Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-25
,ric Thanksgiving Pr0clamations in War Time

the nations behalf. and %
visit with tender care and consoia-
ton throughout the length and breadth
Of our land all those who. through the
vicissitudes of marches. voyages. bait
ties and sieges. have been brought to
suffer in mind, body and estate. and
finally to lead the whole nation. through
the paths of repentance and submission
to the Divine Will. back to the per.
feet enjoyment of union and fraternal
peace.
unto set my hand and caused the seal
Of the United States to be afixed-
Done in the city of Washington. the
fifteenth day of July. In the year of
and sfxty-three. and the year of the
Independence of the United States of
America the eighty eighth
The proclamation bears the sigma.
ture of Abraham Lincoln, as we'll as
that of his Secretary of State. William
H. Seward
President Lincoln's last Thanksgfv-
Ing proclamation. set for the last
Thursday in November. 1864, expresses
his thankfulness for the vision of VIC
tory. which is in view, but still con-
tains a humble supplication for peace.
What glorious Thanksgiving he
would have sent over the land had he
occH spared 10 issue tnat which Deg
ed a nations thank offerings for peacef
This privilege denied the great Lin
coin was granted to the aggressive An
drew johnson. and the somewhat cold
and hackneyed message he issued upon
an occasion SO full OF cause for gratitude
Is characteristic OF the man. In that
message he said:
Whereas, 1t has pleased Almighty God
during the year which Is now coming to
an end to relieve our beloved country
from the fearful scourge Of civil war. and
to permit 1,t,. US to secure the blessings Of
enlargement of civil liberty.
Now. therefore. be 1t known that l,
Andrew Johnson. President Of the United
pie thereof that they do set apart and
observe the first Thursday in December
next as day of national thanksgiving to
the Creator OF the universe for these
great deliverances and blessings.
1.-THE Spanish-American war was OF
such short duration that II resulted In
few proclamations." said Mr.; Tonner. as
he turned the pages Of one Of his big red
volumes to the year 1898. Here Is Pres
ident McKinley's proclamation dated
April &C. bearing the simple statement
proclamation for the same year recon-
mended the giving Of thanks in the fol-
lowing words:
.The skies have been for a time DARK
compelled to take up the sword In tho
cause Of humanity, we are permitted 10
rejoice that the conflict has been OF shorI
duration. We may laud ana
magnify His holy name that the cessa-
ton of hostilities came SO soon. so as to
spare both sides the countless sorrows
and disasters that attend protracted WEI
81 do, therefore, invite all my fellow
citizens. as well those who may be at
sea or sojourning in foreign lands as
those at home, to set apart and observe
Thursday. the oath day of November, ~
a day Of national Thanksgiving"
The high title of War President may
now fifty be transferred from Lincoln to
woodrow Wilson, for if he has not al
ready done so he will fully earn II before
the world war is past. The stamp OF per-
eonality marks most Of the war procla-
nations Of both the past and the present
because their vital import has called for
the individual effort of the chief execu-
tive. Few Presidents in the past actually
penned their own proclamations, but
President Wilson composes many of his
most famous papers on his private type
writer 1t is on record at the State De-
partment that the short proclamation Of
a month ago. earnestly exhorting all my
countrymen to observe the appointed
day. according to their several faiths. In
solemn prayer that Gods blessing may
rest upon the high task which is laid
upon US" was not alone OF his composing
but is also his handiwork.