Speech #630384045

The oriental is in a class by himself. His instincts. mental processes. aspirations. passions. and philosophy are all fundamentally different from ours. I an willing to jointhe committee in excluding by name all such races of men. but the question we are discussing is not that question. - This bill proceeds upon the assumption that it is right to admit emigrants from all foreign countries save China. It proposes to exclude certail- individuals who can not pass particular tests.. Now. the question is whether some of those races whom we admdt it is proper to allow to emigrate to this country. whom we admit Will be entitled to residence and to ditizenshiphere if they can read. shall be excluded because they cannot read if they have come to this country to escape racial persecution. -That is the Whole question now before the Senate. I shall discuss that special question a little later on. Just now I deem it pertinent to call attention to the real purpose back of this bill. That purpose is to limit foreign immigration of every kind. I have not the slightest doubt that the responsible authors of this bill. if they thought it possible so to do. would have here a bill prohibiting all immigration into the United States. They seek to escape from that broad position. and yet in a measure accomplish their end. by declaiming against recent immigration. They do not dare stand bVfdre the American people on the old knownothing platform. which. has been a byword now for nearly half a century. and declare that this country of America is for Americans. They do not dare condemn the German citizen and his sons. the Irishman and his children. the Englishman. the Scotchman. and the Welshman.