Speech #740105884

And so it may be saidthat out of the experiences of ages and the wisdom of time our fathers combined in one great constitutional structure the authority of law and the security of property with a liberty ofdiscussion and a freedom of individual action never before known. Under these wise and liberal institutions the 3.000.000 Americans of 1776 increased to 31.000.000 In 1860. Only about 4.000.000 of this population increase was due to Immigration. Our attachment to the Constitution was so deep that we fought 4 years over itscorrect interpretation. From the conclusion of that unfortunate struggle until 1930 the great alien invasion of the United States took place. From the foreign stock of about 4.000.000 in 1860 we grew to a foreign stock of more than 40.000.000 in 1930. No other country has ever witnessed such an alien influx. with the possible exception of Rome. and the best authorities concede that the major factor which produced the fall of Rome was immigration. No other nation could have survived this Invasion. Lecky in his History of European -Morals described the important part played by immigration in producing the decline and fall of Rome. He says: " Together with these influences. many others of a kindred nature may be detected. The colonial policy which the Gracchi had advocated was carried out at Narbonne. and during the latter days of Julius Caesar. to the amazement and scandal of the Romans.