America for Americans!

for Americans!', by John Philip Newman

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Title: 'America for Americans!' The Typical American, Thanksgiving Sermon
Author: John Philip Newman
Release Date: January 25, 2007 [EBook #20446]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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"AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!"
THE TYPICAL AMERICAN.
Thanksgiving Sermon
OF
Rev. John P. Newman, D.D., LL.D.,
AT
METROPOLITAN M. E. CHURCH,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH, 1886.
Subject: "OUR PLACE AMONG THE NATIONS."
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CONGREGATION.
WASHINGTON: RUFUS H. DARBY, PRINTER. 1886.
FOR SALE BY C. C. PURSELL.
Ten Cents per Copy. Fifteen Copies for One Dollar.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 26th, 1886.
REV. J. P. NEWMAN, D.D.:
DEAR SIR: The universal approval by every loyal, liberty-loving American citizen who listened to your Thanksgiving sermon yesterday, together with the philosophic and fearless manner with which the great themes therein discussed were treated, prompts a desire to extend its influence by a wider circulation than even that large congregation can give. We would, therefore, to meet the wishes of the congregation as expressed by their unanimous vote at the close of the discourse, request that you furnish us with a copy for publication.
Very respectfully,
J. C. TASKER, J. D. CROISSANT, A. P. LACEY, GEO. H. LA FETRA, B. CHARLETON.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 30th, 1886.
DEAR FRIENDS: The sermon has excited a public interest beyond any thought of mine. I herewith send you the stenographic report of the discourse, made by Messrs. Dawson and Tasker. The wisdom of your request is confirmed by many letters from eminent citizens here and abroad, commending the sentiment and demanding the publication. I would like to print some of these letters, indicative of the deep feeling on this great subject. As stated in the sermon, intelligent foreigners approve my course. The Germans of Wisconsin have sent me a copy of their memorial to Congress, asking for such a modification of our naturalization laws as will protect our free institutions from selfish and ignorant immigrants. The intelligent foreigners have taken the initiative. Your Pastor,
JOHN P. NEWMAN.

AMERICA FOR AMERICANS.
"I have set thee on high above all the nations of the earth."--Deut. xxviii., 1.
By the voice of magisterial authority this secular day has been hushed into the sacred quiet of a national Sabbath. From savannahs and prairies, from valleys and mountains, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, more than fifty millions of freemen have been invited to gather around the altars of the God of our fathers, and pour forth the libation of their gratitude to Him who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. If in all the past, nations have made public recognition of the divinities which have presided over their destiny, according to their faith and practice, it is but reasonable and highly appropriate that we, as a Christian people, enlightened as no other people, favored as no other nation, should once in the twelve months consecrate a day to the recognition of Him whose throne is on the circle of the heavens, who is the benefactor of the husbandman, the genius of the artisan, the inspiration of the merchant, and from whom comes all those personal, domestic, social, and national benedictions which render us a happy people and this day memorable in the annals of time.
If the year that ends to-day has been marked with severity it has also been distinguished by goodness. If chastisements have come to us as individuals, families, communities, and as a nation; if the earthquake, and the tornado, and the conflagration, have combined to teach us our dependence on the Supreme Being--all these should be esteemed as ministers of the Highest to teach us that we are pensioners upon the infinite bounty of the Almighty; that in our prosperity we should remember His mercies; in our adversity we should deplore our transgressions.
It is evident to the most casual observer that the past year has been significant in the manifestations of divine guidance and goodness. To-day peace reigns throughout our vast domain. No foreign foe invades our shores. How superior our condition by way of contrast with our neighbors on this side of the globe. In contrast with Central and South America, the home of turbulence and misrule, where ignorance, combined with a perverted Christianity, has darkened and enslaved; where the wheels of industry have been impeded and the march to a higher civilization obstructed--how bold the contrast