But you say. "What if they are foreigners? We were all foreigners once. We are all immigrants or the sons of immigrants." That has a very familiar sound. Most of us have used that argument. I know I have. Our dear old colleague. "Billy" Mason. of Chicago. always began an Immigration debate in the House of Representatives with the salutation. "Fellow immigrants." Now. that argument. as an appeal to our common duties and responsibilities. as an Invocation of our national unity. has a definite forensic value. Furthermore. as a statement that all the white people who are here now. or their ancestors. came from Europe. it is. of course. literally true. But as an argument on our immigration policy it is not only valueless but actually misleading. because It Ignores anddlrects attention away from an essential point. which Is that the American people represent a distinct European stock. having a distinct language and a distinct history. and that they brought with them. not from Europe generally. but from a small part of Europe. certain definite ideals of life and of the functions and responsibilities of government. which they have embodied in a Constitution of their own and with which they have built the happiest country and the most just and liberal laws in the world. At this point I am not making an argument. I am merely stating facts.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration immigrants