Evening star., 1932-11-24
THANKSGIVING.

has asked the people Of the land to
thank Almighty God today for the
blessings they enjoy. To this invita-
ton the occasional cynic has replied
with the question: what Is there to
be thankful for?" The obvious answer
to that thoughtless interrogation is: For
everything.
Thanksgiving day, as a national In
stitution, was first proclaimed by Presi-
dent washington in 1883. Congress
had requested him to appeal to the
citizenry to thank the Deity for the
Constitution, for the organization OF
the separate colonies into a Federal
Union. The period was one OF stress
and turmoil, Of dissension and depres-
sion. Many were the problems which
the new republic faced. Many were
the men who doubted that those prob
lens could be solved. But Washington,
with greater faith and vision, saw rea-
son to be thankful.
Thanksgiving day was revived by
President Lincoln in 1868. The Union
at that moment was rent with civil
war. a fratricidal strife was in progress,
and the outlook, in the estimation OF
thousands, was black with despair. But
Lincoln entertained In his heart the
conviction that the Nation could be
saved and that popular government
would not perish from the earth. He
summoned the people to give thanks
for Gods gift of power to persevere.
Today, as In 1889 and in 1858, the
Nation is shadowed by distress. Poverty
and suffering are rife. Hundreds OF
families are crushed and broken, thou
sands of individuals are destitute. But
despite these narrowing facts the people
of the United States stin are the most
fortunate people in the world. They
possess the richest land Of the earth.
Their civilization Is the most secure.
Their institutions are the freest and
most directly serviceable. No temporary
dislocation of industry can contradict
their fundamental prosperity. Gradual
Improvement Is inevitable, and it VIII
not be long until normal conditions have
been restored. For peace and freedom,
then, for fellowship and tolerance, for
the democratic ideal which Is their IN
spiration, and for the natural heritage
OF traditional wealth which Is their lot.
the American people can return grateful
thanks to the Providence which has en-
dowed and protected them In an era
when almost every other country has
been disturbed by war and revolution.
by greater suffering and keener distress.
The Nation can thank God for its
existence, for its prospect of survival
and progress That gratitude should be
expressed not alone in terms Of praise
and prayer, but in terms OF sacrifice
and cooperation. It should be mani
tested by deeds of generous charity and
helpfulness. No human creature need
be lost in the present storm. The fra
ternal relation of one American to an
other is not an empty boast. The peo-
pie are q brotherhood. Ten thousand
proofs Of that majestic truth exist. In
the current emergency American civih-
zation is meeting the test. OF course,
the cost is impressive, but the fruits
will be commensurately good. The
United States viii emerge from this
stern trial better Nation, its people o
nobler people. That. too, is something
to be grateful for.
In Washington this Thanksgiving day
q special challenge to essential Amer
lean idealism exists. The campaign for
the Community Chest has not been en-
tirely successful Approximately six
hundred thousand dollars still are
needed to enable the sixty-three CON-
stituent agencies of the Chest to carry
out their plans for the relief Of the
poor and needy during the next year.
The money must be found. The work
must go on. No other decision is pos
Eble in the circumstances. The fellow
ship Of the people Of the Capital is
capable Of meeting the demand. The
appeal will be heard. 1t is for this
reason that even the saddest heart may
give thanks TO God today.