The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-18
THANKSGIVING
President Roosevelt Calls Upon
the People to Return
Thanks

1t has pleased Almighty God to
bring the American people in safety
and honor through another year, and
in accordance with the long unbroken
custom handed down to us by our
forefathers, the time has come when
special day shall be set apart in
which to thank Him who holds all
nations in the hollow of His hand, for
the mercies thus vouchsa afed to us.
During the century and / quarter of
our national life we, as people, have
been blessed beyond all others. and
for this we owe humble and heartfelt
thanks to the Author of all blessings.
The year that has closed has been one
of peace within our own borders as
between us and all other nations.
The harvests have been abundant,
and those who work, whether with
hand or brain, are prospering great
ly. Reward has waited upon honest
effort. We have beer enabled to do
our duty to ourselves and to others.
Never has there been a time when re-
ligious and charitable effort has been
more evident. Much has been given
to us, and much will be expected from
us. We speak of what has been done
by this nation in no spirit of boast
fulness or vainglOry but with full
and reverent realization that our
strength is as nothing unless we are
helped from above. Hitherto we have
been given the heartiest strength to
do the tasks allotted to us as they
severally arose.
We are thankful for all that has
been done for us in the past, and we
pray that in the future we may be
strengthened in the unending struggle
to do our duty fearlessly and honestly,
with charity and good will, with re-
spect for ourselves and with love
toward our fellowmen.
In this great republic the effort to
combine national strength with per-
sonal freedom is being tried on a scale
more gigantic than ever before in the
worlds history. Our success will mean
much, not only for ourselves, but for
the future of all mankind: and every
man or woman in our land should feel
the grave responsibility resting upon
him or her, for in the last analysis
this success must depend upon the
high average of our individual citi-
zenship, upon the way in which each
of us does his duty by himself and
his neighbor.
Now. therefore. /, Theodore Roose-
welt, president of the United States,
do hereby appoint and set apart
Thursday, the twentyfourth of this
November, to Ae observed as day
of festival and Thanksgiving by all
the people of the United States, at
home or abroad, and do recommend
tina. on that day they cease from their
ordinary occupations and gather in
their several places of worship, or in
| their homes, devoutly to give thanks
unto Almighty God for the benefits he
has conferred upon us as individuals
and as nation, and to beseech Him
that in the future His divine favor
may be continued to us.
In witness whereof | have hereunto
set my hand, and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington,
this lst day of November, in the year
of our Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and four, and of the independ-
ence of the United States, the one
hundred and twenty-ninth.
By the president,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
John Hay, Secretary of State.