Party offers the best prospects for a preservation of these traditions.
We Marylanders have a rich and a noble inheritance. Our State has
been endowed with some of nature's finest gifts—a terrain and topo-
graphy unsurpassed in both beauty and productiveness anywhere in
this land. It has a proud history and is steeped in tradition. It has
earned the title, "The Free State, " through more than 300 years of
devotion and dedication to the principles of freedom and toleration.

The freedom of men to worship according to their conscience was
recognized and guaranteed in one of the first laws written on religious
toleration—a law approved by the freemen who gathered in St. Mary's
city in 1649 and called "an act concerning religion. "

Maryland's heroic sons have fought gallantly in all the wars in
which this country has been engaged. Our State proudly bears the
name, "The Old Line State, " in tribute to the brave troops of the
Maryland Line who staved off the British to allow General George
Washington and his army to withdraw from Long Island. Washington
himself referred to this hour as "more precious to American liberty
than any other in its history. "

It was Maryland troops again who saved the infant Republic by
repulsing the British at North Point and Fort McHenry in the War
of 1812, a battle sacred to the memory of every American, as the
engagement which inspired our National Anthem, The Star Spangled
Banner.

Marylanders fought with gallantry and courage on both sides of the
great fratricidal struggle of 1861-1865, in the war with Spain, in the
two great world wars, and in the Korean conflict.

In the three centuries of her existence, Maryland has nurtured
some of America's most illustrious political and military leaders, as
well as outstanding writers, artists and scientists....

The confidence that the people of Maryland have in our Democratic
Party was demonstrated in the election of last year in which the
party achieved the greatest statewide election victory in the history
of Maryland politics....

We Democrats of Maryland expect many more victories in the
future to result from the knowledge by a great majority of the
citizens that our party is the guardian of Maryland's heritage and
the protector of its future.

All of us are well aware of the growing influence of women in
American politics. Those of us who ran successfully in the campaigns

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