such signal success
have been in large degree spared from
disaster and disease.
"An honorable peace has been rati-
fed with foreign nation with which
we were at war and we are now on
friendly relations with every power on
earth, The trust which we have as
sumed for the benefit of the people Of
Cuba has faithfully advanced. There
is marked progress toward the restora-
ton Of healthy industrial conditions
and under wise sanitary conditions the
island has enjoyed exemption from the
scourge of fever.
THE hurricane which swept over our
new possessions of Porto Rico, destroy
ing the homes and property of the in
habitants, called forth the instant SYM
pathy of the people of the United
States, who were swift to respond with
generous aid to the sufferers,
While the insurrection still contin-
ues in the island of Luzon, business is
resuming it's activity, and confidence in
the good purposes of the United States
is being rapidly established through
out the archipelago.
For these reasons, and countless
others, l, William Mckinley, president
of the United States, do hereby name
Thursday, the Both day # November
next as 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 we'll as
by those who may be at sea or sojourn-
ing i'll foreign lands, and advise that
on this day religious exercises shall be
conducted at the churches or meeting
places Of all denominations, in order
that in the social features of the day its
real significance may not oe lost sight
Of and that fervent prayers may be Of
fered to the Most High for .,ontinu-
ance 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 our country.
II recommend also that on this day.
so far as may be found prac icable,
labor shall cease from its accustomed
toll and charity abound toward the sick,
the needy and the poor"