The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-20
Thanksgiving
Nv Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

anu HiauSIc Tie ledSllflSS WIFI WHICH, VIC
celebrate it, a touch of seriousness al
ways clings to the occasion.
From the beginning we have never
omitted it's observance, not even during
the war of the sixties not even in the
lean and panic years of 1887, 1857, 1873,
1898, and 1907. There were always
enough of us glad to be alive, and that
1T is as well with us as it is," as the
deacon's phrase goes.
1t may not be bad idea in this year
of grace 1915 TO take stock of our bless
ings.
OF course we have faults, unjust con-
ditions, sufferings dangers, and the
usual quota of undesirable elements in
cident 70 the Rvman family in all times
and places. Only Thanksgiving Day ~
not the occasion for complaints nor
alarms. Let us rather look about and
see wherein Destiny has been good to
us. IT'S a wholesome exercise, and
commendable habit.
The first thir-..hat comes to all our
minds is the unspeakable calamity OF
the war that RACES among our brothers
Il Europe. By the mercy Of fate we are
spared that.
not being infected. dismembered. or
slain upon the battlefield. 1t is nYthe
blood Of our boys that is being poured
dow the sink hole Of race pride and
governmental incOmpetency.
We are spared the blighting hates that
are wars bitterest by-products; we are
nursing no long fury of resentment
against another people.
The systems and ideals of government
upon this western continent are such
that we not only live in friendly rivalry
and intelligent cooperation, but we see
no possibility of things ever being other-
wise. One-half of the world has ellmi-
mated war even from its thought. mat
is something.
We are the least endangered OF any
nation. In spite of alarmists, 1t is nara
to see what object any nation could nave
in attacking US. As near as safety can
be assured upon this sublunary sphere
we are safe.
We are prospering materially. 1t is
but a pose when We affect to desplse
nrosperitv. We all want it and labor for
il and ought TO be decently thankful
when we get 1t.
There are always those who howl
calamity loudest when skies are clearest.
II is cantankerous human nature to fear
something i'll is bound to happen when
we are all happy. But it is the rottenest
ignorance Of superstition. Men OF sense
ought not TO be afraid to laugh when
they feel good, even il tomorrow may
bring the gripes.
Our farms are teeming. We have had
hummer crops. The good God has filled
our bins with corn. wheat, oats, and APP
pies. Cotton fourishes.
We have been able to send millions OF
dollars worth Of provisions to unfor,
tunate Belgium, one Of the most splendid
acts of history.
With magnificent self-restraint we
have played the big brother to Cuba,
Mexico. and Haiti.
Representatives of our sister Ameri-
can republic have several times sat with
MS in humane council on Pan-American
affairs.
War is always fraught with unexpect-
ed dangers, but our rulers have plloted
us so far safely through the troubled
waters. We are not the enemy of Ger
MANY nor Of England. We stand the one
great exponent of humanity, even above
patriotism.
While we have had our strikes and
labor wars on the whole our great strug-
gle toward a righteous economical ad-
justment of the producing forces OF
labor and capital has proceeded with re-
markable dignity and intelligence.
The cause Of education was never
more popular. Our vast system OF free
public schools steadily increases the IN
telligence Of our citizens.
Big business grows bigger, yet has
been marked with an increasing sensi-
tiveness to its responsibility, and with
the feeling of the necessity of maintain
ing public favor.
The south is advancing the east was
never buster the north overfiows with
abundance, the west booms.
Our experiment is democracy has not
yet failed. A hundred million self-gov-
erning people pursue their fortunes in
reasonable fellowship, uncursed by Sec
tional hate, unterrifed of foreign ag-
gression.
We are not so contentiously religious
as we were but we have deal more