Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-03-08

senseless noise = and dangerous
explosion leaving in it's train far
more of 'mishap and accident, than
lessons Of good citizenship OF
pride of country. Fhe. observance
Of Thanksgiving day ID kept alive
through its annual designation
g., by. federal and state authority.
But 1t is. worth our while to in
Iquire whetherits original meaning
as a day; Of united praise and
gratitude to God for the blessings
bestowed upon us as a people and
as individuals, is not smothered
in feasting and social indulgence.
We in common with christian ma
tions everywhere, celebrate Christ
mas-but how much less as a day
of concentrating the birth of
the Redeemer Of mankind, than
as day Of hilarity and the inter-
change of gifts.
will not without decided pro-
test be accused of antagonizing
or deprecating light-hearted mirth
and jollity. On kthe5 contrary I
am an earnest advocate of every
kind of sane, decent social enjoy
ment; and all sorts OF recreation.
But nevertheless I feel that the
allowance Of an,yincongruous pos
session BY them:of our commem-
orstiye days is evidence of a GER
tain condition.. symtomatic sof q
popular tendency which are by
no means reassuring.
On this day, the Union League
clubsof Chicago should especially
rejoice in the consciousness Of
patriotic accompaniment; and on
this day of all others, every one
of its members should regard his
membership as a badge Of honor.
Whatever else the organization
may have done, it has justified its
!existance and earned the applause
of those whose love of country
is still unclouded by the work it
has done for the deliverance of
Washington's birthday from ne
elect or indolent remembrance.
In furtherance of the high en-
desvor of your organization, it
would have9 been impossible to
select for Observance any other
eiiVic holida yhaving 81 bread md
fitting d signif cariee aa this. III
memories the birth Of one whose
glorious deeds are. transeendently
above at others' recorded Ell ~ our f1S
national annals; and in memoriz-
Ing the birth Of " ashington It
commentaries the incarnation of
all the virtues: and all the; ideals.
that made our nationality possible
and gave it promise of growth and
strength It lis a. holiday that
belongs exclusively to the .Ameri-
can people. All that Washington
did was bound. up in our national.
destiny. The battles he. fought
were fought for American liberty
and the victories he won i gave us
national independence. His ax- s
ample Of unael fish consecration
and lofty patri otism made mani
fest as in an open book that those
virtues were conditions not more
vital To-. our nations beginning
than to It's eVelopment and dur
ability. His faith in God and the,
fortitude Of lis faith, taught those
for for whom y he rough ID /, That the
surest sstreng off nations comes
from the support off God y almighty
arm His universal and feet
ed sympathy VIII i. those iii u every
sphere OF Americanilife, His thor
ough knoWled Of existing Amer-.
'ican's condii tons and his wonder
full foresight Of those vet tgE Be.
coupled with his powerful in
shuences in the councils of those
who we're to- mako 81 mar the Fate
of sn infan nat ion, made him q
stremendo us fact Id the + construc-
lion aud adDp lion off the consti to-
stion chart BY Sw hi i;il the courts
sof the newly unched ublie
could be- aafel Is sal ed And sc
was he ho first took the helm
and demonst ted FOR tl guiid dance
ofall who mil Ut succeed him. how,
and 5in what spirit and intent,