of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 175

symbol of American progress, millions of human beings throughout the whole
world are engaged in struggles that are the very antithesis of everything we
hold dear in America. While every energy of our more than one hundred
million people is directed to the development and furtherance of our cultural
and physical possessions, countless numbers elsewhere in Europe and Asia
are engaged in the dreadful task of tearing down the cultural and physical
achievements of centuries.

Here we stand in free assemblage, subject in the final analysis to no dic-
tator but our own conscience. In other countries millions of people, with hope
and ambitions little different from ours, are being regimented to the extent
that their every deed, must be done at the direction of an exacting government.
While we continue to build and plan for the future, who knows but at this
very moment some such building as this in one of the warring countries of
Europe, may be the target for a bomb that will undo the work of years of toil,
and destroy perhaps a treasured work of art.

Well may we, as we stand assembled here to celebrate this, the completion
of the formal occupancy of this building, well may we, I say, offer up a quiet,
but heartfelt, prayer of thanksgiving that despite all the tribulations and griefs
that assail the rest of the world, we here in Maryland, and throughout all
America, may go our way in peace, and look securely to a future of peaceful
development for ourselves and for our families.

How some Americans, enjoying such advantages as we possess, could lend
themselves to the furtherance of disloyal aims, is beyond all comprehension.
Yet undoubtedly, among the subversive elements that we all know are working
within the confines of our Country, are many men and women who have been
born to the blessing of American citizens, or who, by reason of their adoption
of this Country, have been privileged to prevail themselves of the advantages
which are ours.

As Americans who know and value the priceless privileges that we possess,
it should1 be the duty of each one of us to be particularly on the alert during
these troublesome times to do everything in our power to counteract disloyal
and subversive movements. As American citizens, we must first of all in out-
own daily lives set an example of law-observance, and of respect for American
ideals and traditions, that will be an example to everyone with whom we come
in contact, and particularly to those whose Americanism may not be as staunch
as ours.

As the Governor of Maryland, I congratulate the citizens of Hagerstown
who now possess this most desirable building. Further, I congratulate your
Mayor and Council and all whose energies are represented in this finished
product for their enterprise and vision, in thus providing for the future needs
of their Municipal Government. It is a genuine pleasure to be here with you
to help celebrate such an occasion, marking as it does a distinct advance in the
cause of good government. My hope and expectation are that Hagerstown
will derive benefits more than commensurate with the investment, and that an
efficent and economical administration of public affairs will be promoted by
this center of municipal activities.