Speech #620062220

White and our present ambassadorto that court. Jews who have been largely persecuted and discriminated against by Russia simply because of their race and religion are not alone the victims of the unjustified Russian interpretation of our treaty relations. but Roman Catholic priests and Baptist and Presbyterian ministers have also been treated with such indignity as to cause them and all true American citizens to blush with shame and join in the demand to merge their claims for protection under our flag with the national outcry against such affronts to the integrity of our citizenship. both individually and collectively. To be an American citizen. either native or naturalized. should and does mean a proud privilege. and in order to put ourselves on record as the representatives of the true sentiment of the grand old Democratic Party in this country. and of practically the whole country. we should. with one accord. today vote solidly as unflinchingly supporting the Jeffersonian sublime doctrine of equality under the law. as the underlying basis of all that is glorious in our history. and. that the preservation of our institutions require that we maintain this principle inviolate. The discrimination by any foreign country against any class of citizen. especially such worthy classes as are represented by Baptists and Presbyterian ministers and our best Jewish population. is offensive and unbearable to us. and this feeling is emphasized by the fact that the reason for the discrimination on Russias part Is one based on race and religion. this fact being known from a personal knowledge of nearly every Member of this House. whose attention must have been called to instances of this kind. where Russian authorities have persistently refused admission not only to naturalized American Jews. born in Russia. but also to native Jews of the highest possible standing and responsibility. In conclusion. Mr.