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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1958)
to be held throughout the new nation. The fact that Thanksgiving survived the diverse, even antagonistic, activities that followed is a tribute to its deep roots in American tradition and conscience. Thanks giving Day is truly one American holiday that was not imposed from above, but rather grew among a grateful people until it reached such proportions that, when the Federal Government finally acted, it was merely recognizing an existing custom. Its existence, however, was almost shat tered by that first official observance in 1789. Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury, suggested it and proposed a huge parade of dignitaries and military units for the oc casion. His ambitious suggestion for univer sal thanks, however, met with anything but universal approval. Cries of "mimicking the monarchy" arose, fist fights broke out on the streets of New York (then capital of the country), and one Southern congressman was moved to remark that perhaps we had nothing at all to be thankful for in "our present government" (then dominated by Northerners). Southern opposition also was based on the fact that Thanksgiving was a well-entrenched New England custom. Jgr 'icy- I Hamilton Washington So, while Washington and his wife, Martha, prepared a stately dinner at home for his family and such invited notables as the Chief Justice of the United States, and Jefferson and his supporters remained aloof from any participation at all in the day's activities, Hamilton and his friends arranged a banquet at Fraunce's. Hamilton arrived late and the celebration began without him. In the midst of it a young Army lieutenant arose to announce to no one in particular that he was entirely sober. Another gentleman questioned the truth of his statement, and the brawl began. Bottles were thrown, tables and chairs upset, and the lieutenant's nose eventually broken. Hamilton walked in upon the scene and, aghast that any of it might reach the public, did his best to quiet the uproar. Washington got word of it, nevertheless, and, perhaps dismayed that a day of thanks could be so abused, delayed issuing any further proclamations for another six years. John Adams, our second President, also tried it twice (in 1798 and 1799), but Jefferson was still to have his way. He succeeded Adams as President and, his mind unchanged about government inter ference in religious matters, declined to issue ?l rai : Jefferson America's first official day of thanks. Jefferson's opposition was most potent of all. The author of the Declaration of In dependence argued that Thanksgiving was a religious matter and the Government had no right to interfere. To do so, he said, would be to violate the division only recently set up between church and state. XAashincton's dignified middle ground to keep the observance within the fam ily and the home prevailed, and it generally reflected the custom as observed until thenand since. His proclamation be came an interesting test of Jefferson's con stitutional argument. Our first President asked that Thursday, November 26, "be devoted by the people of these United States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the benef icent Author of all the good that was, that s, or that will be." He cited Divine care and protection before and during the Revolu tionary War, -the peace and plenty that followed, the fruits of civil and religious liberty, and the opportunity to establish a form of government for the safety and happi ness of the people. Meanwhile, back at the tavern . . . It should be mentioned hurriedly, and with due respect to all concerned, that taverns then were not what they are now. They were respected meeting places for gentlemen, and Fraunce's Tavern, the case In point, was once used by Washington as his headquarters and was also the scene of his farewell to his officers. It is now, in fact, a tourist attraction in New York City. 4 While Hamilton celebrated and Washington entertained at home, Jefferson ignored it all. any proclamation in any of his eight years as chief executive. Although his decision was made in good faith, it was not an entirely popular one, especially among New England clergy. At least one prayed, "O Lord, endow the President with a goodly portion of Thy grace, for Thou, O Lord, knowest how much he needs it" Yet Jefferson's official attitude prevailed for more than. 60 years, because it was not until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that Abraham Lincoln, persuaded by Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale, issued the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation since Adams. And Thanks giving, as we know it, dates directly from those troubled times. The Autumn custom, however, had not died out in the interim, because it had never depended on official proclamations. It grew, not only in New England, but throughout the country even in the South where, prior to the Civil War, the governors of Georgia, Texas, and Jefferson's own Virginia had issued proclamations of their own. By the time Lincoln made his request for a nation-wide day of thanks, 30 of the 34 states were already observing it. Gratitude, it seems, has always been a part of American tradition and heritage. Announce lay To fieip Drain A 8 Sinus Cavities Without Discomfort New decontestant tablet for sinus congestion sufferers acts beth to drain closed sinus cavities and relieve distressinf head pain New York, N. Y. (Special) Announcement has been made of a new tablet development which has the remarkable abil ity to help drain clogged sinus cavities and thus relieve con gestion and pressure. 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