376 State Papers and Addresses

AMERICANISM MEETING
BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS

April 28, 1941
Cambridge

IT is well that we are gathered here this evening in a patriotic effort devoted
to the furtherance of Americanism, for certainly there never has been a
time in all the long history of our land, when Americanism of the highest
order is required of all our citizens.

So blessed are we here in Maryland, so wonderful a place of beauty and
abundance is this Eastern Shore of our State, particularly touched as it is now
with the hand of Spring, that it seems difficult to evaluate the full meaning of
recent world happenings that so vitally affect us and all our Nation. '

It was only last week, for instance, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
in his capacity as Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy of the United
States, decreed that henceforth our sea forces would patrol an area extending,
to quote the President's own words, "A thousand miles from the Eastern Shores
of Maryland. " Surely such a statement as this should bring home to everyone
of us the proximity of dire happenings. For the only meaning of such a de-
cision by the Nation's Chief Executive is that there is danger of enemy activi-
ties over that period of ocean, within one thousand miles of the shores of
Maryland.

The President's announcement, and the unfortunate developments of recent
weeks throughout Southeastern Europe are tending, I believe, to overcome the
apathy with which all too many of our people, have been viewing the world
struggle now going on. Now, at last, our American people are beginning to
realize that Democracy, as we know and value it here in America, is fighting
for its life, is making a desperate stand against the onslaughts of dictator-led
undemocratic nations.

As we contemplate all these developments, we should be brought to a
truer appreciation of what it means to be a citizen of the United States; what
it means to be privileged to live and speak, to act, to worship exactly as we

wish.

•»

More than ever, in the light of what has happened throughout the world
recently, is there reason why America and its principles should be a living thing,
in the hearts and minds of every citizen. No other nation on the face of the
earth has so much that is definitely worthy of being proud of, and definitely
worth protecting. As has been rightly said, however, "Eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty, " and America will continue to be free just as long as you and
I, its citizens, are vigilant to protect it. Because this is a Democracy, you and
I are the government as well as the people of America, and our Country will
continue to be the "land of the free" only as long as we safeguard our lives, if
necessary, the principles upon which this government was founded.