of. Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 533

Eastern States meet in New York City with the Director of Civilian Defense of
the United States, for a final check-up on the planning and progress of defense
. within the various states.

From all of this, therefore, it can be seen that defense preparations in
Maryland and in the Country are stepping along at a tempo that is being ac-
celerated daily. Nothing like it has ever before been required in our State.
Certainly even now we are in a position where, though not inviting attack, we
can safely say that any invading force, no matter how well prepared, will re-
ceive well-organized and successful resistance.

This, of course, is as it should be. We citizens of America have something
so valuable to preserve that none of us probably ever has appreciated it fully.
If we had been subjects of oppression in foreign lands, as so many of our fore-
fathers were; if we had to abandon our homelands and everything we possessed
and start anew in a wilderness, in order that we might be masters of our own
souls, then, indeed, we might be able to come to a full appreciation of what it
means to be residents. of this great Democracy, free unhampered in thought or
word or deed, permitted to assemble and to worship, to go and to come, with-
out fear or restriction.

We have today, in fullest measure, what many of the countries of Europe
••enjoyed in more or less degree before their subjugation by the Nazi hordes.
How any true American could conceive the possibility of yielding any part of
this freedom as the price of a dishonorable peace, is difficult to understand.
The long history of our Country has given unbounded evidence of America's
determination to maintain its freedom at any cost. Despite the activities of a
vociferous minority, America today again can be counted upon to take what-
ever steps may be necessary to guarantee the maintenance of its free heritage.

In a Nation which was forged in the white heat of passion for the rights
of individual citizens, we must hold fast to the principles of individual liberty of
thought and of conscience to which we have been committed since first we be
came a Nation. In times like these we must redouble our efforts to see to it
that our people shall be given the accurate knowledge upon which sound judg-
ments are based, the opportunity for discussion of the implications of that
knowledge, and the freedom to make their own decisions as a result of such
discussion.

We have unbounded confidence in the courage and the ultimate fighting
power of our people in battles which may be forced upon us on land, on sea, or
in the air. To have a similar confidence in their abilities to direct their own
thinking and render their own decisions in accordance with their own con-
sciences, we must continue to supply them with the indispendable elements of
a free people's thinking and feeling, through freedom of publication, freedom
of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of education and freedom of. worship.

The truth makes men free, and freedom makes them strong. This is the
principle which the world's current enemies of freedom want to destroy. The
dictators cannot endure if freedom of thought and action is preserved. To
preserve these priceless possessions is the aim and objective of America. In
order to do so, we have arranged our Defense, and the active assistance of every
citizen is needed to accomplish our purpose. For America's sake, Do Your Part!