of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor ' 469

THE AMERICAN LEGION—DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND

BANQUET

Emerson Hotel, August 14, 1941
Baltimore

THE people of America are profoundly grateful for the expressed readiness
of the American Legion to render all possible aid in any emergency which
might confront our Nation. Obviously this assistance is invaluable because
the Legion not only represents the best in American life but has the benefit of
actual experience in defending the honor and integrity of this Country.

What tomorrow "may bring forth, no man can. say. Certainly, however, it
is only American common sense for us in this Country to -be prepared for the
worst, in a world where the worst has been the rule of late, rather than the
exception. Having more to defend than any other Nation on the earth—more
in spiritual values as well as in economic wealth, we must be better prepared
than any other nation to defend those valuable possessions.

There are those amongst us who are opposed to any assistance in the
present world turmoil, unless we are attacked on our own soil in the United
States. They would risk the sacrifice of any or all our outlying possessions,
they would suffer economic reverses of the most devastating nature rather than
have this, our Country, take official notice of the battle for Democracy. And
they are foolish enough to believe that by such un-American methods we may
prevent embroilment of our people in the terrible conflicts now raging through-
out the world.

The isolationists-at-any-price will tell you that anyone who is not with
them is a jingoist, a war-monger. They bury their heads, in the sand and refuse
to read the lessons that recent history in Europe and the Far East have made
plain for anyone to read and understand. And that lesson, so plainly evident
to all who do not blind themselves to the truth, is that the more weakness a
nation shows, the more of its prerogative and national rights it yields, the more
it is called upon to yield.

A desire for peace is inherent in the makeup of every right thinking man
and woman. Of course, we don't want to see our young manhood sacrificed
needlessly. Of course, we would prefer to continue living peacefully and pros-
perously, free from the national hates and nationalistic ambitions that are
rampant throughout the world today. But just simply because we do want to
continue living in peace, must be prepared to defend to the fullest those free
institutions and economic advantages that are ours, as the result of the courage
and determination and far-sightedness of our ancestors.

This is a time when all loyal Americans instead of resisting the efforts
being initiated in Washington to bolster our defenses, must line up solidly
behind our duly elected officials, and must put our collective shoulder to the
wheel of defense wholeheartedly.