Grover Cleveland: “Let us give thanks for peace and for social order and contentment within our borders.”

It is not claimed, I believe, that the time has come for the further restriction of immigration on the ground that an excess of population overcrowds our land.

A careful examination of this bill has convinced me that for the reasons given and others not specifically stated its provisions are unnecessarily harsh and oppressive.

The ability to read and write, as required in this bill, in and of itself affords, in my opinion, a misleading test of contented industry and supplies unsatisfactory evidence of desirable citizenship or a proper apprehension of the…

The time is quite within recent memory when the same thing was said of immigrants who, with their descendants, are now numbered among our best citizens.