.

This Thanksgiving finds the people still bowed with sorrow for the death
of a great and good President. We mourn President McKinley because we so
loved and honored him; and the manner of his death should awaken in the
breasts of our people a keen anxiety for the country, and at the same
time a resolute purpose not to be driven by any calamity from the path
of strong, orderly, popular liberty which as a nation we have thus far
safely trod.

Yet in spite of this great disaster, it is nevertheless true that no
people on earth have such abundant cause for thanksgiving as we have.
The past year in particular has been one of peace and plenty. We have
prospered in things material and have been able to work for our own
uplifting in things intellectual and spiritual. Let us remember that,
as much has been given us, much will be expected from us; and that true
homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips and shows itself in
deeds. We can best prove our thankfulness to the Almighty by the way in
which on this earth and at this time each of us does his duty to his
fellow men.

Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States,
do hereby designate as a day of general thanksgiving Thursday, the 28th
of this present November, and do recommend that throughout the land the
people cease from their wonted occupations, and at their several homes
and places of worship reverently thank the Giver of all good for the
countless blessings of our national life.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.

[SEAL.]

Done at the city of Washington this second day of November, A.D. 1901,
and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and
twenty-sixth.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

By the President:
JOHN HAY,
_Secretary of State_.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, it is provided by section twenty-four of the act of Congress,
approved March third, 1891, entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture
laws, and for other purposes," "That the President of the United States
may, from time to time, set apart and reserve, in any State or Territory
having public land bearing forests, in any part of the public lands
wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether of
commercial value or not, as public reservations, and the President
shall, by public proclamation, declare the establishmen