Speech #660273366

The aggregration of strange peoples in our large centers of population is undoubtedly a hardship to themselves and a menace to our traditions and to our institutions. As a rule. they do not think in the same terms as the population among which they are thrown. and the inevitable result is the formation of colonies where the traditions. bad as well as good. of the land of their origin are perpetuated. As distance is said to "lend enchantment to the view." and as " absence makes the heart grow fonder." it is common knowledge that these colonies of the foreign born cherish an exaggerated fondness for the land of their birth. often to the detriment of American interests. They forget the hardships of their earlier enxironment. the poverty and misery. the tyranny and persecution. and at times display an utter lack of appreciation of the opportunities and advantages that they have enjoyed under the American flag. Whenever the attitude of their adopted country does not seem to harmonize with the apparent interests of their fatherland and the question. by any chance. is projected into the political arena. they steer their course not by the measure of benefit to accrue to this country but by its effect upon the land of their birth. The majority of this House. whose committee is responsible for tills measure. have profited by this disposition of the foreign born in the recent election. and the wonder is that they should so soon after their phenominal victory kick over the laddqr on which they climbed to power. I am not at all resentful at the attitude taken by the foreign born. I hold that the basic principles which governed our ancestors and whose generous spirit of toleration and humanity made this country the haven of the oppressed of the world are of deeper import than any argument predicated either upon expediency or resentment. It may be that the threat of immigration is as grave as the majority would seem to indicate. It may be that the character and condition of the hordes who are knocking at our doors for admission are as debased as represented. That. however. I seriously question. But I am thinking it will be interesting to note the reaction when the friends and the relatives of the races criticized in the majority report of Congress come to reflect upon the subject. For instance. in Appendix A of the report. on page 9. we find an expression of views as to the character and undesirability of the proposed immigrants from the different lands and races: AUSTRIA. Vienna : Sixty per cent of the present emigrants are of the Jewish race. 20 per cent of the German race. and 20 per cent of other races. The favorite occupation of these emigrants is merchant or clerk. GERMANY. Berlin : It is estimated that 2.000.000 Germans desire to emigrate to the United States if passport restrictions are removed. The Germans who proceed to the United States are not of the most desirable class. due to the fact that military service is at present. in nost cases. an absolute bar. ITALY. Catania : Practically all the emigrants from this district are of the peasant class. For the most part they are small in stature and of a low order of intelligence.