Evening star., 1916-11-26

necessary to the success of the public cause; the
perfect union and good understanding which has
hitherto subssted between them and their allies,
Notwithstanding the artful and unwearied at
tempts Of the common enemy to divide them: the
success of the armies of the United States and
those of their allies. and the Acknowledgement Of
their independence by anotoher European power.
whose friendship and commerce must be of great
and lasting advantage to these states, do hereby
recommend 1t to the inhabitants of these states
states to interpose their authority in appointing
and commanding the observation of Thursday
the 2sth day of November next. day of SOL
emn Thanksgiving to God for all His mercies
and they do further recommend to all ranks to
testify their gratitude to God for His goodness
by cheerful obedience His la ws and by pro-
noting. each in his station and by his influence
the practice Of true and undefiled religion. which
is the great foundation Of public prosperity and
The last Thanksgiving proclamation
of the revolution was reported to Con-
gress October Is, 1893, by Duane. Sam
uel Huntington and Fo1ten 1t was
written By Mr.. Duane and given to the
people on the second Thursday in De-
cember. 1t expresses thanks for the
discharge of troops in the following
words:
Whereas 1t has pleased the Supreme Ruler Of
all human events to dispose the hearts of the
late bellfgerent powers to put period to the
effusoin of human blood, by proclaiming tcessa-
ton of all hostilites by and land, and these
United States not only happily rescued from
the dangers and calamities to which they have
been long exposed, but their freedom, SOW
ereignty and independence are ultimately ac-
knowledged; and whereas. in the process of
contest on which the most essential rights Of
human nature depended the intcrposition of
Divine Providence in favor hath been
abundantly and most graciously manifested, and
the citizens of these United States have every
son for praise and gratitude to the God of their
salvation: the United States in Con-
gress asgsembled do recommend ii to the several
states to set apart the second Thursday in De-
cember next as day of public thanksgiving.
"The first national THANKSGIVING to
be promulgated after the adoption Of
the Constitution of the United States
was written by Washington and issued
on October 3, 1889. This was a general
recommendation of Thanksgiving for
the establishment of the Constitution.
The whereabouts of the original of this
instrument is unknown. The earliest
Thanksgiving proclamation of Wash
ington as President in the possession
of the Department of State is one dated
January l. 1898. and was issued in
view of the suppression of the rebel
lion in western Pennsylvania which
for a time threatened the safety of the
Union.
This document was written by Alex
ander Hamilton Secretary of the Treas
ury. and bears amendments by Edmund
Randolph. Secretary of State. The orig
inal copy is yellow and the ink is
faded. but it is yet legihle. 1t is the en-
crossed copy which bears the great
seal of the United States and the sigma
lures of Washington and Randolph.
The proclamation is as follows:
when we review the calsmities which
nffct many other nations. the present cond-
ton Of the United States affords much of
consolation and satisfaction. Our exemption
hitherto from foreign increasing pros
pect of the continuance of that exemption, the
great degree Of internal tranquility have
enjoyed. the recent confirmation of that tran
quility by the suppression OF insurrection
Threatened he haDDy
course of public affairs ip general. the
exampled prosperity Of all classes Of citi-