Domestic Policy

Revisiting Immigration Reform…from 1907

May 8, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

In light of the massive immigration rallies that have been taking place across the country over the past few weeks, this same topic was an issue in 1907. I would like to share a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 on the issue of immigration:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.

But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all.

We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Let’s not forget that we are not against immigrants entering the country legally. Many over the past few weeks have been blurring the line between illegal and legal immigrants. Nobody is protesting the thousands of legal immigrants living in America, this is what this country is founded upon.

What we do protest, is the illegal immigrant wanting citizenship to America, that has no intentions of assimilating themself into American society, and no loyalty to the American people.

I look forward to your comments.

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