The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-11-17
NOV. "a A DAY OF THANKS.
The President Sets Aside That Day
and Calls Attention to a Years
Prosperity.

velt issued his Thanksgiving day proc
lamation, setting aside Thursday, Nov.
"a, ito be observed as day of festival
and thanksgiving by all the people of
the United States, at home and abroad"
The proclamation was issued from the
state department. by Secretary Hay, as
follows:
By the president of the United States
of America, a proclamation: 1t has
pleased Almighty God to bring the
American people in safety and honor
through another year, and in accord
ance 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
iof his hand for the mercies thus vouch-
safed 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 borders as we'll as
between us and all other nations. The
harvests have been abundant, and those
who work, whether with hand or brain,
are prospering greatly. Reward has
waited upon honest effort. We have
been able to do our duty to ourselves
and to others. Never has there been a
time when religious 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 boastfulness
or vainglory, but with full and reverent
realization that our strength is as moth
ing unless we are helped from above.
Hitherto we have been given the heart
lest 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 fear
lessly and honestly, with charity and
good will, with respect for ourselves
and with love toward our fellow men.
In this great republic the effort to
combine national strength with person
al 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 sue
cess must depend the high average of
our individual citizenship, upon the way
in which each of us does his duty by
himself and his ,neighbor.
Now, therefore, |, Theodore Roosevelt,
president of the United States, do here
by appoint and set apart Thursday, the
24th of this November, to be observed
as a day Of festival and thanksgiving by
all the people of the United States, at
home and abroad, and do recommend
that on that day they cease from their
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 l have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done at
the city of Washington this 1st day of
November in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and four and of
the independence of the United States
the one hundred and twenty-ninth.
By the president,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
JOHN HAY, secretary of state.