Speech #680076475

The basis of 1890 was taken only because it was the only census that would lend itself to the dirty work that is attempted to be done by the secret influences back of this bill. What can be more artificial than to go back 34 years and arbitrarily take the census of 1890 for a basis? What can be more unfair than to go back to 1790 and ignore the immigration from 1790 to 1890 and to say that your total population of 1.790 was. composed of all Nordics? You arrogantly brush aside the early Spanish. the early French. and the early Italian immigration to this country. and because we have no accurate statistics of the early immigration. you simply credited it all to AngloSaxon stock. assume a multiple. and bring your figure up to the first available census to suit yourselves and to serve the purpose of this till. Gentlemen. you can not escape the responsibility of the vicious. cruel discrimination against Italians and Jews mainly. along with the Other countries that I have named. which you make in the bill you propose and support. I will noe take the time of the House to cite Instances and examples here and there of Jews or Italians or Serbians who have achieved great fame in the professions. in the sciences. or in statesanship. and in the arts. immigrants or sons of immigrants. What has been done so often here. and you tell me I that they are the exceptions. I will take an example and stand by it any lowly. inconspicuous. humble ImmigrantI will take the average Jewish immigrant. Where will you find him? You will find him in the factories. you will find him In the shop. you will find him back of the pushcart. you will find him doing the most laborious work from the moment he lands here until he is laid away. What is he doing it for? He is doing it because lie has come here for one great purpose. and that is to give- his children an opportunity which was denied to him and his ancestors for centuries. This humble Jewish immigrant. and he is typical of 999 out of 1.000. kisses the land the moment he gets here. thanks God for his arrival here. and it is one uninterrupted. continuous life of sweat and labor from that moment to the very end. His children know no other land. owe allegiance to no other flag. love no other country but the United States. I speak for the Jewish Immigrant because I have the honor of representing a great Jewish district. and I will say that there are no more loyal people in this country than the Jewish immigrants and their children. The children of the Jewish Immigrant. given an opportunity of an education. they will take their place in the community. and in every city where Jewish immigrants have settled I will show you development. progress. business industry as the result of their labor. determination. and efforts. The Italian immigrantslet us take the most humble again as example--leaving a country. unlike the Jew. a country that was his for centuries. where the sky is clear and the climate good. where lie is surrounded by beauty that has been his for generations. leaves that home for the same laudable reason that prompted the Jewish immigrant. To come here he sells his little piece of land. his little home. and knocks at the door at Ellis Island for admission. He lands. and where do you And him?