Speech #670142441

They knew little or nothing. of the form of government in other countries. and as a rule cared less. I submit that their status was such that they. were more worthy of consideration in fixing a basis for representation than are the great masses of aliens who are in our country. today. not for purpose of becoming citizens. but to exploit our industries. According to the census of 1870. which may be taken as the date of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution. more than 14 per cent of our population were foreign born. The percentage at this time is about the same. but in 1870 82 per cent of our foreignborn population were ditizeus. while today only about 45 per cent are citizens. In 1870 only 18 per cent of our foreignborn population were aliens. today about 55 per cent are aliens. The immigrants of 1870 manifesting a love for our country and its institutions were naturalized and became good citizens. Many of them were pioneers of the great West. I am entering no protest at this time against immigrants or our foreignborn population. but I do protest against foreigners coming into this country and refusing to become citizens. This country should be no asylum for aliens. it should be a home for American citizens. So far as I am able to ascertain. similar conditions exist in no other country of the civilized world.