of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 171

It is in the spirit of that idea that it seems to me to be wise to direct
our thought tonight to the importance of calling attention to some of the more
or less neglected phases of Maryland achievements and history.

In variety of soil; in happy combination of mountain, river, bay and ocean
—located at the cross-ways of the older part of the Nation—we Marylanders
have more to be proud of than we have yet fully proclaimed. In the origin
and composition of our people, we have advantages most States cannot lay
claim to. Note the magnificent mixture—the early English settlers along the
tidewaters of the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland; the infiltration of
generous portions of the sturdy Scotch-Irish—particularly along our Northern
and Western tier; the large segment, particularly in the Western portion of our
State, made by those fine numbers of German origin; and in our cities, large
and helpful representation from almost all the major races*

In history, what a brilliant story is the Marylander entitled to tell. From
the earliest Colonial days, through the years, our ancient Commonwealth has
contributed more than her fair share—with regard to much of which our
children have not been made sufficiently familiar.

Until lately, our histories and other American books were fashioned largely
in New England, with the natural result that authors so placed, gave emphasis
to the story of their own people, and frequently allotted only small mention
to deeds of equal importance performed by Marylanders.

. For instance, the Boston Tea Party—a night performance—participants
disguised; part of cargo thrown into Harbor—told over and over again, and
properly so, in every child's school book for more than a century.

Now contrast that well-told historic New England tale with the little-
mentioned "Burning of the Peggy Stewart" in the Harbor of our Annapolis.
Down here, you have a day time performance—the assembled Marylanders
ready to pay the forfeit with their lives—without any disguise—in the very
presence of the owner and his friends, compelled him to burn both his cargo
and his ship!

When some Marylander comes to write a history of our Country, then,
and perhaps only then, will the story of that patriotic transaction reach its
proper place in the annals of that time.

Again! The time has yet to come when the full significance of the Battle of
Long Island, and how the Maryland Line saved Washington's Army and the
future Republic shall be fully told.

The books and the schools call the attention of our children to the Ride of
Paul Revere, and properly so—but how many of them, or their elders, have
been made familiar with Tench Tilghman's historic ride.

In historic and sublime attainment, Maryland furnishes a fertile field for
research, and the historian.

In the Council Chamber, the Convention Hall, the battle field, on the sea,
and in the realms of spiritual expression, the participation of Maryland and her
sons has from the very beginning been such as to entitle her to a historic
recognition such as she never has fully received.

Maryland statesmen, following the Revolutionary War, virtually "laid the
cornerstone of the Federal Union"... For it was these Marylanders who forsaw
the rivalry and dissension over conflicting claims to the vast "Northwest Terri-
tory"—which was sought by many to be added to existing States—and they ad-
vanced the idea and argument that these lands should be ceded to the central