Speech #510212555

It is a step. I think. in the right direction. and slight as the advance is I think it is in line with public sentiment on a great question of public policy. The question of regulating and restricting immigration is one of the gravest which now confront the country. Two Congresses have appointed committees which have made exhaustive investigations. but. although the mountain has labored. the only result hitherto has been the conventional mouse. I do not think that Congress appreciates the danger that threatens us in this matter. for if it did I am sure that it would not display such indifference or timidity in dealing with the subject. It has been said here tonight that we are in no danger of beingovercrowded in the United. States. We are certainly in no present danger of being overcrowded by desirable immigrants. but we are at this moment overcrowded with undesirable immigrants. and this latter condition is steadily growing worse. The immigration of people of those races which contributed to the settlement and development of thd United States is declining in comparison with that of races far removed in thought and speech and blood from the men who have made this country what it is. Moreover all immigration from every quarter is showing a tendency towards deterioration which is by no means gradual. The last census bulletin shows that the foreignborn citizens. or those of foreign parentage. furnish more penitentiary convicts than are supplied by the entire nativeborn population. which. of course. greatly outnumbers the population of ioreign birth. In the immigration of late years we note also the appearance of secret societies dangerous to law and order and hostile to every theory of American institutions. The more any thoughtful man examines the statistics relating to this question the more he must be alarmed at what they show. The disease. in my opinion. can not be treated by gentle palliatives.