I think. become proper citizens of this Republic. I. however. say I do not take to the idea of putting any ban on any special race or nationality. however. circumstances may justify even that. if it comes to a matter of selfpreservation. The question of restricting immigration is a grave one and one calling for the exercise of judicious and conservative statesmnanship. because of our duties to mankind. as well as our duty to our own nation. and we should approach the consideration of it with a conservative regard for the rights of our fellowman as well as our own. but when we come to consider it in that broader sense of our relation to our fellowmen we are justified in the conclusion that it is our duty to first of all pursue that course that is best for our own national family. It nmy be said that this involves a degree of selfishness. but patriotism demands that we should be selfish enough to love and serve our own country first and that the welfare of our people should be first considered. Mr. Jefferson. in his notes on Virginia. in speaking of the question of immigrationand. mind you. the immigration that came at that time was of the same blood and stock as the American peoplesaid: The present desire of America is to produce a rapid population by as great importation of foreigners as possible. but Is this founded in good policy? Are there no inconveniences to be thrown into the scale against the advantages expected from the multiplication of numbers by the importation of foreigners? It is for the happiness of those united in society to harmonize as much as possible in matters which they must of necessity transact together.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrationand