Speech #620269453

This prejudice has existed since the establishment of the country. In the minds of some people it has always been a habit to say that we want America for the Americans. Those who have adopted that shibboleth have forgotten that their ancestors. struggling for the opportunity to serve God and work out their own salvation. were immigrants themselves. An examination of the record from the beginning of the last century down to this very late day will show many periods in the countrys history when apparently this whole matter would come up and be discussed. I recall reading in the COGREsSI0NAL RECORD a discussion which took place over 100 years ago on this very subject. when a distinguished Representative in Congress in referring to the large immigration from Ireland expressed alarm at the effect of the coming of the "wild" Irish on our institutions. he referred to their herding in the large cities. saying they would control our politics and were even then being elected to Congress. He was certain that if we permitted it to continue the Nation would be destroyed. The subsequent developments showed he was in error. and so during all the years that have gone the agitation over the large Irish. German. Scandinavian. and French immigration has disappeared. and the opposition now seems to be centered against the Jew. the Italian. and the Pole. The strange thing about it all is that the .Representatives in this house from the districts where there is no foreign population are the ones that are advocating this legislation. while those from the great cities of the country. who have to deal with the problem in everyday life. are opposed to the enactment of this legislation. which will put upon the illiterate alien this most unjust discrimination. In the city of New lork the difficulty of the assimilation of the immigrant is a great problem. but it is being worked out. A reference has been made by some of the advocates of this legislation to crime committed in our city. but when you stop to consider the fact that we have a population of nearly 5.000.000 within the limits of the city and another one and onehalf million within a radius of 25 miles. the crime in proportion to the population is not excessive. We are proud of the city of New York. we are proud of the progress it has made as the greatest metropolis of the world. we are proud of its manufacturing industries. of its art and literature. of its great financial institutions. we are proud of the fact that our people are able and willing to leave open the door of opportunity for the strong and healthy of Europe who are williug to come here to work.