Mr. President. we are not a homogeneous people yet by any means. We have the oriental question on the Pacific slope. we have the negro question in the South. and we have the countless thousands of immigrants crowding to this country from southern Europe. who are yet to become acquainted with our theory of government and the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. If I say to the State of New York what the measure of her electorate shall be. if I say to the State of Massachusetts what the measure of her electorate shall be. what argument shall I present to the State of Massachusetts and the State of New York when New York and Massachusetts say to Idaho. "We want to determine who shall own real estate in your State"? If I say to those people that we propose to take away from the States the right to control and determine the question of franchise. which has always been a question belonging to the State. what shall I say to New York when New York says. in order to lull the disturbance with Japan. in order that this Government may have power to settle all difficulties at Washington or that California and Idaho and Washington shall not disturb the situation by reason of the Japanese question. what argument can I urge when they say to me. "We want an amendinent to the Constitution of the United States which says that you shall not discriminate as to who shall own your land or enter your schools"?
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immigrants