The Alaska daily empire., 1916-11-30
THANKSGIVING DAY

The people Of che United States are observing today as Of thanksgiving for mercies bestowed and benefits received during the year It may. there fore, be in order Co indulge in little introspectOn and ask ourselves why We should observe day of thanksgiving Le, us look briefly into the observance ol the day by the American people. That the custom is old is freely atested that it is peculiarly an American institution is likewise true Although other nations have had their days of thanksgiving they do no; seem Go have made any attempt to make the event recurring each year. it's observance being more Of special fixed nature
 To the Pilgrim fathers is ascribed the observance the first day Of prayer and thanksgiving" in 1921 "a the Plymouth colony. Although they were strangers in strange land. these pioneers Of new country found many things for which to be thankful, even alter @ years experience the stern and rockbound New England coast. They had fo-saken the old World for the New. because they desired land where they could worship God according to the die tates of their own conscences They found the place aud the opportunity: they established homes. re- claimed the wilderness planted crops fought Indians Quarreled among themselves. developed bigotry with zeal in their environment; but for all that they forgot the prime duty that they owed their creator for protection and guidance" and so they established a day of thanksgiving which now. for many years. has become national in it's scope and al though in character has lost Of s early dis tinctive features. it's fundamental purpose has not being more Of a special than fixed nature
 And it the ear;y founders of this nation could find reasons for thankfulness how much should We who also pioneers in a land. what though nearly three hundred years have been rolled up like scroll since the foundation stones upon which this Republics superstructure was reared in the old Col ony Of Plymouth.
 We of Alaska. too. thankful We ere thankful because we are alive because we live in land of liberty enlightenment and progress; because have churchs and the right to worship our conscience may dictate secure in the knowledge that this right will not be placed in jeopardy; We thankful be cause We have the American public school a beacon light dispeng ignorance and insuring cultivation of that patriotism and love of the institutions and agencies Of seltgovernment which make for the per manency of the Republic.
 And today when nearly every nation of the Old World is engaged in Senseless homicidal warfare. their peoples prosrate and suffering it is peculiarly fitting that should be thankful that neither war nor pestience nor famine threaten us and that hap oily. country has been kept free of war entange ments. thanks che good sense Of our people and the wisdom Of those upon whom is laid the responsibility Of directing the affairs of our country And while deeply sensible of all these advantages and fayors that we enjoy we should not forget the wartorn sui ferers of the Eastern Hemisphere because due con- sideration the of humanity ought result in the greatest blessing to the American people for the quality ot mercy is not strained-t blesse-h him that gives and him that takes. h