Show thanksgivings T IL ft the day destined for devotion DeTo tion and delight sorrows remembered sweeten present joy joycy tomorrow to morrow the fifty millions of people inhabiting the mountains and valleys plains and prairies between the atlantic billows and pacific waves between the cold waters of the st lawrence cyst system em and the tepid expanse of of mexico exico Al will celebrate a feast entirely their own through the length and breadth of the union n millions will gather in places of worship bip to give expression to their feelings of gratitude f for or the blessings with which the all father lias has favored us and for the plagues I he lie has spared ua us millions also will gather around the cozy hearths and the richly loaded tables to enjoy the ga good ad things of the earth and an bask in the sunshine of domestic affections af and family friendship true the nation still lies under the ban as it were of a great affliction the tile memory of the grea great t chieftain who was laid on a martyrs bed on the second of july only to leave it for the repose of tho the silent tomb on september is still fresh and the of his statesmanship mans bip his patrol and his bis goodness will long remain I but even in that great calamia calamity there is cause for thanks inasmuch as it demonstrates to all the world that the bullet of the assassin may slay the head of the nation but is utterly impotent even to graze the institutions of the country or the government of the people since that fatal april day in 1865 thia this solemn fact had sunken into nto con and it ia is for loyal thanks to him who holla holds the destinies of the nation in the hollow rf of his hand land that ho ile lias I as allowed the people of the united states to realize that though the visible ruler of the alp nation be cut of in the p prime i in of his vigor the constitution which which he inspired and the liberties whose acquisition he ile facilitated arc are still alive and active what would have led to disastrous convulsions in the countries of the old no civil ionno political disruption no social dis truc tion among us other calamities have visited various parts of the nation drouth has withered the crops and f fruits and desiccated the springs of some som e regions while relent relentless les s floods have swept away the hard bard toiling farmers and industrious laborers rewards in in other sections conflagrations have consumed valuable property and malignant diseases have destroyed arb precious lives but still as a whole the year has not been a bad one it has taken a course ill infinitely more propitious than what many anxious souls feared when the year 1881 was ushered in through alu ough the portals of time prosperity has crowned many of the efforts and labors labor of the thrift thrifty y husbandman the sturdy mechanic tile c calculating merchant P peace bace lias has been preserved with all our beigl neighbors i bors even in the great sorrow into which tho country was plunged we w e found that there was balm in gileadi gillad Gil cad the ii acs ics of consanguinity with our country the sea ruling britannia were knotted more firmly and the am amicable C relations relation with the continental powers received a more intimate more cordial touch thus out of evil came good through the kindly overruling over ruling hand of him who guides aides an and directs the affairs of all his children but we in utah have especial reasons for gratitude true we have lost many a good man even as valiant a cham champion champlon plon for truth as elder orson onson pratt but faith lifts our drooping beads and soothes our grieving hearts and wo acknowledge tile liand hand of ot the lord even in these bereavements from a material standpoint however we must acknowledge that the giver of all good has lim showered upon us lavish gifts gifis from the abundance of his bounties our fields have borne rich crops our orchards have been blessed with plenty numerous increase has attended our herds berds and flocks our cities and towns villages ages and hamlets have i increased in wealth and comfort business and beauty no epidemics have made sad inroads on the dear 10 domestic circles the fire fiend has passed us by with slight visitation the element of water has shown us none of its terrors but administered to our wants and increased our stores hence while tomorrow to morrow we JO joyfully I partake of a aba share of the bounties with which the dying year has blessed us while we rejoice lu in the possession zion of peace prosperity and good health in the midst of our famini families es and friends let us gratefully remember him from whom all bles blessings singa flow and resolve to make a good and worthy use of ochia his gifts and bounties |