Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-10-28
THANKSGIVING DAY.


Thursday, November 80, as the ma.
tiou's annual Thanksgiving Day. His
proclamation, which was issued last
Wednesday, is as follows:
"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 the blessings of the
preceding year. This honored observ-
ance acquires with time tenderer sig
ficance. 1t enricbes domestic life. II
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 pestilence has invaded our
shores. Liberal employment waits
upon labor. Abundant crops have
rewarded the efforts of the husband
man. Increased comforts have come
to the home. The national finances
have been sustained and made firmer.
In all branches of industry and trade
there has been an unequalled degree of
prosperity, while there has been q
steady gain in the moral and educa-
tional growth of our national charac-
acter. Churches and schools have
fourished. American patriotism has
been exalted. Those engaged in main
tanning the honor of the flag with such
signal success have been in large de-
gree spared from disaster and disease.
An honorable peace has been ratified
with a 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 assumed
for the benefit of the people of Cuba
has been faithfully advanced. There
is marked progress toward the restors-
ton of healthy industrial conditions,
and under wise sanitary regulations
the island has enjoyed unusual exemp-
tions from the scourge of fever. The
hurricane which swept over our new
possessions of Puerto Rico destroyed
the homes and property of the inhabi-
tants, called forth the instant sympa-
thy of the people of the United States,
who were swift to respond with gener-
Gus aid to the sufferers. While the
insurrection still continues in the island
of Luzon, business is resuming its
activity and confidence in the good
purposes of the United States is being
rapidly established throughout the ar
chipelago.
"For these reasons and countless
others, I, William Mckinley, president
of the United States, do hereby name
Thursday, the 30th day of 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 well as
by those who may be at sea or sojourn-
ing in foreign lands; and 1 advise
that on this day religious exercises
shall be conducted in the churches or
meeting places of all denominations,
in order that in the social features Of
the day its significance may not be
lost sight of; but feverent prayers may
be offered to the Most High for a con-
tinuance of the Divine guidance with
out which mans efforts are vain, and
for Divine consolation to those whose
kindred and friends have sacrificed
their lives for our country.
81 recommend also that on this day,
so far as may be found practical, labor
shall cease from its accustomed toll,
and charity abound toward the sick,
the needy and the poor"