Speech #530032654

Mr. Speaker. the debate on this bill was entered on unexpectedly to me yesterday. and I have not had the time to give to its provisions the full consideration which I would have been glad to have devoted to them. It is entitled " A bill to amend the naturalization laws of the United States." At the proper time I shall offer an amendment to the title so as to makeit read. "A bill to resurrect Knownothingism in the United States." The provision of the first section of the bill in reference to the naturalization of aliens simplyprohibits the naturalization of desirable foreigners who having come here expect to become citizens. The proposition that no alien shall ever be admitted to citizenship within the United States who has ever been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime or misdemeanor involving turpitude-" moral turpitude" is the language of the billor who is an anarchist or a polygamist is practically a nullity.. It is a nullity for the simple reason..Mr. Speaker. that the laws of our country prohibit the immigration of such people. No individual embraced within the definition of any one of these terms can be legally admitted into the United States. and therefore the inhibition against the naturalization as a citizen of this country of such person is simply farcical if our laws upon the subject of immigration are enforced. One object. then. of this law is what? To prohibit practically the extension of American citizenship to people of foreign birth who land upon our shores and cast their lot hero with the intention of bettering their fortunes and spending their lives in this country. Now. I think. sir. in view of the statement in the report of the committee on the bill. that500.000 immigrants are yearly entering this country. we oughtnot to throw restrictions around them. and that we should not provide that two and a half millions. of them may be here as parasites. instead of being irv.orporated and merged in the American body politic. I say 2.500.000 because the first instalment of 500.000 will be compelled to remain five years before being admitted to citizenship. and at the expiration of that time 2.000.000 more will have entered the UnitedStates. so that there will always be two and a half millions of aliens among our people denied the right of citizenship. because they have not lived five years in this country.