Mr. President. this is the third time that an immlgration bill containing a literacy test has been presented to the President of the United States for consideration and actionfirst to President Cleveland. who vetoed it in a vigorous message. next to President .Taft. who vetoed it. and now it is presented to your Excellency. I feel that if this bill. as now prepared. should become a law it would be taking a step backward in our American civilization. It would make a decided change In the policy of our Government. Our Nation. which has been In the past the asylum of the oppressed of all countries. would no longer possess that proud distinction which has made it the home and cradle of liberty. The literacy test has been evolved after many years of labor on the part of the restrictionist as the touchstone which shall determine whether or not an immigrant shall be received into this country. The arguments which have been presented hereby Prof. Fairchild and Prof. Ross are not arguments in favor of the literacy test. but in favor of the prohibition of immigration altogether. I have htard no argument presented by them which in any way Indicates that the literacy test has any value whatsoever. Those who are opposed to its adoption and to restriction are not so unpatriotic as to say that our doors should be kept open to the immoral. to the defective. to the insane. to those who would be a menace to our country. As good citizens. we subscribe to the principle that our Government has the right to keep out those who by virtue of their bad character or other equally undesirable qualities should not be admitted.
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immigration immigrant literacy test