Speech #870052448

On May 24. 1957. I delivered a speech in Congress which appeared in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD under the heading. "How Long Quotas?" As a consequence. one of the readers. named Oscar Dam from Seattle. Wash.. wrote to me criticizing me for my position on immigration and stated that we should keep out the southern Europeans. especially the Italians. the Greeks and the Spaniards. that the nativeborn Americans of many generations do not want the immigration law changed. He stated further that his family had come to America in the 17th century and his ancestors had helped to develop the wilderness of America. One of his forebears was killed by Indians on a trek to California. He proudly stated that the AngloSaxon people had made this country great and not only must we keep out the southern Europeans. and especially the Italians. but also we should deport many who are here. I told him that he did not understand the contribution which the Catholics. the Spanish. the French. the Poles. the Hungarians and other ethnic groups have made to the development and growth of this country and the sacrifices that they have made to preserve its freedom and liberties. I answered him and said that If the restricted immigration laws were in effect when his forebears came to America. I was certain that the whole Dam family would have been excluded. The attitude of Mr. Dam is shared by many people in the United States. If we take as a measuring rod the number of appointments of persons of Italian ancestry to high Cabinet office. one can infer that those in control of our Government today believe that the Italians have just gotten off the boat. Yes. my friends. people forget that there was no restricted immigration law before March 3. 1875. If this country in its beginning had a restricted immigration law. Giovanni Cabot woud not have been permitted to plant the Union Jack on American soil. Francis Vigo would not have been permitted to explore the Northwest with Rogers and Clark and could not have helped George Washington. after the American Revolution. with the Northwest Indians. 16 Venetians would not have built the first glass works in Jamestown.