Speech #710126912

The establishment of a new government. the corner stone of which was liberty. was as a pillar of fire to guide the feet of the unfortunate people of the world who lived in the darkness of political and economic serfdom. As the sunlight attracts the flower so this new nation attracted the liberty loving and the oppressed of the whole world. Immigration to the United States from that time forward until the passage by Congress of the quota law in 1921 stands out as one of the wonders of the world. Nothing like it has ever been seen. An army of immigrants worked its way across the Alleghenies and spread itself out across the Northwest Territory and in a few years had populated the Louisiana Purchase. and in less than 60 years had discovered the gold mines of California. Gradually they pushed the frontier back until it lost itself in the Pacific. With no more frontiers. with our large cities crowded to the limit. with production surpassing consumption. the day came when it was plain to the statesmen and economists of the country that we could not assimilate a million and a quarter of new immigrants annually. together with thousands that came in as visitors and that came in surreptitiously. We were compelled to put up the bars. This was done by diplomatic negotiations and by the passage of legislation restricting immigration from all the countries of the world. except from the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Restriction of immigration is now the fixed policy of our Nation. Nobody who has the best interests of our country at heart now denies that this is a safe and proper policy. There are still some people who resolve every international proposition in the light of what may be best for the country from whence they came. but they are getting fewer and fewer. This brings us to the consideration of the question so frequently asked as to why restrict immigration from Germany. England. Ireland. and the other countries of Europe and permit unrestricted immigration to flow in from Mexico and other countries of the Western Hemisphere? President Hoover in his message to the present Congress upon its convention in December. 1929. said: Restriction of immigration has from every aspect proved a sound national policy. Our pressing problem is to formulate a method by which the limited number of immigrants whom we do welcome shall be adapted to our national setting and our national needs. Hon. James J. Davis. the Secretary of Labor. on page 15 in his annual report. says: It is interesting to note the extent to which the quotalimit system has stabilized immigration from Europe in contrast to that coming from New World countries. natives of which are not subject to any numerical limitation. The number of immigrant aliens admitted from Canada and Mexico. nonquota countries. and from Europe. where quotas apply. during the five years since the present law became operative. show what has happened In this respect. Immigrant aliens admitted Canada Central and New- Mexico and Fiscal year found- South Europe land America 1925 -------------------------------------- 102. 753 32. 964 3.669 148. 36 1926_ ----------------------------------- 93. 368 43. 316 4. 481 155. 562 1927 -------------------------------------- 84. 580 67. 721 5. 548 168.368 1928 -----------.------------------------- 75. 281 59. 016 5.917 158. 513 192o -------------------------------------- 66. 451 40. 154 5. 260 158. 598 The annual quotas allotted to European countries during the five years aggregated 161.422. and while the above figures are not entirely comparable to the quota totals. nevertheless they serve to Illustrate the important fact that immigration from Europe has been established at an annual volume that closely accords with the limit set in the quota law. it Is possible that in future years the number coming from Europe may be considerably below the quota allotments. but It is not likely ever to exceed them to any appreciable extent. although liberal use is being made of the provision of law under which the wives and minor children of the United States citizens are given a nonquota status.