Speech #710030767

Mr. President. the controversy now engaging the attention of the Senate is between two immigration quota formulas of which one is the national origins quota basis ajd the other is 2 per cent of the foreignborn population of 1890. It should be definitely understood that there is not involved here any controversy as to whether we shall have more immigrants or fewer immigrants. The sole question is which of these formulas will become the permanent basis for determining how many immigrants from each European country may enter the United States each year? Many false issues have been raised here. Even the formula called national origins has been used. I fear. designedly. to give a more or less patriotic preferential coloring to one of these formulas. National origins is merely an immigration formula which results in favoring certain presentday European races by reducing the present quota from other races. Antialien sentiment. religious prejudice. and a recently developed American superiority complex has been injected into this issue in an unblushing manner. This is a most unhealthy condition. I foresee grave consequences both abroad and at home through this constant. year after year. agitation against the European immigrants and their children and these repeated votes of distrust. discrimination. and disdain. You will learn that the povertystricken. wardepleted nations of Europe will not allow your contemptuous attitude toward them and your repeated affronts to their racial values to pass forever without challenge. Racial and religious animosities have inevitably reaped the most cruel and destructive consequences. Let us keep in view the real issue here. America having the right to make selections from those who may seek to immigrate to this country. let us consider which of these formulas is best for America. That at once brings us to the question of analyzing races. distasteful and unpleasant as it may be. but it is here. In the last analysis the only practical question is.