Mr. Chairman.* true Americanism demands that this Congress shall take a decided stand on the immigration questiona stand which shall be so positive in character that none can possibly say that we forgot our duty and legislated in terms of political expediency. Coming as I do from the great city of New York. whose population is largely composed of foreignborn people. I can well understand how politically unpopular I shall be when I cast my vote in favor of either a decidedly restrictive or absolutely prohibitive immigration measure. And yet. colleagues. when I think of the dangers which beset us should we continue to open our doors to all comers. regardless of their physical. mental. and moral fiber. I know of no other way by which I can honestly represent my constituency than to cast my lot among those who give preference to America. You and I should be vitally interested in fostering patriotism and in perpetuating the principles for which our forefathers fought. and we should thoroughly realize that one of the greatest menaces to the proper development of our cherished ideals lies in the invasion of our country by that class of foreign Immigrants who have no conception of nor Interest In those ideals and principles for which we stand but have been taught and trained in antagonistic principles for many generations in the countries of their nativity. Moreover. we find many of the presentday immigrants engaghg in propaganda that is striking directly at the roots of our most cherished social and political institutions. Knowing this to be true. it is our duty to employ our best efforts toward the passage of an immigration law which will stem the tide of undesirable aliens who have been for a number of years past flooding our country. Immigration which touches an integral part of our national existence. immigration. which is not a little responsible for the upbuilding of our great Republic. might have reasonably been expected to have received every possible consideration at our hands. but the records show that instead of formulating a constructive policy for Its systematic absorption we have. through lack of vision. allowed it to flounder among uncharted rocks in perilous seas. The very fact that this country freed Itself from all foreign entanglements. declaring its independence. p}roves very clearly that the United States of America was from its very inception destined to be the one Nation in the world free from the domiinating and contumacious influences of the ever narrow and greedy European rulers or those who would seek to propagate their doctrines. America is today suffering from racial indigestion.
Identified stereotypes
Generalizes that immigrants have no conception of or interest in American ideals and principles, and are trained in antagonistic principles.