506 State Papers and Addresses

To this end the Board of Public Works, yesterday, at its meeting, approved
the recommendations for a decrease of 8 cents in the tax rates for 1942 and 1943
that will save property owners of the State more than $4, 000, 000 during these
two years.

This was possible only because of an Act passed at the last Legislature,
sponsored by the present administration, permitting us to take any surplus
above $2, 000, 000 and apply it to the State debt, at the same time reducing the
State tax for the ensuing year.

Generally, then, I am happy to report that Maryland is in about as good
a position as any State could be to face the months and possibly years of stress
that are ahead. Our Defense Council has initiated many necessary civilian
defense activities and has the situation well in hand on that score. Our finances
are in order, and I believe it can be said without fear of contradiction that the
public employees recognize the fact that theirs is a public trust and they are
anxious to discharge it faithfully.

The one thing necessary now, if we are to do our part whole-heartedly
by our Country in this time of crisis is to see that we are a unit behind our
National leaders in Washington in the furtherance of defense planning and
production, and in National policy.

Today there is room for no division of spirit among the people of America.
Rather there is a very definite need for re-awakening of that spirit of old, that
spirit that prompted our fearless and self-reliant pioneer forefathers to over-
come every obstacle in their fight against the wilderness, and against the forces
that sought to disrupt their new-born Country. It was that spirit that made
this American republic a great Nation, a Nation with a soul, a Nation with
character. It was that spirit that gave birth to men like Francis Scott Key and
Roger Brooke Taney, two of Frederick's famous sons who forever will hold
high place in the hearts of every American.

Today, as a result of the toil and the vision of patriotic men and women of
generations gone by, we have a stable government founded upon the eternal
principles of freedom and justice. Whether we shall continue to possess this
Nation tomorrow in freedom and justice depends solely upon ourselves. For
the sake of our little ones; in justice to unborn generations of Americans, we
cannot, we must not fail.