St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-18
DEBS Is MAD.

"Whom the gods would destroy they
first make mad" Eugene V. Debs IS
mad-mad as March hare-and is rush
ing blindlY to destruction. Not only is
he endangering his own life and liberty,
but he is encouraging others to the
commission of crimes because Of which
they may forfeit both liberty and life.
1t is but few months since that
Judge Jenkins, of the United States
circuit court. decided that roads in the
hands of receivers Of the federal courts
were directly under control of the
United States government, and that any
strike upon them was in the nature of
conspiracy and treason. subjecting the
offenders not only to punishment for
contempt of court for violation of the
injunction he then issued, but to prose
cution for resistance 10 the authorities of
the United States-practically treason.
This decision has since been empha-
sized and Endorsed by Judge Caldwell
and Judge Dundy-the former in Mis-
souri, and the latter in Nebraska. But
Mr.. Debs has overruled these judicial
lights, and, with one stroke of his pen.
has declared The decisions null and of
no binding effect. He has just issued
manifesto from The seat OF his govern
ment at Chicago, in which he says:
Roads In the hands of receivers. You
occupy the same position as all others
in this strike. The proposition we
made to the general managers has been
refused, and our position is doubly
strong in consequence. Renew every
effort, and carry it out to the finish
There is nothing to be afraid of. We
must and will win.
Was there ever such open and high
handed defiance of authority as
this? Not content with defying
the law, Mr. Debs undertakes to
reverse the decisions of the fed
eral courts in order to accomplish his
purposes, and deliberately orders a
course of procedure which he knows
full well will bring upon the heads of
his deluded followers and himself the
most condign punishment. Surely he
must be mad-a dangerous, desperate
maniac. rushing recklessly to his own
destruction.
There can be no misunderstanding of
the scope of the judicial DEGREES defin-
ing the status OF corporations controlled
by receivers of the federal courts.
Judge Jenkins decision has been dis.
cussed in oil its bearings by the public
press, and by congressional committee
of investigation. 1t has been pro-
nounced good law, although some nave
questioned the propriety of the statute.
But at time like this there will be no
scruples as to Its enforcement, for the
emergency demands it.
Mr.. Debs' order is in clear and fla
grant defiance of the decisions referred
to. BY its issuance he has placed him
self in contempt of court, and subject
to summary arrest and Imprisonment
without trial and without appeal. Even
a writ of habeaS corpus will not be able
10 reach aud release him. And all who
obey his order will place themselves in
like jeopardy. They will be in rebellion
against the laws and courts of the
United States-in the attitude of trail
tors, for treason is the only logical Sc
quence of their position.
Perhaps Mr.. Debs fancies that he can
provoke to actual rebellion by lis self
immolation. Perhaps he regards him.
self as the Messiah of the laboring men,
and thinks that his martyrdom will
cause universal uprising which shall
result in the overthrow of the goyern-
ment. But it is likely that he has pre-
sumed too far. No doubt he has an ex-
aggerated idea of his own importance
and popularity. He will live To see his
mistake, and to regret it. too. No man
is strong enough 10 defy the power Of
The United States; no man has infln.