The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-11-09
THANKSGIVING DAY THIS YEAR.

30th-Much to Be Thankful For.
The President Wednesday issued
the following Thanksgiving procla-
nation:
"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 special thanksgiving
to Almighty God for the blessings of
the preceding year. This honored
observance acquires with time a ten
der significance. 1t enriches domestic
life. 1t summons under the family
roof the absent children to glad reun-
ion 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 com
to the home.
1.-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 uneuualed degree
of prosperity, while there has been a
steady gain in the moral and educa-
tional growth of our national charac
ter. Churches and schools have
tiourished. American patriotism has
been exalted. Those engaged in
maintaining the honor of the flag with
such signal success have been in a
large degree spared from disaster and
disease. An honoral 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 resto-
ration of healthy industrial condi
tions, and under wise sanitary rernla-
tions the island has enjoyed unusual
exemption from the scourge of fever.
The hurricane which swept over our
new possession of Porto Rico. de-
stroying the homes and property of
the inhabitants, called forth the in
slant sympathy of the people of the
United States, who were swift to re-
spond with generous aid to the suffer
ers. While the insurrection still
continues in the island of Luzon, bus
mess is resuming it's activity and
confidence in the good purposes of the
United States is being rapidly estab-
fishes throughout the archipelago.
For these reasons and countless
Others, l, William Mckinley, Presi-
dent of the United States, do hereby
name Thursday, the Both day of No
vember 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-
qulred islands, as well as by those
who may be at sea or sojourning in
foreign lands and | 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 real significance may not be lost
sight of but fervant prayers may be
offered to the Most High for contin-
uance 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
Il recommend also that on this
day, so far as may be found practica-
BILE, labor shall cease from it's accus
toned toll, and charity abound to-
ward the sick, the needy and the
poor. l
I'm witness whereof have set nv
hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
'WILLIAM MCKINLEY"