of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 69

this infant country, the right to live in peace and to work out their program
of life in freedom. Never forget the hundreds of thousands of people from
practically every country of the world who have come to us for the opportun-
ities not open to them in their own lands, and who have joined hands with our
forefathers to build up this country into the greatest nation on the face of
the world.

Take away with you today, along with your diploma, the full appreciation
of the fact that you were educated at Maryland, that you have been privileged
to drink at the fountain of Maryland education and tradition. Let it stand
for something important in your life, something of transcending importance,
that you have inherited a tradition of education, and of thought, that is none
too prevalent throughout the world. Keep alive this tradition, that can be pre-
served to posterity only as it is guarded zealously and put into everyday
practice, by the now relatively few on the face of the earth who still hole!
to the principle that man has been given certain inalienable rights, among
them the right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

As Governor of the State of Maryland, and as one who appreciates deeply
the problems that face you as you prepare to set out along your various paths
through life, I can only emphasize again the importance of holding fast to
first principles. After all, there are certain ways of life, and only these
certain ways, open to men and women of principle, such as you who are being
graduated. There will be times when many if not all of you will be faced
with decisions that will affect vitally your way of life, opportunities will be
presented to you to benefit by sacrificing one or more of the principles that you
know to be right.

Your professors here, those at home who have worked along with you, and
possibly sacrificed much that you might have the advantage of this education,
will not be at your side forever, to help you or to advise you. Henceforth,
you are on your own. Your decisions are your own, and you are the one who
will have to abide by them.

If you remember your days here at Maryland, if you keep sacred hi your
minds the things for which Maryland stands, and always has stood, then you
need have no fear for your future. You may not be financial successes, or
business or professional successes, as the world counts success. But if you are
true to your own principles, if you can preserve unsullied the tenets of decency,
of toleration, of fair play and of loyalty to man and country that you have
received here at Maryland, you will enjoy the kind of success that after all
is the most important success. And with this I say, God speed you, and may
you all be the credit to yourselves, your families and your State that at this
moment Maryland wants you to be.