Speech #480078673

We must look elsewhere than in thewritten laws for that. which must and does clearly exist. The very basis of our system of popular government. intelligence. virtue. and honor. the extension and acceptance of the benefits of free and equal citizenship. the assumptionof the duties and obligations attendant thereon. the nature and purposes of our free institutions. clearly define the rule of admission and exclusion alike. It is evident. sir. that those only are invited and presumed to emigrate here whose future interests are to be identical with our own. who. have a conception of life with more of human equality and greater freedom. than they enjoy abroad. who would find a refuge from tyramy and seek it here. who are friendly to our institutions and are willingto sustain and uphold them. who. not knowing our laws. are ready to learn and obey them. who desire not alone the benefits of equal citizenship but are ready and willing to assume its obligations and discharge its duties. The intention and purpose of thus uniting their destiny with our own. with a preconceived love of liberty. is the bond of assimilation and union. and is a clearly implied obligation on the part of every emigrant to our shores. It is the unwritten common law of the land. In the century of our existence as a nation no feature of her history is more plainly marked than that which records the ready assimilation on the part of the masses of honest emigrants with those of this land and to the manner born. Had not friendship for the institutions of this land. respect for her laws. and loyalty to her interests marked the emigrating millions. how unstable the framework of popular government would be. how far short would she have fallen of the noble results attained and the higher purposes she seeks! How soon even are the difficulties of diverse tongues overcome. how soon the coin-. monlanguage learned! Customs are complied with. citizenship readily adopted. existing institutions find ready support and countenance. while faithful allies are found in promoting every measure tending t& the public good. and loyalty cemented on the tented field. The bond and love of freedom that united the founders of the Republic and the thirteen Colonies. separate though they were in customs. traditions. and largely in material interests. is the same tie that makes kindred the. libertyloving throughout this land and throughout the world today. While therefore we think it plain and derived from the nature of things that the privilege of emigration depends upon the intention of the emigrant with reference to our institutions. so an intention on his part which implies hostility. unfriendliness. or merely selfish purposes. demands as a measure of national safety and wellbeing the enforcement of an exclusion to such. Safer are we when menaced by an enemy in arms than by this silent and insidious foe. The very fact that the immigrant consents to come in a condition of voluntary servitude. bound hand and foot. is the best evidence that he should not come at all or be admitted. The claim is put forth that their entering into contract relations before emigrating is evidence of thrift and prudence in the assurance of work when landed on our shores. but. unfortunately for this theory neither thrift nor prudence are known factors in this bargain. Experience has demonstrated that the contract foreign laborer scarcely knows the work at which he isto be employed. He has no knowledge of the purchasing power of our money.