of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 543

ADVERTISING CLUB OF BALTIMORE
EMERSON HOTEL

November 19, 1941
Baltimore

TOMORROW we celebrate, with a full heart, Thanksgiving Day, the ob-
servances of which dates back to early Colonial times. Never, however, in
all the years intervening, have there been more bountiful reasons for giving
thanks on the part of every American citizen.

Cognizant though we all are of the blessings of peace and freedom that are
ours today, but yet immersed in thoughts of impending dangers to our national
security, we might be inclined sometimes to think that the difficulties facing us
are peculiar to this day and generation. It is interesting, therefore, to note the
tenor of the Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by Governor Thomas Holliday
Hicks, of Maryland, to the people of this State in November, 1860, as recorded
in "The Ancient City, " a history of the City of Annapolis.

In his Proclamation, Governor Hicks asked the people to pray "that dis-
sension and strife may depart from among us, that concord and love of Country
may prevail; that those in authority may have the guidance of Almighty God,
so disposing the hearts of the people and ordering the State, that the happiness
and peace, the power and abundance, with all the unnumbered blessings which
this Union which the God of our Fathers gave to them and to us, may suffer
no diminution through our follies or our crimes; but, safeguarded through
His mercy and multiplied by His favor, descend to our children's children. "

Somewhat in the same vein is the Proclamation setting tomorrow as
Thanksgiving Day for 1941, in which it is proclaimed that "we are thankful for
peace in this Nation, and look forward to the future with full, hope and con-
fidence that Divine Providence will grant us happiness and contentment by
keeping the destructive forces of war from our shores, and by promoting a full
and enduring peace among all the nations of the earth. "

This year, for the final time, the Nation is celebrating two Thanksgiving
Days. At heart everyone has regard enough for the traditions of the day that
we welcome the return in 1942 of a united Thanksgiving observance. Perhaps
it is just as well, however, that there are two Thanksgiving Days this year,
for certainly in the war-torn world in which we live America enjoys blessings
enough to warrant Thanksgiving not only twice, but. every single day through-
out the year.

As we meet here today, or as we go about our affairs every day, in peace,
with no one to attempt to tell us whether we may or may not do what we will,
it just seems to be beyond the comprehension of our minds to realize the un-
utterable difference there is between life here in America and in many of the
other nations of. the world today.