Speech #570039860

I do not advocate a policy of national isolation. I trust that my views are not of the narrow and contracted kind. I know that the immigrant has rescued this continent from barbarism. transformed the pathless wilderness into a wellordered and flowery garden. that he and his offspring wrested independence from tyranny and despotism abroad and gave this nation its free and selfgoverning existence. that he and his descendants saved the Republic when it was in danger and preserved our national Union intact. that he and his children and his childrens children furnished the brain and the brawn for the upbuilding of our colossal industries. that it was their enterprise. their skill. and their ingenuity which made this country the wonder and the leader of the industrial. the social. and the political world. I would pursue a policy that extends the glad hand of welcome to every man of our own race who is willing to adopt our country and make it his own. to familiarize himself with our system of government. to learn the story of the struggles through which our country has passed. to learn to estimate the price in blood and treasure the Republic has cost. to become a free and intelligent and independent voter. to become one of us. willing to be assimilated into our national life. to share our liberty and help us perpetuate it and keep it uncontaminated and pure. to work in an honest and an honorable way for a living. and in the holy radiance of the light of liberty. labor. and love to rear a family of respectable. intelligent. libertyloving children. But I would shrink from injecting into the body politic in America another race problem. another peril to our political system. another disastrous check to our social progress.