Speech #630386000

Mr. President. I -shall vote for the literacy. section of the bill which has been previously approved by both Houses of Congress. because I believe that the indiscriminate Immigration that has been coming to this country during the last 10 or 15 years should be restricted until we can better assimilate or Americanize those who have come in such large numbers in the time I have mentioned. Therefore. believing that the best interests of this country demand a restriction of foreign immigration. I am In favor of the literacy test. because that operates as a restriction to some extent. and I think the. restriction can properly be applied to illiterates. It is true that illiteracy does not necessarily imply lack of morality or the desire to be a lawbreaker. It is also true that illiteracy naturally tends to prevent a foreigner from acquiring a proper conception of American institutions as soon as a literate could acquire it. It is also true that the illiterates -on account :of their ignorance can be more easily influenced in the direction of lawlessness by designing men. and also more readily influenced by political demagogues. Everyone who has looked into the matter of this large foreign immigration during the time I have mentioned knows. or ought to know. that the two principal causes inducing it were the. efforts of foreign steamship companies and the American employers of cheap labor. each working for their own selfish interests. I am aware that this country is largely indebted for its development to the immigration that came here from Europe in former times. but that was an immigration of a different nature from the immigration which has been largely coining of late years. and devoted itself to other pursuits than the present kind of immigration does. The fact that in former times and under different conditions in this country unrestricted immigration was permitted is no argument in favor of permittifig unrestricted immigration now. While I feel a natural sympathy for aliens who hope to better their condition by coming to this country. I do not recognize that this country is under any obligation to admit foreigners to its privileges just because these foreigners wish toenjoy those privileges. Still less is this country under any obligation to admit them if their admittance might have a tendency to injuriously affect the wellbeing of her own citizens. I consider that my first duty is to my own country. and I propose to discharge it according to my best judgment. without regard to the possible political effect on myself or on the party .with which I am identified. I regret that the amendments to the literacy test which have been voted on this morning have been defeated by the Senate. They were amendments for which I voted and for which I stand. Nevertheless. because they have been voted down is no reason why I should be justified in voting against the literacy test which. in my judgment. embodies generally a wise provision of law. Especially is this so when the sentiment of the Senate very clearly shows that the literacy test will be sustained. no matter whether I vote against it or for it. I also feel some comfort in the fact that. in my judgment. the Jews in those countries of Europe for whom this amendment was particularly intended will not. after the conclusion of the present European war. suffer the persecution in the future which they have suffered in the past. no matter what side may be victorious at its termination.