The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-11-24
THE people of the United States
celebrate Thanksgiving day
with more and more accord


with more and more accord
every year. Indeed. one might
say they have more and more reason.
The fathers of New England, hem
MED IN between n wilderness and the
sea, watched their doubtful crops in
anxious memories of other years of
famine. When they found that once
More there was fish enough and pork
enough and corn and beans and pump.
kiRs and sauashes and turnips enough
60 carry them through TIE winter they
met TO thank God, knowing full well
low many hazards they had passed
through, for those days as compared
with today were days of pinching pov.
city The New England historian. DR.
Pxlfrey, says, with certain dryness,
which shows probably some personal
preferences, Baked beans point to the
zine when it was desirable to make
the most Of the commonest vegetable
by favoring it with the flesh of the
caufrnOnest animal"
An this is happily changed. For the
world, indeed, the Old peril Of famine
Is well nigh forgotten. And why? The
American Of today gives thanks that
famiue is well nigh impossible.
First of all. he remembers that he is
no longer dependent on the crops of
few Hundred square miles or the fish
ing voyage Of single summer.
Thanks to the providence of God as
II has worked in history and to the
work Of brave men who believed they
were children Of God, the petty colo
mics which were thus described are
now one nation. OF that nation the
nfeauest citizen, the most foolish. the
weakest and the poorest. has every
right and privilege before the law
which belongs to the strongest. the
richest and the wisest. though he were
horn i'm the purple Of luxury. To the
widows son Of the poorest citizen of
fiaRt nation. then. there will come his
daily bread in answer to his daily
prayer, though 1t come from the mill
ing Of California wheat or be the
salmon caught at the falls Of the SpO-
kane, without let or hindrance from
any power of earth. If there is food
tu plenty In one region, as by the fall
Sf an avalanche down a mountain, 1t
VIII certainly seek consumption In an.
sfher region. And this the American
kg and girl owe to the good Provi-
deuce and to the brave men who made
this country one and have kept 1t one.
TX is too much the blindness of our
sine 10 speak as If such simple bust
ness as daily food came to us as mat
ter Ct course. There is. indeed, care
3eEY habit in which Americans often
speak, as If, because they are Amer.
EanL they have everything without so
musA as asking for 1t. Fourth of July
scHfors and street corner braggarts
alike talk Of the natural products Of
this country almost In the tone of the
esnigrants who expect to pick up Il
a0uhloon upon the sidewalk. One is
teMpted to ask such braggarts why
the country did not produce such
wealth 100 years ago or 200 years ago.
Why was Dakota then a desert? why
were the hills of Alabama only hid
ing place for a few thousand Creek
fndfans2 Why did they not forge the
kan under their feet? Why did not
ylse Truquois in western New York pick
froxn their trees the peaches and the
DearB such as have been growing there
sifty autumn,
The answer is this: All the wealth
sf America comes to her from the
Nxk Of her men and women. The
victory which yields 1t is their victory.
IL IL the victory Of spirit conquering
natter 1t comes in the daily miracle
Ut daily life, where children of God,
led hy Goa. taught by God. alive In
nis life and fellow workmen with him.
earyy out his designs and subdue the
exrsh. 1t is neither sensible nor CRATE
hal TO speak of teeming granaries, Of
Decreasing trade, Of new mines. Of oil,
81 Iron or Of gas as If these things were
wealth In themselves. They are only
wealth when man strikes the rock and
It's waters flow. And this man must
BE got the savage man who cares only
fow his own personal appetite. 1t must
BE man. the child Of God, seeking fu.
rusc better than today, determined to
Ering i'm nobler age than that which
ne lives in