The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-11-25
THANKSGIVING DAY
DUE TO HAMILTON;
GAVE FIRST DINNER
Back in 1873 the Secretary Of
the Treasury Thought Amer
lea Should Observe Day.

lea Should Observe Day.
Thanksgiving day Is observed
throughout the United States far more
peaceably than the first Thanksgiving
was observed as a national festival l2o
years ago. Thanksgiving is an institu-
ton Of heavy antiquity, but its observe
ance nationally in this country only
dates from November 26, 1889. 1t Was
in that year that George Washing
ton issued the first Thanksgiving proc
lamatien from the executive office.
The first national Thanksgiving was
probably the most exciting ever cele-
brated or this continent and owes Its
historic interest to a bottle, a bird,
q broken nose n an angry presi-
dent Who resorted to 'cuss words
these things are indirect to h
main fact hat we came very near los
ing Thanksgiving and all the famous
men of the day got into a quarrel and
ate a turkey dinner without speaking.
to each other.
Hamilton Started 1t.
Alexander Hamilton. secretary of the
treasury during President Wasting
IONS administration, originated the
idea of Thanksgiving day in this coun-
try. He broached the subject at a
meeting of the clbinet in August. 1919.
Elias Boudinot, a member of the House
OF Representatives from New England,
followed out his suggestions and in
reduced In the House a resolution the
following month asking the president to
set aside a day of thanksgiving. Roger
sherman. Of Connecticut, seconded the
lotion tc adopt the resolution.
Much oppc s1t1on among the congress-
linen was manifest and D'any of them
denounced the custom Ct such observ-
| N 1f.lc n. mr., "a t,t s-.t Lt@,,-~
became so personal and caustic in their
denunciations that blows We're struck
on the streets Of New York, which city
was then the national capital. Personal
encounters between the congressman
We're daily affairs.
Jefferson With Opposition.
Thomas Jefferson opposed the reso-
tuition as an encroachlnent upon the
boundary line which had been fixed be-
tween religion and state. However, it
passed both houses on october 3, 1879.
and Washington Immediately issued a
proclamation designating November &c
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-
:aries and military. headed by Wash
lngton himself Jefferson's opposition
prevented this spectacular exhibition
and it was decided that the day was
a domestic holiday and tha. 1t should
be observed in the home in the old
New England manner.
Jefferson still considered the day as
= religious continuance only n re-
fused to enter int any of the cele-
brations. Mrs. Washington prepared to
entertain with a dinner at the execu-
tive mansion in true colonial style and
every one of. prominence in the ma
ttonal government was invited. Ham
ilton proceeded to organize all kinds
OF celebrations and festivities and by
the time the day arrived, much rivalry
had arisen among members Of the cab
lnet.
Nearly a Fight.
A dinner at Faunce's tavern. now
the Waldorf-Astoria of New York.
vas arranged by Hamilton for his
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 arose among the
guests: A certain Lieutenant st. Clair
entirely sober. A New York alderman
and notary, OF whom we know no
more than that his name was Tisdal.
def1ed the lieutenant N asked him to
prove IL. n lieutenant threw q bot.
tie at the alderman and the glass.
ware and gentlemen We're I'm a heap.
when Hamilton entered.
Turkeys Are Essential.
He separated them and endeayored
to quiet matters, knowing the dis
grace 1t would bring upon him were
1t made public. Then there was a dis
pute about the turkey which had not
been served and Hamilton ordered the
declaring that no citizen should
abstain from eating turkey on
day. After the turkey
had been eaten, he responded to hi
toast n went to the executive man
sion. where he was the presidents
guest. When Washington heard Of the
at the tavern he reprimanded
and history tells us that he
in declaring 1t d%isgraceful.
In the trouble at the dinner the
young lieutenant sustained a broken
nose. Washington again swore that II
d~isgraceful for a lieutenant to get
In q dining room encounter.
Thus, the bottle, the bird. the broken
nose and the angry president,
Apparently, Washington had enough
The first year to last him fer Ave years.
his second proclamation was not
.ssued unit! January 1, 1895. During
Interval Of five years there was
day Of Thank sgiving and it was
turing this time that we nearly lost
'ur national Thanksgiving day.