DESTRUCTION IN CAMBRIDGE 361

For this reason, our nation cannot allow its old soldiers to simply
fade away. We must re-enlist ourselves in the citizens' crusade to battle
crime, pollution, prejudice and poverty — the enemy at home —
with the same tenacity that has defeated our enemies abroad.

We have so much at stake, we have the resources and talent to
triumph — all we need is the will to win; the fighting spirit of the
U. S. soldiers who said:

"The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little
longer. "

STATEMENT ON DESTRUCTION IN CAMBRIDGE
July 25, 1967

It was with a feeling of profound sorrow that I toured the fire-swept
blocks of Cambridge's Second Ward early today.

Intelligent citizens of both races, I am sure, share my grief and per-
plexity at this senseless destruction precipitated by a professional agi-
tator whose inflammatory statements deliberately provoked this out-
break of violence. The subsequent rioting and burning which fol-
lowed H. Rap Brown's volatile speech were limited exclusively to
Cambridge's Second Ward which is predominantly Negro.

The property which was destroyed was almost totally held by Negro
businessmen and families of the Cambridge area. As I toured the area
by car before dawn and later on foot, and spoke to those whose homes
and stores, school and church had been destroyed by fire, the Negro
citizens were not hostile but were dazed by this senseless havoc.

I appeal to Maryland's citizens of both races to remain calm and
reaffirm their commitment to uphold law and order; to remember the
unnecessary violence which disrupted the progress towards jobs and
opportunities in the Cambridge community four years ago.

I pledge to direct the full influence and energy of my office to re-
unify the responsible citizens of Cambridge, first, to provide emer-
gency relief measures for those victimized by last night's outbreak;
second, to rebuild the school and church and homes destroyed by
fire; and third, to establish concrete measures which will permanently
restore racial peace to Cambridge.