Speech #520113645

Mr. President. I do not think that if this radical measure i adopted by the United States the immigrants are going to be allowed to embark on board the steamships. and I certainly do not believe that Canada is going to protect herself any less rigidly than we will protect ourselves. Without going at length into the subject but to answer the question directly. I am not afraid. if the bill passes for the suspension of immigration for one year. that there will be any cholerabreeding immigration which will come into this country by land. So I say that we ought to pass a oneyear suspension bill. I believe that before the 3d of March arrives we shall conclude to pass it. I believe before that time the Senator from Tennessee will conclude. from the cholera manifestations in Europe and from reflection upon the subject. that more radical measures than quarantine measures will be necessary in order to protect the sixtyseven millions of American people from an advancing and terrible scourge of pestilence which even now threatens them. Mr. President. a suspension of immigration for one year. and the prohibition during that periodof any entry into tl%) United States. for settlement. of persons from European countries where cholera prevails is not a great hardship. Immigration has been already almost suspended. and we ought to take advantage of its breakdown and prevent the redstablishment of such steerage passages as have prevailed. The steamship companies already profess that they have given up taking steerage passengers. and that the recent extensive arrival of immigrants has only resulted from the fact that many prepaid tickets have been sold. and that immigrants are making haste to use them. But the steamship companies have discontinued since the first day of January the sale in this country of prepaid tickets. and it is only necessary to take advantage of the fact and by law make a legal suspension for one year and no great harm will be done. If we delude ourselves into the belief that quarantine regulations will be sufficient. and that the Treasury Department and Dr. Jenkins will keep the cholera out of New York City. and if immigrants understand that they are to be admitted. and the stream of immigration is to be resumed in the spring. we shall find out to our sorrow. in my judgment. after Congress has adjourned on the 4th day of March. that we made a mistake in not adopting more stringent measures than are proposed. except in the bill which has been reported by the Committee on Immigration.