The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-30


The American household whose mem
bers do not conceive themselves to have
reason for supreme thankfulness 10 Prov
idence for the blessings of the past year
must indeed be an, exceptional one. The
nineteenth century draws to its close un-
der conditions as favorable to the hap
piness Of the American people as have
perhaps ever attended them in their
career as nation. The future, so far as
1t is given to human foresight to regard
1t, holds within it the amplest assurance
Of the continuance of the conditions
which today make so directly for the
peace and Contentment of the nation.
1t must always be to any American cit
izen who understands the true spirit of
our Institutions a subject of keen regret,
that at any time or under any circum-
stances, short of the defense of the ma
tional liberties, the authority of our gen
eral government should be exercised with
even the appearance of violence 1t is no
part of the mission of free institutions
among men to seek the subsection Of any
individual or people, however weak or
in-advised And so it is, that no policy.
whatever the exigencies which necessi-
tate its adoption, such as that which
has been in progress in the Philippines
Tor a year past, will ever receive the cor
dial approval of those who appreciate the
blessings If civil freedom.
Leaving out of view the situation which
our entrance on a righteous quarrel for
the freedom Of another race Is regarded
by many rs having forced upon us in
the Philippines, there is nothing in the
progress of events during the past wear
which the American people have not the
deepest obligation resting on them to Of
fer to Providence their most profound
thanks. The country has been saved all
infection save such as came upon it
through the death of many of its bravest
sons on the battle field. All the indus
tries of the people have received renewed
life within the year The nation has
shown in all its relations with the powers
OF the earth that it's mission is one Of
peace and that it's only political ends
with reference 20 other peoples are these
of the spread of peace, liberty and en-
hghtenuent. All thoughts of civil con-
vulsion are lost in the era of universal
good feeling prevalent among all ranks
and classes of our own people.
The past year has truly been one of
happiness and hope. God has given to us
more freely than perhaps to any other
people whatever all these blessings
which make joyful the sum of human
existence. So bountiful, indeed, has been
the bestowal upon us of all the good
things of life that we might well regard
ourselves as specially blessed by heaven.
There should be no such thing as want
or suffering in this great and rich land:
and there would not be save as the re-
suit Of the narrow blindness which COM
passes us all in our progress toward a
more humane and more God-Mke under
standing of our relations toward each
other.
The thankfulness of this people may
not find open and avowed expression to-
day save in our churches. But mono the
less do the great mass of the American
people turn their hearts in thankfulness
toward that great Power which has given
to us and has reserved to our children
so much that removes our progress from
the rugged and often bloody pathways
Travelled over by the race for so many
centuries.