Mr. Speaker. this question of restricting immigration ought not to disturb gentlemen because of any possible partisan character it might under other circumstances have. for the reason that both of the great political parties have declared in favor of its restriction. It is true. Mr. Speaker. that at all times we have not been absolutely frank upon this question in our expressions. and in some of the reasons that are given for the various provisions of legislation that have engaged the attention of the House gentlemen have not always been ingenuous. I undertake to say that the purpose of the great mass of the people of the United States. and of members of this House. in discussing this kind of legislation is to curtail largely the immigration that is coming to our shores. We have attempted to disguise this~purpose in various phrases. We have talked about prohibiting the coming of the paupers. the ignorant. the vicious. the diseased. but the real purpose.
Keywords matched
immigration