Speech #630133794

The patriotism shown by those who come from abroad unit their loyalty and devotion to time Government of their adoption. added to the training their children obtain in the public schools. inculcate in the ainids of the entire family the true spirit of American citizenship. This spirit precludes the possibility of antagonisms. which the proponents of this bill seem to fear are liable to arise unless the illiteracy test is applied ut the ports of entry. ~2712 In Massachusetts every voter since the year 1857 has been required to read a portion of the Constitution and write or print his name on the registry book in order that he may be entitled to vote. The only other requirement is that he shall be native born or possess a final certificate of naturalization. I have known during my career in municipal life many persons to whom this test of reading is a hardship and embarrassment. To persons coming to a strange country. and amid new surroundings. such a test. I believe. would be a much greater embarrassment and hardship. and that it would prove highly detrimental in shutting out worthy and otherwise qualified persons from contributing their energies to the upbuilding and perpetulty of our Nlation. I can testify from actual knowledge of the prejudice that existed against the immigrants more than half a century ago. But these immigrants have assimilated with and strengthened the purposes of the early settlers. It must be admitted that the illiteracy test will not debar the anarchist. Labor unionism did not originate in the United States. Many of its most active and efficient officials and a large proportion of the membership of labor organizations in this country will. I am quite sure. be found to be either former immigrants or their direct descendants. I refer to this matter only as it seems to me it is an effective answer to the charge that immigration. under existing law. is or has been detrimental to the cause of organized labor. When President Jefferson proposed the acquisition of the lands west of the Mississippi River known as the Louisiana Purchase the -citizens of Boston in public meeting assembled protested strongly against the project. They. like those who now take the narrow view on the question of immigration. feared that we could not assimilate the people of this vast territory. Their fears have been proven groundless in the light of our earlier and later experiences. In view of the experience the country has already had with the immigrants who have come to our shores our powers of assimilation ought to prove that they are not detrimental to our best interests. For nearly three centuries the United States has taken under its sheltering wings emigrants from the lands across the seas. These persons h..ve helped to make the United States great and prosperous. They helped us to acquire our independence. Their wisdom and patriotism formulated our Constitution and created a Nation which has been the marvel of the civilized world. Those coming to us in later years have builded our railroads and developed our resources in times of peace and helped us fight our battles and preserve our Union in times of war. If we are to take a new departure and create new conditions. let us hope that the result may not prove as detrimental as many of those who oppose the literacy test believe. If this test proves detrimental after trial. If it should be adopted. the Congress of the future may reverse our action In this respett.