658 State Papers and Addresses

Men. These units of militia men are to be available for protection in the various
communities in defense of homes and lives of our citizens. The Maryland State
Guard has just won high praise from the War Department, as a complete mili-
tary organization. Now let us redouble our efforts so that Minute Men Organi-
zatious will be formed and ready to operate throughout every section of Mary-
land.

Our National creed must boil down to something like this: "America is
ours only as long as we are alert and strong to defend it. Capital, labor, the
individual, all have rights—but all of these rights, and all the advantages that
have accrued because of them, will add up to nothing at all unless we preserve
America and its free institutions intact.

"Therefore, whatever interferes in any dangerous manner with the proper
progress of the war effort, must be condemmed by all patriotic Americans. This
will apply with equal force to every group and every individual. Any delay
or hindrance of the war effort by any element will be considered and treated as
sabotage. Any element that impedes at this crucial time will feel the full brunt
of the scorn and contempt of Americans everywhere. "

That, in essence, is our creed. When we achieve the unity of purpose and
effort such a creed implies, then, at last, we can with reason be confident. Then,
at last, can embattled American soldiers, still gloriously unconquered in the
Philippines, and all our fighting forces elsewhere, be assured in spirit. Then can
we give confident assurance to the conquered peoples of the world that human-
ity again will prevail, and that the blazing torch of American liberty on Bedloe's
Island again will be reflected throughout the length and breadth of the globe.

I made mention previously of the Maryland Minute Men and feel that this
subject of such great importance that it justifies further treatment. It must be
understood that, if attempted invasion or general sabotage occurs, the regular
Army and the State Guard would have their hands full. The fact is they may
be concentrated in one section of the State. If that would occur the various
communities would be unprotected except for the fact that the Minute Men
organizations will be available. This is why we have arranged that the Minute
Men be enrolled primarily for protection in their own communities.

I sincerely hope and am supremely confident that Marylanders will respond
in typical Maryland fashion to our appeal for volunteers. Briefly, I might say
that as the Maryland State Guard constitutes a Reserve force for the Federal
troops, so the Minute Men will constitute a Reserve in case the State Guard is
not available. They will be called out only in case of grave emergencies; there
will be no routine drilling or guard duty. Men of responsibility and standing
in their communities, who own fire arms and can supply their own ammunition
are urged to enroll in these new Minute Men units. Their organization will give
our State as complete a defensive setup as now exists in any of the 48 States of
the Union. Our State Guard has won high praise from Regular Army Officers
and it is our intention that the Minute Men units shall measure up to the stand-
ards set by the State Guard.

We know by now that the leaders of our United Democracies have dealt
with us truthfully and without the weaseling words either of timidity or false