of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 389

that this is, essentially a just world and that, while the forces of injustices,
for God's inscrutable purposes, often are permitted to attain their end tempo-
rarily, in the end Justice and decency prevail.
On behalf of all pur people in Maryland, I give voice to the hope that is
in your hearts, that the delivery of Lithuania will not be long delayed, and
that before many years have past, not only your loved fatherland, but all the
once-free peoples of Europe, will be restored to that freedom and equality
among the nations that is their just. and God-given due.

As long as that beacon still flashes forth the message of liberty to op-
pressed peoples, throughout the world, so long. will the self-proclaimed rule of
dictators be subject to overthrow.

As long, as America and its democratic form of government survives, there
will be, hope. in Lithuania, in Poland, and in all the ravaged countries of the
world, for a better day to come. And with that hope, there will be a resurgence
of patriotic fervor that will sustain the sturdy men and women of these down-
trodden countries, that will pass on to their children and their children's
children, until that day, and it is sure to come, when liberty again will be in
the ascendency and the rights of mankind again will be recognized.

With these thoughts in mind, it is an extreme pleasure for me to extend
to you a very formal welcome on the part of all the people of Maryland, and
a very cordial welcome for myself. Every resident of our State joins with me,
I know, in expressing to you our sincere sympathy over the tragic fate that
has befallen your fatherland, and in voicing the hope that the present un-
acceptable situation will quickly pass away.

In thus voicing the sentiments of the people of Maryland, I am speaking
not only for those who had America for their birth place, but I know that I
truly represent the feelings of those among, us who came from Poland, Lithu-
ania, France, Finland, or any of the conquered nations of the world, or who
are descendants of former residents of those countries.

America glories in the fact that the people of other lands, while they
have been assimilated into the great "melting pot" that is America, neverthe-
less retain a love for, and a continuing knowledge and appreciation of, the
customs and traditions of their fatherlands.

We glory in it, I say, and we would not have it otherwise, for we believe
that the man or woman who comes to us from a foreign land and who retains
his love for that land, while giving his first loyalty to America, is the better
citizen therefor.