Speech #630384050

I think. somewhat interesting to see how thoroughly narrow we have always been. and yet these narrow utterances have always been repudiated by the American people. . I warn Democratic Senators that if we pass a bill that is proscriptive. that is built on any other than the broad principle that we will admit to this country. all people capable of becoming good citizens here. you will find that bill a millstone around the neck of the Democratic Party. Returning. however. to my promised demonstration that thO early immigrant was in his day and generation inveighed against as bitterly as is the presentday immigrant. I call your attention to a somewhat startling quotation. I read you a contemporaneous dissertation on the ancient immigrant. whom you now. describe as "the good immigrant. the man who carried in his veins the royal blood that specially fitted him to become a great American citizen." the man you now credit with having built our railroads. erected our temples of worship. constructed our mighty cities. and otherwise done so much for our great country. Here is the contemporary dissertation I want to read on him. and then I will tell you its author and you will see that ignorance can not be charged to this man. and that he must have voiced a sentiment quite universal in his day among his class. The statement was made May 9. 1753. Its author was speaking of the Germans who had come to settle in Pennsyl. vaniaah. the sturdy Germans that we now say because they came from the north of Europe are the exact kind of people to make good citizens of. Speaking of them he said: Those who come hither are generally the most stupid of their own nation. That is what these gentlemen are saying now about the recent immigrants: Those who come hither are generally the most stupid of their own nation. and as ignorance is often attended with great credulity. when knavery would mislead It * * * it is almost impossible to remove any prejudice they may entertain. * * * Not being used to liberty. they know not how to make modest use of it. * I remember whemi they modestly declined intermeddling with our elections . but now they come in droves and carry all before them. except in one or two counties. Few of their children know English. They import only books from Germany. and of the six printing houses In the Province two are entirely German. two half German half English. and hut two are entirely English.