of Governor Herbert, R. O'Conor 589

EASTON DEFENSE MEETING

THE ARMORY

January 13, 1942

Easton

TODAY, we face a stern new era in American life. We, peace-loving Nation
that we are, face the solemn task of transforming all our tremendous
agencies of industrial production from pursuits of peace to pursuits of War.
These are grim times, indeed. At last we realize fully, and beyond the shadow
of a doubt, that America, leader among the nations of the world, is faced with
the necessity of fighting for its very existence. The people of America suddenly
and with shocking intensity, have been awakened to the fact that there is only
one important objective for our Country to achieve. That objective is the suc-
cessful termination of the wars in which we now find ourselves engaged,
through no will or deed of our own.

Furthermore, we appreciate the imperative necessity of giving to the suc-
cessful pursuit of these wars every last ounce of our National effort, to the end
that the victory sought may be attained as quickly as is humanly possible, and
we may thus avoid the continuing havoc and the frightful additional loss of
life that would be attendant upon a prolonged struggle.

Sometimes, as we consider the problems that press upon us, as individuals,
for solution; and as we contemplate the seriousness of the economic and social
disturbances consequent upon our entry into war, we are apt to lose sight of
the main objective. We are tempted to engage ourselves so thoroughly in con-
sideration of one another of the lesser problems that we may fail to keep the
one salient fact in mind.

Despite tire rationing, despite any or all the losses or sacrifices that may
be visited upon us as a people during the coming months, we will fare ill, in-
deed, unless we keep steadily in mind the all-important fact that it will avail
us nothing if we solve all the other problems that face us, and fail to win the
war. For to lose this war unquestionably would. mean that we would sacrifice,
along with territorial and material possessions, some or all of those priceless
Democratic privileges and institutions without which there could never be
America as we know it.

It is well that in any consideration of ways and means to establish and
carry on measures of offense or defense, within the State as well as in connec-
tion with the general picture of National Defense, we approach the situation
with full realization of the manifold difficulties that face us. No longer, of
course, are our people misled by the once all-to-general belief that we had
merely to show our fleet to the Japanese to convince them that their cause
was hopeless. The shock of Pearl Harbor, with its serious losses; the reverses
suffered in Guam, at glorious Wake Island, in the Philippines, have given evi-