McCORMACK in his own lifecause invariably that Member would time has become a symbol. bearing witresume his seat and invariably also. the ness to the validity of the American dream. His public career is a demonstration that our society has during the past generation attained in fact the genuine pluralistic character which previously existed in theory but which was far from true in reality. The 50 years following the Civil War saw this Nation welcome to its shores an unprecedented wave of immigrants representing diverse national. ethnic. geographic. and religious origins. The successful incorporation of a multitude of widely divergent national strains into American life in 2 generations constitutes a remarkable achievement without historic precedence. Its attainment has. in my view. been an accomplishment comparable to the winning of the West in the 19th century. Just 50 years ago many immigrants and their children for the most part were still. to use Thomas Jeffersons expression. "the hewers of wood and the carriers of water." With all too rare exceptions. they were confined to the backbreaking menial jobs which no one else wanted. For the most part they lived in intellectual and physical isolation from nativeborn Americans. In American history. politics and government have undoubtedly provided the most effective ladder of upward mobility. enabling disadvantaged or depressed groups to rise and attain full participation and power in our society.
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immigrants