Russia already issues certificates of the nature called for by the bill before us. Need I tell you. from what you already know of the unfortunate and pitiful condition of the Jew in that autocratic country. what difficulty he would meet with there? How rich might be the field of petty officials in foreign lands when they would be called on to grant these certificates that would enable the intending emigrant to leave his country to turn his footsteps to this land of freedom and opportunity? Only a little more than a year ago this House by practically a unanimous vote condemned the autocratic and outrageous conduct of Russia against the Jew. and now here tonight you propose to subject the very class for whom you professed your sympathy to being compelled to seek a certificate from the hands of a government under whose oppression he lives before you will permit him I entrance to our shores. You would invest the Government of the Czar with the power. if it or its officials. high or low. great or petty. saw fit to exercise it. to keep the man or woman from coming here. though he or she would be in every way a desirable immigrant. But I have not time to pursue this subject. I have heretofore opposed. as I still oppose. the educational or literacy test. It is no test of fitness or character. Under it the bad. the vicious. or criminal minded might. if they can read. come in. while those who may be worthy. ablebodied. capable of selfsupport. and honest. but. unfortunately. illiterate. be kept out.
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emigrant immigrant literacy test