The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-11-08
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMA-
TON ISSUED BY PRESIDENT
Chief Executive Calls to Mind
Year has Brought Two Tragic
Experiences to America

President Coolidge's Thanks
giving Day Proclamation, is
sued Tuesday from the White
House at Washington calls to
mind that the year has brought
to the American people two trag-
ic eXperiences-the death of
President Harding and the Jap
anese earthquake-but says
such experiences serve to test
and refine men and nations.
During the year also, the proc
lamatiOn says, the nation has
been blessed with much of ma
terial prosperity. The President
asks that the people gather in
their homes and places of wor-
ship Thursday, November 10Th,
to give expression to their graf
itude and seek the guidance of
Almighty God that they may de-
serve q continuance of His IA
Vor."
"A Proclamation.
The American people from their
earliest days have observed the wise
custom of acknowledging each year
the bounty with which divine provi-
dence has favored them. In the be-
ginning, this acknowledgment was a
voluntary return of thanks by the
community, for the fruitfulness of the
harvest. Though our mode of life
has greatly changed, this custom has
always survived. 1t has made thanks
giving day not only one of the oldest
but one Of the most characteristic
observances of our country. On that
day, in home and church, in family
and il public gatherings the whole
nation has for generations paid the
tribute due from grateful hearts Cor
blessings bestowed.
To center our thoughts in this way
upon the favor which we have been
shown has been altogether wise and
desirable. 1t has given opportunity
justly to balance the good and the
evil which we have experienced. IN
that we have never failed to find
reasons for being grateful to God for
a generous preponderance Of the good.
Even in the least propitious times, a
broad contemplation of our whCl1 po-
sition has never failed to disclose ov-
erwhelming reasons for thankfulress.
Thus viewing our situation, we have
found warrant for a more hopeful and
confident attitude toward the idurc.
In this current year, we now APP
prOach the time which has been ac-
copied by custom as most fitting for
the calm survey Of our estate and the
return of thanks. We shall the more
keenly realize our good fortune, if we
will, in deep sincerity, give to it due
thought and, more especially, if we
will compare it with that of any other
community of the world.
The year has brought to our people
two tragic experiences which have
deeply affected them. One was the
death of our beloved President Hard
ing, which has been mourned wher
ever there is a realization of the worth
of high ideals, noble purpose and I'M
of supreme sacrifice. His loss recalled
the nation to a less captious and more
charitable attitude. 1t SObered the
whole thought of the country. A lit
tie later came the unparalleled dis
aster to the friendly people of Japan.
This called forth from the people of
the United States demonstration of
deep and humane feeling. 1t was
wrought into the substance of good
works. 1t created new evidences of
our international friendship which is
a guarantee of world peace. 1t re-
plenished the charitable impulse of
the country.
By experiences such as these, men
and nations are tested and refined. We
have been blessed with much of ma
terial prosperity. We shall be better
able to appreciate it if we remember
the privations others have suffered
and we shall be the more worthy of
it if we use it for their relief. We will
do we'll then to render thanks for the
good that has come to us and show
by our actions that we have become
stronger, wiser and truer by the chas-
Jennings which have been imposed up
on us. We will thus prepare ourselves
for the part we must have in world
which forever needs the full measure
of service. We have been a most ia
vored people. We ought to be a most
generous people, We have been
most blessed people. We ought to be
a most thankful people.
Wherefore. |. Calvin Coolidge, Pres