Speech #610226672

In all races the most dangerous criminals come from classes that can read and write. and not from. the illiterate. A test founded on ability to read will not keep out the worst criminals. and will furnish no safe guide in action to the officers charged with the execution of the existing restrictive laws. 4. All attempts to exclude healthy and honest immigrants are Inconsistent with the rightful generosity of freemen toward people who wish to be free. and of working people whose conditions of labor are favorable toward people in other lands whose conditions of labor are less favorable and who are ambitious to improve their environment by going to free America. The present people of the United States have themselves been immigrants into the fresh continent within generations still recent. and they ought to shrink. and do shrink. from imposing hard conditions of admission to the country on the newer immigrants who are ambitious to follow their example. It is the mission of the United States to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world by teaching as many men and women as possible in freedoms largest home how to use freedom rightly through practice in liberty under law. 5. Some American publicists have been disquieted about Immigration. because the new immigration is to some extent different from the old. as regards race and religion. They apprehend that these newer immigrants will not settle on the land. as the older did. and will not be scattered among the people who have been longer in the United States. but. rather. will live by themselves in separate quarters of towns andcities. and there maintain their social and religious peculiarities. This apprehension is based on a belief which has no foundation in fact. namely. that the numerous races which came to this country during the nineteenth century have formed or may be expected to form. a racial amalgam or blend. It is obvious that very little blending has thus far taken place.