MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL PLANT 163

to convince you that we are firmly embarked on a course of progressive
action for the next four years. And in pursuing these objectives, I ask
for your indulgence and support—not only for the administration,
but for the Montgomery County legislators of both political parties
who have shown the courage to forsake political expediency to act in
what they thought to be the best interests of the State as a whole. With-
hold a final judgment, if you will, until the results are in.

I have just come here from an interesting meeting with the leaders
of your local government, at which we discussed some problems of
immediacy to Montgomery County and of concern to the State. I hope
that in the weeks and months ahead we can act together, constructively,
for the solution of these problems and in opening new areas of mutual
interest and cooperation between the State and County governments.

The newspaper which we honor at this dedication today reflects, in
many ways, the story of what has been happening to Montgomery
County, and in fart to the State of Maryland.

In its tremendous recent growth and in its move to this handsomely
remodeled, modernly equipped building—which I understand former-
ly served as a firehouse—it represents a symbolic unity of the past and
the future, continuity and expansion, tradition and development.

First published in 1855, it is the oldest continuing newspaper in
Montgomery County and is one of the oldest in the State. I am told
that only once during its 112-year history did the Sentinel fail to pub-
lish regularly. That was in the spring of the turbulent year of 1864,
when its founder-editor, Matthew Fields, was jailed by Federal author-
ities for his militant pro-Confederate editorials.

In that same year, the third State Constitution in Maryland's history
was ratified—a Constitution inspired by the bitterness of the times.
The document included the repugnant Test Oath that effectively dis-
enfranchised a multitude of Maryland's citizens, who were in reality—
or at least under suspicion as—Southern sympathizers.

Only three years later, when sanity was restored to both our State
and our nation, this Constitution with its Test Oath was replaced by
the very Constitution that shapes our government today. As the first
editor of the Sentinel saw the turbulence and the trauma of his person-
al experience reflected in the Constitution of 1864, it is my hope that
the present editor and the publishers of the Sentinel shall see the
growth and the confidence that inspired their modern newspaper plant
reflected in the development of Maryland's new Constitution this fall.