of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 691

NEW CITIZENS DAY EXERCISES, DIVISION OF ADULT EDUCATION

SCHOOL NO. 46
Baltimore, May 20, 1942

TIMES like these stress the fact which ofttimes is overlooked in any consid-
eration of American citizenship—namely, that citizenship very definitely
brings responsibilities! as well as privileges. This is a thought which every
newly-naturalized American, every young man and women who has come to
maturity during the past twelve months, must bear in mind in these critical
days.

In a land so favored as ours with opportunity for material and cultural
progress, one is apt to overlook certain fundamental considerations regarding
citizenship. With our Country threatened, however, as perhaps never before
in its long history, and with many millions of once-free people throughout the
world now in virtual bondage, all American citizens, new citizens and those who
have enjoyed its privileges for years, must be prepared to give vastly more
attention to the duties and responsibilities of citizenship than to the privileges
thereof. For, unless we can successfully protect America against the Axis'
threat, there no longer will be any privileges of citizenship as we have known
it.

It is entirely appropriate and timely, therefore, that meetings like this be
held, to re-awaken in all our people true appreciation of what American citizen-
ship means.

Never in our entire history has there been a greater need for patriotic
re-dedication than faces us today. Literally, at least for the time being, we
and our Allies are fighting against staggering odds. On all the continents and
each of the seven seas, the mightiest military aggregation the world has ever
known has put to challenge, under threat of destruction, every right, privilege,
and liberty we have heretofore known and enjoyed. This threat covers our
way of life in all its phases—economic, political, social and religious.

Under such a threat to the security of our Nation, we must lay aside
every other consideration than that which will make for a stronger National
Unity. Questions of racial origin, of religion, and of class have no place in
America, where every citizen is guaranteed to be equal before the law.

The newly naturalized citizen has acquired an equal share in the great
reservoir of rights and privileges which accrue to American citizenship. Con-
sequently there must be unified effort and steadfast adherence to American
principles by everyone if we are to present a solid front in defense of this
greatest of all assaults.

Just to look about us this evening, and to realize what America has given
American citizenship, under our present form of Government, is the most val-
uable civic possession obtainable in the world today.