Speech #520151362

Mr. Speaker. when we consider that one hundred years ago the population of this country reached barely the number of 4.000.000. and that the census of 1890 discloses the enormous incease to 62.622.250. we may reasonably assume that this country is greatly indebted to immigration. and not to mere natural laws. Immigration has been a steady and constant source of addition. and look at it as we will this fact must be conceded. The adopted citizen has played a most important part in our national affairs as well. The total popular vote for President in 1828 was 1.156.328. while the total popular vote in 1888 reached 11.392.429. The total number of immigrants from 1821 to 1890 was 15.427.657. of this number 6.235.277 were natives of Great Britain and Ireland. 4.504.128 are to be accredited to Germany. Italy sent 408 immigrants between 1821 and 1830. Between 1831 and 1890 307.309 are designated as Italians. a most remarkable increase. and presumably due to what is known as contract labor. In the statistical account of the illiteracy of the foreign arrivals we find the highest rankfor educationdue the Scandinavian race. their illiteracy being onefourth of 1 per cent. or one person who can not read nor write in 400. while the Italians show an illiteracy of not less than 56 per cent. The Scandinavians sent to us during the same period 1.067.548. During the fiscal years 1890 and 1891 the entire immigration amounted to 1.006.715. of whom 343.418 are credited to Great Britain. 126.932 to Italy. 205.940 to Germany. and 110.266 to Scandiravia. It is interesting to notice that from 1821 to 1830 the census discloses the arrival of but two Chinese. While from 1830 to 1850 the Chinese immigration was but small. there was a steady increase until in the decade of 1871 to 1880 the number amounted to 123.201. It is not to be denied that many immigrants seeking the great benefits afforded by the United States bring with them a compensation. They do not come empty handed. They bring with them much wealth in actual money. a willingness to toil and become selfsupporting factors and contributors to the prosperity of the country. But in many instances they bring with them qualities unAmerican. and which. when mingled with the prosperity of a great country. becomd positively detrimental. It has become of late years a matter of necessity that a closer scrutiny should be made of those seeking to come among us. Laws have been enacted necessary in their operation for the selfdefense. protection. property. and health of the American citizen. "Then this country originally made itsinvitation and welcomed those desiring to cast their lot with us. and offered an asylum to the political refugee. it did not contemplate that foreign countries should make our shores a dumping ground for the vagrant. the infected. or the felon. It proposed that a healthy growth should proceed from healthy seed. It did not contemplate becoming a pesthouse. an almshouse. or a penal colony.