Mr. President. I am unwilling that the Senator from North Dakota should place me in the position of opposing foreign immigration of a desirable character. We are an exotic people. Our ancestors had their homes in the Old World. and they sought refuge in the New World. This country has always been and this country should always be a house of refuge for the persecuted of every creed and the oppressed of every clime. Our gates have always stood ajar to receive the foreigner who comes to our shores to identify his interests with our interests and to share the prosperity and the glory of our institutions. Such immigrants have always been and such immigrants should always be as welcome. I may say. as the flowers of springtime and as welcome as the fruits of summer. But. sir. the opening of foreign prisons and foreign brothels to sweep the offscourings of the earth into the lap of this glorious Republic should not be permitted. and for my part I would discriminate between the desirable and the undesirable immigrants. I would say to certain Europeans. as we say to certain Asiatics. and as we ought to say to all Asiatics. "Thus far shalt thou go. and no farther." The Senator from North Dakota has stated one of the reasons for the superior wages in the United States. It does depend in great measureand I wonder if the Senator will deny itupon the superior skill. superior intelligence. and superior efficiency of the American laborer. Is the Senator from North Dakota willing to stand here and deny that the superior wages in this country are due to the superior fitness and efficiency of our laborers?
Keywords matched
immigrants immigration Asiatics undesirable immigrants