the advice and guidance of experts. Nor is any citizen capable of
understanding the problems of government without the knowledge
and ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Progress is achieved
through a conflict of ideas and proposals. The ideas and proposals of
the future will be originated by you who are present today. And, the
decision for accepting or rejecting these ideas also will be yours. It
is incumbent upon you to be prepared for such obligations.

Finally, I can assure you that neither knowledge nor understanding
will be of any value to the progress of Maryland and the nation if
the youth of this State does not develop a sense of responsibility. For,
without a sense of responsibility, without the willingness to participate
in the affairs of your State and Nation, then of what benefit is your
knowledge and understanding to your fellow citizens? You who have
gathered here today already have demonstrated this willingness to
participate. It is for this reason that the importance of such assemblies
as these should never be minimized.

Again let me thank you for coming here today and extend to each
of you my very best wishes as you participate in the activities planned
during the week.

REMARKS, I AM AN AMERICAN DAY
BALTIMORE

September 13, 1964

I am most grateful for the opportunity to come here again this
year and join the people of this great city and this great State in
celebrating "I Am An American Day. " I am profoundly impressed,
as I always am on these occasions, by the magnificent display of
patriotic fervor that has become a hallmark of these celebrations.

We have all come here today for one purpose — to express our
appreciation and our reverence for the great country in which we are
privileged to live, to reaffirm our faith in the Constitution and to
rededicate ourselves to the principles of democracy and justice under
which this nation has flourished for nearly two centuries. As the
Governor of Maryland, and on behalf of all its citizens, may I extend
congratulations and commendations to the Baltimore News-American
for giving us the opportunity again this year to come here to pro-
claim openly: I Am An American. As patriotic Americans, enjoying
the great material and spiritual abundance which the United States

94