The Irish standard., 1915-01-09
Senator o'eorman on the Llteracy

IS8Gs
When the debate on the literacy
test provision of the immigration bill
was before the Senate, Senator O'Gor
man of New York, in a most able
speech, opened the discussion, attack
ing the literacy test as an improper
method of attempting to measure the
qualifications of an immigrant for
American citizenship. He said in
part:
Il am opposed to the literacy test
embodied in the pending bill; but, if
it is to be the judgment of the Senate
that it should be retained, 1 am in
favor of the amendment now pending,
which extends the immunity class of
aliens so as to embrace those who
are escaping racial persecution as
well as political and religious persecu.
ton.
"The policy of the American govern.
ment has always been to encourage
free and unrestricted immigration. We
have held out our country as the
asylum of the oppressed of all the
world, and because of that policy we
have seen our little settlement of
three millions of people, scattered
along the Atlantic coast, grow in a
little more than a century to one of
the great and powerful nations of the
earth.
what reasons are suggested for the
abandonment of this policy at this
time? 1t is said that ignorance is a
menace in republic. l deny it.
Ignorance may be misfortune, but it
i'll becomes nation, boasting our
ideals, to penalize the victims of that
misfortune. Besides, this proposed
literacy test, which is designed to
check and prevent immigration, is not
confined to the exclusion of the
ignorant. A man may be illiterate
and yet not ignorant. 1t has been
within the observation of all of us
that there are many intelligent men
who are nevertheless illiterate, as that
term is understood. My mind reverts
to citizen of a Southern state who
was one of the most intelligent men
in his community, and yet he could
neither read nor write. He was a
good, law-abiding citizen, willing to
support his government in time of
peace and, If need be, in time of war
to give his life in defense of the lib
critics of the Republic. Was he an I'M
desirable citizen? He was without
education, but a son of that illiterate
was elevated to the high post of at.
torney general of his state and an
other son came to the House of Rep.
resentatives and made a brilliant repu-
tation that survived his departure
from that body.
"Why, Senators, If this educational
test had been applied years ago, its
operation would have excluded at least
one il not two citizens of this Re-
public who have occupied the White
House. It would have excluded from
our shores Nancy Hanks, the sainted
mother Of Abraham Lincoln. It would
have made impossible the entrance
into our country of President Andrew
johnson, who never knew how to
write his name or read line until he
was taught by his wife after his mar
riage. If that test had been applied
years ago. there are honorable and
distinguished members of this exalted
body who would not today be occupy.
ing their seats in this chamber. Sen.
ators, we are all nation of immi-
grants.
Presidents Cleveland and Taft have
vetoed similar laws, and as recently
as 1892 the Democratic party, in ma
tional convention, declared as follows:
We condemn and denounce any and
all attempts to restrict the immigra-
ton Of the Industrious and worthy of
foreign lands
Il ask those who advocate this re.
;strictive policy what is to be gained
by it? We need immigration. Why,
we need 1t more than some of us ap.
preciate. Do you stop to realize that
the birth rate among the native Amer
leans is year by year getting lower
and lower? Fortunately, in that re-.
spect We are not so badly of as
France. but we may profit by her ex-
ample.
For myself, l believe this proposed
legislation unwise and destructive of
the best interests Of this country. I
hope 1t will not have the approval of
this body. If, unfortunately, it should
receive it's approval, then l hope the
amendment, which was proposed by
the distinguished and able Senator
from Colorado (Mr. Thomas) and to
which I took the liberty of proposing
an amendment, will be adopted; that
is, that the classes to be immune from
the literacy test shall not only be
those who come to this land seeking
to escape religious and political per-
secution, but that they shall also en-
brace those who come here seeking
to escape racial persecution"
Rear Admiral Doyle Nears Retirement.