Speech #680076958

I think that few things are more underestimated than the competency of the human race to meet any task that may be imposed upon it In the matter of reproduction. Napoleon Bonaparte. whose brain has been said by Gladstone to have been the most extraordinary organ that had ever been held in a human head. appears to have had an insight into the principles that control population equally as acute as that of Franklin. When one of his companions in arms called his attention to the great number of dead French soldiers strewn over tile field of one of his battles. in his mier(iles. selfishness lie simply shrugged his shoulders and obsered. "Nimporte"-it matters not-" Paris will make it up ill a single night." So I.say without hesitation that while our domestic population might not have doubled if there never had been any immigration into this country since 1790. indeed might have fallen far below that standard. it is reasonable to believe that for all practical purposes It would be what it is today. If that Is true. should not that fact. If it is a fact. be duly taken into account in determining as to how far we should now regulate the influx of foreign immigration into our midst In the future? The point that I am making Is that it is not truly necessary. for any economic or other reason. to permit any more immigration into the United States. Anyhow. I have never been able to see that there is any particular virtue in a practically unlimited increase of population or in a practically indefinite increase of wealth.