Speech #590120135

The Creator of the universe did not make all men with the same intellectual force or the same character. nor did he create all nations on an equal plane. In all animal life the rule is universal that where the inferior animal mixed its blood with the superior. it of necessity pulled down the standard of the higher at least to the extent that it lifted the standard of the lower. If we open our doors to the unlimited and indiscriminate immigration of people. who are below the American standard of life and living. they will of necessity drag down the price of labor. the conditions of home life. and the characters of our children toward theirs. to the future detriment and injury of the nation. I believe this bill to a large extent will restrict the immigration coming into this country. It will separate the good from the bad. It will prevent the ignorant. degenerate. and pauper classes of Europe from coming here. and yet leave the door open for men of character and intelligence to join our common citizenship. If I had the time I would discuss the bill in all its details. but as the time is limited. I Intend to confine my remarks to one feature of the bill alone. and that is what is known as "the educational test." Under the provisions of the bill as presented to the House. every Immigrant coming into this country will be required to read and write In some language. There has been much discussion as to the advisability of adopting this test for the admission of Immigrants. Some have said that it is not fair. that it was not a proper test. and does not discriminate between good and bad immigration. Others have taken the extreme view that the educational testwould keep out very few immigrants. and would be worthless for that reason. But. in my judgment. the requirement that every immigrant coming to this country shall be able to read and write in some language will stop from coming here about onethird of the Immigrants that annually arrive. and. more than that. it will stop the ignorant. the vicious. and the depraved. I admit freely that education is not always a test of intelligence. that it is not always a test of character. nor is it always a test of energy or of thrift. We all admit that we have at times known men of very great Intellectuality who. on account of some peculiar circumstances. have not acquired an education.