In the first place. we are trying and have been trying a long time with very indifferent success. indeed. to protect Americani labor by statute. One fatal mistake which we made was in 1864. when we authorized some of our citizens to go to other countries and there to contract for labor and to import that labor into this country to take the place of Americans who were then at work. From that time to the present. notwithstanding the fact that a few years ago we repealed that law. there has been a constant influx of a class of immigrants who are not congenial to the American people. who have no sympathy with our institutions. who have no friendship for our habits and our customs. and who in no respect are of any benefit to us or to themselves while they are here. We have seen within the last few years how deficient our legislation is upon this point. Within the last sixty days fourteeh States of the Union have been more or less under military law. and the persons precipitating this conflict upon the country were largely of the class who would be prohibited from coming by the adoption of this amendment.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants are described as not being congenial to the American people, lacking sympathy for American institutions, and being of no benefit to the country.