Gloucester County Democrat., 1904-11-24

Ogste
urg. y. r., as sscond-etass matter.
America, since early 10 the hist ory
has praeticed spirit of thankfulness to
God for a cantiautnce of the blessings Of
free government IN times Of national
trial and wide spfead adverse general eon-
disions ms well as during seasons af great
est prosperity Tie constratd authorities
have appnm,d day ur thanksgiving 10
the Giver If MI far The general hpaetits and
welfare 81 tie natiet. since iSGa the last
Thurssl.,Y d, November has been designated,
but previous to that date the festival was
held on irregular dates the earliest being
in 1921. by the Pilgrim Fathers. Congress
recommended days Of Thanksgiving
annually during She trying days Of the
Revolution, aud in 1884 for the return Of
peace.
Washington appointed such day in
1879, on the adoption of the Constitution,
and again in 1895 for the general benefits
enjoyed by the people
As a nation, Americans probably haYe
greater cause for Thanksgiving to-day than
at any other period of our history. We
are at peace with the whole world, the
benefits Of education are more generally
difTused, the discoveries of science are not
confined to the rich but are obtainable by
the poor without money and without price.
The science of healthful living is more
widely diffused than at any other period,
small cities and even villages having sys-
TENS of sewerage and health regulations
only a few years ago deemed obtainable
only by large communities. Remote see
tions no longer exist-beeause the telephone
is going into the farm house as well as the
business Office, and ere long farmers will
have formed the habit of ordering a steak
for breakfast over the phone with as much
assurance as his city cousin.
With all our wonderful advancement and
our increased benefits, in some respects we
are going wrong-decaying at the heart.
The canker of corrupt elections, with its
roots in the great cities, is gradually reach
ing out to the small cities and the rural
districts, and if not halted the ballot will
ere long cease to be the expression of the
freeman's will In the last week we have
been told of one man who voted forty-five
times in Philadelphia at the last election
and two who voted seven times each in
Camden And there are innumerable in
stances OF solid citizens going to the poles
and finding their names have been voted.
How many Of the negroes who voted in
Gloucester County on November can he
found here to-day?
We are not bringing this crime to any
party, we are simply stating condition,
and it is one that every citizen whose love
OF country is as sincere as his profession,
views with alarm. A gentleman whose
name is familiar throughout New Jersey
said tosus a few days ago; 'The man who
lives twenty-five years, will see the corrupt
election methods now employed in Phila-
delphia, prevailing throughout the entire
country.
If our friend be only one-quarter of
prophet, all good citizens should unite in
fact as well as in mind, and stop forever
this blot ON our governmental system.
Those who have the power to stop it are
responsible for its continuance, and as we
give thanks to-day for the multitude Of our
general blessings let the prayer ascend that
those chosen to administer affairs of State
and Nation may have strength of purpose
to keep the Americans ballot the clear ex-
preston of the freeman's will.