The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-11-15
THANKSGIVING
PROCL.!AM
President Says: Give Thanks
to Almighty God for
Blessings Bestowed"

Washington.-The text of the an
nual Thanksgiving proclamation issued
Wednesday by President Wilson fol-
lows:
"By the president Of the United
States Of America:
"a proclamation.
"The season Of the year has again
arrived when the people Of the United
States are accustomed to unite in Civ
ing thanks to Almighty God for the
blessings which he has conferred upon
our country during the twelve months
that have passed. A year ago our
people poured out their hearts in
praise and thanksgiving that, through
divine aid, the right was victorious
and peace had come to the nations
which had so courageously struggled
in defense Of human liberty and JUS
tice. Now that the stern task is ended
and the fruits of achievement are ours,
we look forward with confidence to
the dawn of an era where the sacrifice
of the nation will find recompense
in world at peace.
But to attain the contamination of
the great work to which the Ameri-
cans devoted their manhood and the
vast resources of the country, they
should give thanks to God and recon
secrate themselves to these principles
Of right which triumphed through his
merciful goodness. Our gratitude can
find no more perfect expression than
to hulwark with loyalty and patriotism
those principles for which the free
peoples Of the earth fought and died.
During the past year we have had
much to make US grateful. In spite
Of the confusion IN our economic life,
resulting from the war, we have pros
pered. Our harvests have been plen-
! tiful and Of our abundance we have
been able to render succor to less
favored nations. Our democracy re-
mains mistaken In world torn with
political and social unrest Our ira
ditional ideals are still our guides In
the path of progress and civilization.
"These great blessings vouchsafed to
us, for which we deVoutly give thanks,
should arouse us to fuller sense Of
our duty to ourselves and to mankind
to see to it that nothing we may do
shall mar the completeness of the VIC
tory which we helped to win. No
selfish purpose animated us in becom-
ing a participant in the world war,
and with like spirit of unselfishness
we should strive to aid by our ex-
ample and by our cooperation, real
izing the enduring welfare of all peo.
pies and in bringing into being world
ruled by friendship and good will.
Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson
president of the United States OF
America, hereby designate Thursday
the 9th day of November next, for
observance as day of thanksgiving
and prayer by my fellow cOuntrymen
inviting them to cease on that date
from their ordinary tasks and to unite
In their homes and in their several
places of worship in ascribing praise
and thanksgiving to God, the author
Of all blessings and the master of oul
destinies.
"In witness whereof I have hereuntc
set my hand and caused the seal Of
the United States to be affixed.
Done ia the District Of Columbis
this 9Th day of November, in the veal
of eur Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and nineteen, and Of the indie
pendence of the United States the ont
hundred and forty-fourth.
(SsaD WOODROW WILSON.
by the President:
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary Of State.