Show american spirit shown in order in the darkest hour of the ameri amerl can revolution at alley forge gen george washington made december 17 ving day by general order that spirit eventually broke the american power of the british crown in the pres dency washing ton proclaimed the celebration though his example was followed only occa s anally by other presidents and the states had no uniform rule of observe ance it was a growth notable and s of the meaning Is the fact that in 1864 with the nation yet en gulfed in the civil war exhausted ban rupt bupt president lincoln issued the thanksgiving proclamation which since has beep been repeated year after year by succeed ng presidents the south long repulsed the feast as a puritan cal eien e en therefore a latant ral cal inn ln ent on yet for half a century the south too has known the sp r and has jo ned tied to make the day one 0 rat onal participation |