La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-12-02
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR
Survey OF the Dominions OF Uncle
Sam and Our Innumerable Bless
ings Cause for Rejoicing

Dr. T.. \. Allen, OF the Presbyter-
Ian church, delivered very inter
esting Thanksgiving sermon last
Sunday morning and We take pleas
ure in reproducing 1t in full In this
issue. II contains many facts and OBJ
servations that should be impressed
upon our minds more forcibly than
they usually are, in order that We
may be duly appreciative OF our ma
tional greatness and the innumerable
blessings that have been so un-
stintedly thrust upon us. The ser
mon follows:
In obedience to the proclamations
issued by our President and the
Governor of our commonwealth, we
meet today to give thanks to AL
mighty God for national prosperity
and greatness and for the innumer-
able blessings that have fallen to us
during the year that is fast drawing
to q close.
And in casting about for 4 suitable
text to address you, l can find moth
ing more appropriate than the well
known words OF Moses as found in
the first chapter and twenty-fifth
verse Of Deuteronomy: 1T IL 4 good
land which the Lord our God doth
give u.s."
II ever there were . nation to
whom these words are appropriate.
unQuestionaby that nation is ours;
for In whatever direction we may
look. we behold elements OF strength
and greatness.
Our Nation Is Vast In Territory
Four million square miles. not
counting our islands. OF domain
stretches out before us. By a COM
parison made by DR.. Strong. we find
our country is eighteen times larger
than Spain. thirty-one times the
size OF Italy. Take five of the first
class powers OF Europe. Great Brit
ain, Germany. Austria. France and
Spain. add Portugal, Switzerland.
Denmark and Greece. and they form
a country one-third the size OF the
United States.
Our mighty West Is almost an en-
pire within itself. Montana alone Is
larger than all New England: Da-
kota Is six times the size OF Greece.
In this immense empire OF the
west there still remains room for
millions. Many OF our western ter
ritories can contain our s0.000.000
OF people and then not be more
densely populated than many Europ-
can countries. This vast undeveloped
domain is everywhere holding out
extraordinary inducements to immi-
grafton. The enterprise. the pluck.
the ambition. the very elect OF our
land are fast finding n home In the
west. The scepter OF power Is fast
moving westward. when the west
II as densely populated as New Eng
land she can and will control the
lower house OF congress. The poll
tics. the religion. the commerce. the
Industry. the wealth OF our country
in the future is destined TO be con-
trolied by the West.
When the broad valleys OF the
west shall have been touched by the
hardy sons OF toll: when her rich
min(s shall have been opened: when
the shrili whistle OF the locomotive
II heard in all parts OF the country:
when smoke-stacks and blazing fur
naces are seen In all her cities: when
the missionary has pushed the cross
into every nook and corner OF So
ciety: when the school and church
have become appendagcs to every
neighborhood. then will the west.
which Il now nm infant. arise and
show forth an empire unparalleled
In progress. and uneScelled In great
ness and power.
Hear the tread OF pioneers.
or nations yet TO be:
The first low wash OF waves.
where soon
Shall roll human sea"
"The rudiments OF empire here
Are plastic yet. and warm;
The chaos OF n mighty world
Is rounding into form"
Surely. 1T IL u good land which
the Lord our God doth give u.s."
Ours Il . wealthy Nation
United States bonds sell at a high
premium in tho markets OF tho
world.
In 1900 our wealth amounted to
$3.50, 900. .000. 900. which exceeded
a. -s.A - r...s n.is . lu Av AEnn