Mr. President. I rise this evening to speak to the present emergency immigration proposal. When the Thirteen Original American Colonies formed a Federal Union in 1789. the total population of the United States was 4 million. Since that time millions of people who were the victims of political and religious persecution. of overpopulation and the havoc of war. have made their way to the United States and have helped create this land of freedom in thought. in religion. and in enterprise. In the 40 years from 1860 to 1900. some 14 million immigrants came to the United States. As recently as the first 30 years of the present century. more than 18 million arrived. It was only fitting that of those immigrants who came to the United States. their sons and grandsons from many nations of the world. should join in returning to Europe to help maintain freedom for the world in two world wars. Their sons and grandsons went to Korea. These were the boys whose knowledge of German. Polish. or Italian. learned from their parents or grandparents. proved invaluable in intelligence. liaison. and military government. They served on the battlefield. in the air. and at sea. But not only was this huge exodus of peoples the result of troubles in Europe. it was equally a combination of factors which existed in the United Statesthe demands of an expanding agriculture. of expanding commerce and industry. of a vigorous freedomloving Nation which. with the help of those very immigrants. was to establish itself as the most powerful nation with the highest standard of living in the world. Mr. President.
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