Speech #590120351

The latter are the people who helped us lay safely the foundation principles of our Republic and an unsurpassed civilization. The former are represented chiefly in the hum. pauper. and criminal aliens that are congesting the jails and the asylums of the cities of the northern section of our country. Just one reference to statistics to show the marked change that has taken place in recent years in the character of immigrants. In 1869 out of the 352.000 immigrants that entered the United States not more than 1.000 were from southeastern Europe. and practically all the balance were from southwestern Europethe AngloSaxonTeutonic racewhile during last year 75 per cent of the unprecedented number of aliens that entered the United States came from southeastern Europe. or rather 800 times as many came from the stagnant reserves of pauperism. ignorance. and degradation of south Italy as came from Germany and such countries. I do not wish. Mr. Chairman. to be understood as advocating legislation that would prohibit immigrants absolutely from any one country from coming into our country. Such prohibitive legislation would be of no practicable benefit to us. I believe that all foreign sections. or countries. have worthy and desirable citizens that will ask admission to our shores. and I beleve that these same countries have many worthless citizens that we are unwilling to add to our population. Hence I think we should amend our immigration laws so as to exclude the unworthy Citizens of all foreign countries and admit those whose character and qualifications fit them to become citizens. I desire in this connection to read a letter from the secretary of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.