Speech #640264434

Well. where it is their own fault. I have little sympathy with them. but where it is not their own fault I pity them. I think that the test of- good citizenship here is the question of good character in the country from which the immigrant comes. If an iumigrant has made a good citizen in the country from which he comes and comes here with every purpose of making this his home and identifying himself with our institutions.. then I think he should be given the right to come. and I want to say for the Presidentand I do not often say much in eulogy of himthat for a teacher. for a professor. for a scholar. for a man who has led thousands of youthful feet through learnings maze to stand against this test because it is not fair. because it is not right. because it may work great hardship. is to his everlasting credit. His veto message is brief and so full of humanity and sympathy for the unfortunate and the oppressed that I want to read from it. I can not rid myself of the convictionSays the Presidentthat the literacy test constitutes a radical change In the policy of the Nation which is not justified in principle. It is not a test of character. of quality. or of personal fitness but would operate In most cases merely as a penalty for lack of opportunity in the country.from which the allen seeking admission value. The opportunity to gain an education is in many cases one of the chief opportunities sought by the Immigrant In coming to the United States. and our experience In the past has not been that tile illiterate immigrant is as such an undesirable immigrant. Tests of quality and of purpose can not be objected to on principle. but tests of Gpportnnity surely may be. Now.