Let us see what a President of the United States said on this proposition. I will read it myself. The same bill was before Congress a few years ago and a Democratic President vetoed it. and in doing so he used this language: The best reason that could be given for this radical restriction of immigration is the necessity of protecting our population against degeneration and saving our national peace and quiet from imported turbulence and disorder. I can not believe that we would be protected against these evils by limiting immigration to those who can read andwritein any language twentyfive words of our Constitution. In my opinion it is infinitely more safe to admit a hundred thousand immigrants who. though unable to read and write. seek among us only a home and opportunity to work than to admit one of those unruly agitators and enemies of governmental control. who can not only read and write. but delights in arousing by inflammatory speech the illiterate and peacefully inclined to discontent and tumult. Violence and disorder do not originate with illiterate laborers. They are rather the victims of the educated agitator. The ability to read and write. as required in this bill. in and of itself. affords. in my opinion. a misleading test of cotnted industry and supplies unsatisfactory evidence of desirable citizens hip or a proper a pprehension of the benefits of our institutions. If any particular element of our illiterte immigration is to be feared for other causes than illiteracy. these cause should be dealt with directly instead of making illiteracy the pretext for exclusion to the detriment of other illiterate immigrants against whom the real cause of complaint can not be alleged. This. Mr.
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