The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-11-25
THANKSGIVING DAY
DUE TO HAMILTON;
GAVE FIRST DINNER
Back in 1779 the Secretary Of
the Treasury Thought Amer
lea Should Observe Day.

Thanksgiving day IL observed
throughout the United States far more
~peaceably than the first Thanksgiving
was observed as a national festival 12v
years ago. Thanksgiving Is an institu-
ton Of heavy antiquity. but its observ-
dates from November 26. 1889. II was
in that yes hat George Washing
ton issued the first Thank sgfving proc
lamatien from the executive office.
The first national Thanksgiving was
probably the most exciting ever cele-
brated on this continent and owes It's
historic interest to a bottle, a bird,
q broken nose and an angry presi,,
dent who resorted to "cuss words"
to round out his wrath. Yet, all
these things are indirect to the
main fact that we came very near los
ing Thanksgiving and all the famous
men Of the day got into a quarrel n
ate a turkey dinner without speaking
to each other.
Hamilton Started II.
Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the
treasury during President Washing
TONS administration, originated the
idea of Thanksgiving day in his coun-
try. He broached the subject at a
meeting of the cabinet in August, 1719.
Elias Boudinot, q member Of the House
Of Represen- atives from New England,
followed out his suggestions and in
troduced in the House a resolution the
following mont asking the president to
set aside a day OF thanksgiving. Roger
Sherman, Of Connecticut. seconded the
lotion to adopt the resolution.
Much oppc 5ition among the congress-
iren was manifest and Uany Of them
denounced the custom II such observ-
nnces al monarchical Some members
became so personal and caastic in their
anttnniotfnn that h1axya xy0ra rxvf
on the streets Of New York, which city
vas then the national capital. Personal
encounters between the congressman
We're daily affairs.
Jefferson With Opposition.
Thomas Jefferson opposed the reso-
luton as an encroachment upon the
boundary line which had been fixed be-
tween religion and state. However, 1t
passed both HOUSES on october 3, 1879,
and Washington Immediately Issued q
proclamation designating November 20
as the first Thanksgiving day. Later
1t was decided that the last Thursday
In each November should be a day Of
thanksgiving.
Then the question Of how the day
should be observed arose. Hamilton
proposed a monster parade Of digni-
taries and military, headed by Wash
lngton himself. Jefferson's opposition
prevented this spectacular exhibition
and 1t was decided that the day was
a domestic holiday and that 1t should
be observed in the home in the old
New England manner.
Jefferson still considered the day as
q religious contrivance only and re-
fused to enter into n of the cele-
brations. Mrs. Washington prepared to
entertain with a dinner at h execu-
tive mansion in true colonia style n
every one Of prominence in The ma
tional government was invited. Ham
ilton proceeded to organize all kinds
the time the day arrived, much rivalry
had arisen among members Of the cab
met.
Nearly a Fight.
A dinner at Faunce's tavern, now
the Waldorf Astoria Of New York,
was arranged by Hamilton for his
friends. This was the first official
Thanksgiving banquet In our history.
Hamilton was to make a speech. but
he was late in arriving and the guests
sat down without him. At this din
ner a disagreement crosse among the
guests. A certain Lieutenant st. Clair
asserted, OF his honor, that he was
entirely sober. A New York alderman
and notary, OF whom WI know no
more than that his name was Tisdal.
def1ed the lieutenant and asked him to
prove 1t. The lieutenant threw q bot
tie at the alderman and the glass
ware and gentlemen were in q heap"
when Hamilton entered.
Turkeys Are Essential.
He separated them and endeavored
to quiet matters, knowing the dis
grace II would bring upon him were
1t made public. Then there was a dis
pute about h turkey which had not
been served and Hamilton ordered the
turkey, declaring that no citizen should
abstain from eating turkey on
Thanksgiving day. After the turkey
had been eaten, he responded to his
toast and went to the executive man
sion, where he was the presidents
guest. When Washington heard Of the
affair at the tavern he reprimanded
Hamilton and history tells us hat he
swore in declaring 1t d~isgraceful.
In the trouble at the dinner the
young lieutenant sustained a broken
nose. Washington again swore hat 1t
vas d~isgraceful for a lieutenant to get
injured In q dining room encounter.
Thus, the bottle, the bird, the broken
nose and the angry president.
Apparently, Washington had enough
the first rear to last him for five years,
as his secord proclamation was not
issued until January 1, 1875. During
the interval Of five years there was
no day of Thank sGiving and 1t was
during this time that we nearly lost
our national Thanksgiving day.
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