Speech #620137140

I agree with the Senator from Mississippi. and I hope it will be retained in the bill. As I was saying when interrupted. I want to review some of the general features of the problem of immigration as they have been disclosed by the commissions investigation. in the hope that a thorough examination of them will lead to the conclusion which has been expressed by the Senator from Mississippl. that the educational test is. as the commission has found. the most feasible measure with which to meet the difficulties against which we have to contend. We have to remember that in 1860 this was a Nation of only 31.000.000 people. but that the last census shows a population of ninetytwo or ninetythree millions. The census also shows that the increase of population. by immigration has been about 24 per centnot over thatbecause of the large number of immigrants who return to their native countries. which may be stated in general to be about onethird of all who have been admitted. and also by the large birth rate in the United States. In other words. 76 per cent of the increase of population has been by birth and only 24 per cent by the admission of aliens. In this connection It may be interesting to refer to the census reports to ascertain the number of those born abroad who have been residents of this country in each of the census years since 1860. and It is a remarkable fact that the proportion of those actually born abroad was larger in that year than it has been since. In 1860 the proportion of that class to the entire population of the country was 15.4 per cent. in 1870. 14.4 per cent. in 1880. 13.3 per cent. in 1890. 14.7 per cent. in 1900. 13.6 per cent. and in 1910. 14.5 per cent. We must also. in view of the large and increasing numbers who have been coming to swell our population. study the reasons which have induced such immigration. Briefly stated. it is a recognition of the fact that the industrial conditions in this country are so much superior to the industrial conditions in the Old World that the more enterprising elements in the rural communities of Europe have been moved to action and have sought to Improve their condition by coming to the United States. I need take no time to demonstrate that fact. Everything connected with the movement of immigration shows itthe difference in the wages here and abroad. the difference in the standards of living. the greater advantages here and the increased opportunities for advancement. both for parents and children. under. American institutions. This movement began prior to the close of the Civil War. The Pacific railroad. connecting the great East and the great West. had been projected. and the homestead act was in operation. and the great Northwest Territory had been opened to settlement. These facts were known abroad and. coupled with the fact that the United States had demonstrated the ability of a free people to maintain free institutions. a general movement was inaugurated which has greatly contributed to the development of the industries of the Nation. To understand the scope of such development and to find a reason for the increasing tide of immigrant. aliens who have come to make their homes with us since the close of the War between the States. we have only to recall the fact that previous to that war. during almost two centuries of our colonial and national life. we had opened up only 2.000.000 farms. while in the 50 succeeding years we opened up 3.500.000 farms. and are now able to boast of an agricultural area as large as Great Britain and substantially the whole of Continental Europe. if we except Russia. What was then an almost unoccupied territory is represented in this body today by Senators from 17 sovereign States. The growth of railroad construction in the United States during the last 50 years is one of the marvelous events in the history of the world.