The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-16
Presidential Thanksgiving at the
Close Of Wars.

A citizen whose piety may be too
far in advance of his patience sends
this criticism:
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE sUS-SR: II
Is evident that President WILSON be-
lieves. so far as any supernatural con-
trol Is concerned, that men and nations
are allowed In this world TO act accord
Ing to their own free will; for in his
address to Congress no reference what
ever was made TO the Deity as having
act or part IN the cessation Of hostili-
ties. or indeed in any relation whatso-
ever. This, think. Is the first ad-
dress OF that kind wherein such omis-
sion has occurred Am I right?
''T. e. w"
NEW YORK, November IL.
The United States had no President
until six years after the close of the
Revolutionary war. On April 10,
1888, the eighth anniversary Of the
battle Of Lexington, the cessation of
hostilitIes between Great Britain and
the Colonies was proclaimed to the
Continental Army. General WASH
ISoroN's orders read:
The chapisins OF the several bril-
gades will render thanks 10 Almighty
COP for all his nercies. particularly for
His overruiing the wrath Of man to
His own glory. and causing the rage OF
war to cease among the nations"
Thanks to Providence for the peace
following the war of 1912 were not
expressed by President MADISON I'M
| til March 4, 1918, ten weeks after the
Client Treaty. Then, setting apart
the second Thursday Of April as a
day Of thanksgiving. the President
recommended that the people unite
their hearts and their voices In free
will offering TO their Heavenly Bene-
factor Of their homage Of thanksgiv-
Ing and Of their songs of praise"
President PoLK's proclamation an
nouncing the signing of the treaty
which ended the Mexican war con-
tained no reference to the Deity.
| Several months afterward, on Deem
Der 5. 1S4S, In his fourth annual mes
sage. President Polk declared that
1.-THE gratitude of the nation to the
Sovereign Arbiter Of All Human
Events should be commensurate with
the boundless blessings which we
enjoy"
President LINCOLN issued no procla.
nation In the few days that came be-
tween LEES surrender and his own
death. In his second inaugural ad.
dress. delivered FIVE weeks before Ap.
pomattox, when the end Of the Con,
tederacy was In sight. he said:
'The Almighty has His own purposes
Woe unto tho world because of OF.
! fences. for It must needs be that OF,
fences come; but WOO to that man by
| whom the offence cometh.' II we shall
suppose that American slavery Is one O!
tHObo OIICHCoo Which, III tuo TIONlucHCt
of COP. must needs como. but which
having continued through His appointed
time. He now Wills to remove, and thai
He gives to both North and South thi:
terrible war. as the woe due to those
by whom the offence came shall W.
discern therein any departure from
those divine attributes which the be
levers In living Con always ascrib,
to HIM FJndly do we hope--ferventl,
DO we pray--that this mighty scourg,
of war may speedily pass away. Yet
II GOD wills that It continue until al
the wealth piled by the bondmani
two hundred and nifty years OF unre
Quilted toll shall be sunk. and untn every
drop OF blood drawn with the lash shall
be paid with another drawn with tn,
swsrd. so still it must be said. III,
T.