As a matter of selfprotection we exclude them. notwithstanding their manifest suffering and distress. We now by law exclude the penniless and the pauper. even when he comes here to better his condition. and we do this for the purely selfish reason that he might become a public charge. So we see that immigration to this "land of the free." from the first. has been restricted In order to protect American citizens. The policy of "restriction" is not new. From time to time as the conditions of the country have changed these restrictive laws have been made more and more exclusive. The "literacy test" proposed in this bill is not new. It has been considered by the people as perhaps few other measures have been considered. A learned commission. after a full and exhaustive consideration. reported unanimously that immigration should be restricted. while eight out of nine of the commissioners advocated the adoption of the literacy test. An American Congress by a large majority enacted such a law. which was vetoed by President Cleveland. An American Congress enacted such a law by a great majority. which was vetoed by President Taft.
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immigration literacy test