The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-11-04
Thanksgiving PrOclama ton.
The President on Oct. 25th issued
tho folio xs,i,,or r,rcol a m, q, fior,.

The President on Oct. 18th issued
the following proclamation:
A national custom dear to the
hearts of the people calls for the set
ting apart of one day in each year as
-an occasion OF thanksgiving to AL
smighty God for the blessings of the
preceding year.
This hOnOred observance acquires
with time tender significance. 1t
senriches domestic life. 1t summons
under the family roof the absent chill
tdren to glad reunion with those they
Hove.
| 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
awarded the efforts OF the husband
man. Increased comforts have come
! to the home. The national finances
have been strengthened, and public
credit has been sustained and made
firmer.
In all branches of industry and
trade there has been an unequalled
degree of prosperity, while there has
been a steady gain in the moral and
| educational growth of our national
lcharacter. Churches and schools
have flOurished.
American patriotism has been ex-
allied. Those engagedi in maintaining
the honor of the flag with such signal
success have been in a large degree
tspared 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 Garth.
The trust which we have assumed
for the people of Cuba has been faith
fully advanced. There has been mark
ed progress toward the restoration
of healthy Industrial conditions, and
under wise sanitary regulations the
island has enjoyed unusual exemption
from the scourge of fever.
The hurricane which swept over our
new possession of Porto Rico, destroy
ing the homes and property of the in
thabitants, called for the instant SYM
patty of the people of the United
States, who were swift to respond
with generous aid to the sufferers.
While the Instruction still cOntin-
ues I'm the island of LuzOn, business is
|resuming it's activity, and confidence
In the good purposes of the United
States is being rapidly established
throughout the archipelago.
For these reasons and countless
Gothers, /, William Mckinley, Presi-
Edent of the United States. do hereby
name Thursday, the thirtieth day of
November next, as a day of general
thanksgiving and prayer, to be OBJ
served as such by all our people on
this continent and in our newly ac-
quired islands, as well as by those
who may be at sea or sOjOurning in
foreign lands; and l advise that on
this day religious exercises shall be
conducted in the churches or meeting
places of all denominations, in order
that I'm the social features of the day
it's real Significance may not be lost
sight of, but fervent prayers may be
offered to the Most High for a contin-
nance of the divine guidance, without
which mans efforts are vain, and for
divine consolation to those whose
kindred and friends have sacrificed
their lives for country.
recommend also that on this day,
SO far as may be found prac ticable,
labor shall cease from it's accustomed
toll and charity abound toward the
sick, the needy and the poor.
In witness whereof l have set my
hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.