On the contrary. the hill rests on the soundest of all fundamental principles. the right of a great people and a great Nation to establish its own standards at its boundaries and to say that men who do not come up to them shall not be admitted simply because the sovereign .says not. The President of the United States concludes his message as follows: Moreover. even if this test might be equitably insisted on. one of the exceptions proposed to its application involves a provision which might lead to very delicate and hazardous diplomatic situations. The bill exempts from the operation of the literacy test "all aliens who shall prove to the satisfaction of the proper immigration officer or to the Secretary of Labor that they are seeking admission to the United States to avoid religious persecution in the country of their last perManent residence. whether such persecution be evidenced by overt acts or by laws or governmental regulations that discriminate against the alien or the race to which he belongs because of his religious faith." As was suggested by my friend. the Senator from New Hampshire. and under that provision to which the President objects. people who have been persecuted because of their religious faith will be admitted to this country without regard to any other consideration. The Senator may say that that is not logical and that it is sentimental. I am inclined to concede it if you make such a contention.
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literacy test immigration