He may be unclean of person and unclean of speech. le may be incapable of earning his own support. But so long as he keeps out of jail he Is equal in point of citizenship with the best. the most cultivated. the most efficient of all his fellows. In the whole body of our citizenship the naturalized under this law must be raised to a plane of peculiar distinction. since he alone will be held by the formal finding of a competent courtby solemn judicial decreeto be a scholar. and a gentleman. Is this an exaggeration? It was said of Sir Walter Raleigh that he was a soldier. a sailor. a scholar. a statesman. and a gentleman. Well. Mr. Chairman. under this proposal every naturalized citizen must have fourfifths of the qualifications which distinguished that most brilliant ornament of the Elizabethan age. He must be a sailor. at least to the extent of having crossed the sea. He must be a soldier to the extent of assuming liability to bear arms In case of war. He must be a scholar to the extent of having mastered two languages. and he must be a gentleman. because he must satisfy a court that he is of unblemished moral character. and surely no one will question that the possessor of all these excellencies. moral and intellectual. must be a gentleman. This section does not absolutely require an applicant for citizenship be a statesman. but as statesmanship Is an accomplishment that can be acquired. and as the naturalized citizen will be eligible to every office in the country except one. it is reasonable to assume that in some instances at least he will develop into a statesman. Is it any exaggeration to say. sir. that if this proposal be adopted. In the body of your general citizenship a select body will be established. of which each one must be actually fourfifths and potentially fivefifths a Sir Walter Raleigh. while the native citizen may be anything short of a convict? Mr. Chairman. I am opposed to the creation of separate classes in the body of our citizenship. and I think It Is in the last degree unwise. almost disloyal. to change our naturalization laws so that while citizenship will raise no presumption. of excellence in native born. it will raise a presumption of high excellence In naturalized citizens. The gentleman from Colorado may say that these criticisms do not constitute an argument against the principle of this provision. but merely In favor of carrying It a step further back and of applying the educational test to every immigrant at the port of entry. I am quite ready. sir. to concede that it Is Impossible to discuss this policy intelligently or profitably unless we go to the very root of the proposal and argue candidly the graver question which underlies it. Should immigration Itself be restricted. and if so. should the restriction be made effective by an educational qualification? Sir. I have no hesitation in submitting to the judgment of this committee. and I think It Is capable of demonstration. first. that immigration instead of being restricted should be encouraged. and. secondly. that this legislation. if it be adopted. instead of operating to exclude the undesirable will operate JUNE 2. to admit none but the undesirable. while It will shut out those who are in the highest degree desirable. In discussing whether immigration itself should be restricted. the first step is to ascertain the precise relation between the Immigrant and this country. Some gentlemen seem to think there is a great sacrifice. or at least a grave risk. of imperiling some American interests in giving asylum to this body of refugees from over the world. I believe that the immigrant. while he obtains great advantages from this country. gives as muchaye. sir. more than he receives. I will go a step further. I say there is nothing can come through our ports so valuable to our prosperity and welfare as a pair of human hands willing and eager to employ themselves in the cultivation of this soil. What object can move the unlettered immigrant to come here? What can he do when heenters this country? Does anybody think that he comes here to seek a life of ease?
Identified stereotypes
Naturalized citizens are being held to a higher standard than native-born citizens.