The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-07-19
BUT THAr OF DEBs,


All reports tl.s ssl, graph. from every
point In the United States, seem indica-
tive OF the beginning Of the end Of one
Of the most colossal projects Of a crini-
nal character ever conceived in the mind
Of would-be leader among men and de-
livered amidst the cracking OF incendiary
flames, the ping of the rifle shot, the
frenzied yells OF temporary manacs-the
groans of the dying and the tears of wives,
mothers, daughters and sweethearts.
Eugene V. Debs, by the grace of God
and an absolutely inexplcable accident,
one man among many millions OF men,
has been given the power to tear down,
destroy, overthrow and almost snnihilate
the work OF an hundred years and mill
ions OF hands--in one short week. At
his word 10000 men put out their riot
Gus hands, made bonfires OF miles upon
miles Of bridges, hundreds upon hundreds
OF valuable and even artistic palace and
sleeping cars, miles OF stock cars with
their living occupants; tore down tele-
graph wires obstructed commerce; shed
and caused to be shed the blood OF their
fellow men.
These men are guilty, individually and
collectively, of crime most heinous; and
penalty adequate for the luckless wights
who may have been taken red.handed in
the act may not be hard to impose. But
what OF him who caused it all; who was
followed with blind confidence by a
horde Of henchmen and their attendant
rabble; who planned combat upon a
pretext puerile in comparison with the
woes It wrought; whose more than Ca-
serlike ambition is directly responsible for
the acts Of the misguided men who blind
ly acknowledged and obeyed his man
dates? What is to be his punishment :?
That is the question TO which the nation
demands an answer. He has been ar
rested upon charge OF interfering with
the transmission OF the United States
mails. Will the attaching punishment,
righteously melted out to him, at all
nearly balance the long account against
him?
He created child, and breathed upon
it the breath OF life. The infant grew
wonderfully, miraculously, manfully. At
its conception it was the very essence OF
nothingness--but it fourshed with sus.
picious vigor; grew like vice in the soul
OF weakling. In time a short
time-it was greater than its parent; but
even in its might it chung to its creator,
gave him its strength, made him its
master. And the master piostituted the
servant. He was like youngster with
toy steam engine. He felt constrained to
see the piston working, hear the bells
ringing, watch the smoke ascending.
His toy was still shining In its freshness,
gaudy in its gliding, when he touched
the match to the fnrnace-and there was
an immediate explosion.
Had he killed himself as he killed 40
many of his misguided followers, the
whole country would be better pleased,
and thousands Of dollars which may be
spent-perhaps vainly-in the endeavor
to thoroughly chastise him, might be
saved. There is but one consoling
thought, one ray of sunshine ia the
gloomy spectacle presented us: Mr..
Debs has completely shattered his toy
engine--the A. r. U. is a thing of the
past.
But the brokeh toy, even in the tears
it may bring for the sorrow in its loss, is
not enough for this man Debs. He
should (were 1t possible, consistent with
his mental and physical characteristics
weep tears OF blood, feel the pangs OF
keenest remorse, shudder at the towering
shadow of the Nemesis whom he must
know hath her baleful eye upon him.
His punishment must, from very neces-
sity, be principally psychic; because
there is no earthly power which can in
hIct upon him the torture he deserves.