We are told that we invite all from every region and every clime to come to our shores and enjoy the blessings that our free Government can bestow. This is true. but with some qualification. We do invite the people of all nations who desire to come here with the view and for the purpose of becoming citizens. and taking upon themselves the responsibilities of citizenship in the broadest and fullest signification. but we do not. as I understand it. by this broad and generous invitation. intend to open the door to a character of immigration that does not make American citizens. but which brings with it another citizenship and another civilization. And here is where the analogy fails when the comparison is made between Chinese immigration and all other immigration that comes to this country. and itis right here that the highsounding phrases of those who oppose the principle embraced in this bill. and who favor without restriction this class of immigration. are misleading and unfair. and it is right here they make their great mistake. We invite the downtrodden and those that are not downtrodden of all lands to come to our shores. that they may improve their conditions and enjoy the blessings vouchsafed to ourselves under our free institutions and our liberal form of government. We not only invite them but we welcome their arrival. We welcome the Germans. the Irish. the French. the Italian. and the hardy libertyloving Norsemen. yes. the representatives of all nationalities who come to the country for the purpose of becoming citizens in fact. At the present time this class of immigration is being poured into every section of the Northwest. coming largely from the north of Europe by the thousands and hundreds of thousands. They come "like an army with banners." They come with their wives. with their children. with their household goods and all their earthly possessions. They come for the purpose of making homes and to become of us.
Keywords matched
immigration