New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-04
nERS IND Tile GOTERNMENT

DEBS And THE GOTFRNMENT
We discaim AT the outset any desire 10 dilnlr
lsh the dignity or dcprccia;e the Importance "t
Dcbs While we do not pretend to stand IN such
absolute awe OF him as 10 be willing 10 aDdl-
cate private judgment ana surrender lndlVduai
opnion. we are still so mindful Of Tie extent of
his influence. the reach Of his arm the omnlSri-
encc Of his intelligence, the "rnnipot"nce "t MS
authority and the vaStncss of the SHADOW WHICH
he casts over the whole continent M me pres
cnt moment that shall be uncommonly care
ful not 10 tap the tank of his wrath or iouch
off the artillery of his anger III" success oil
The Tribune business enterprise IS 100
much dependent upon r. having readers ana
advertisers for lis 10 assume the FISK OF oh'hu'
Ing a potcntate who can by 4 single wore OF
command cut OF every reader ana advertiser
under penalties such aS were never khoWn OF
dreamed of in all the worlds history F"r' il
tho mandate of Debs can compel III oil the c"u''-
try west OF the Lakes 10 the Pacihc COAST inc
cessation of all business. even 10 the stoplage
Of supplies 10 starving men. women ana chill
drcn and the refusal " cup Of water 10 thlrS'y
travellers. there j. nothing Impossible I" MIN
anywhere on the continent W" tread S"i"E
before Dcbs We are not inviting boycott
The power Of a man who can 10y single W"r"
arrest the sale of n loaf of bread paH'd ny
means Of coal hauled over railroad on whirh
cars are in use which were hullt by cohpah!
whose relations with It's employees are not Sau>-
factory 10 Dchs IS altogether too great Tor uS
10 think of trhing win H.
But there Is n question OF some importance
70 the general public In connection WIN Inc
occ,iltaiion Of the northern half OF The western
hemisphere by the pcrihclon or D"Ds winch
we venture simply 10 suggest In order mat Inc
American Railway Union, which Is now III pos
session ~ the country 10y virtue Of DebS. may
possibly take It up and throw some hght upon IT,
II sc.Ins That the United States government
which prior to the accession Of l'"hS h'd h'''
or loss 10 do with the enforcement ~ ne IA"S
and IS siil keeping II up I'm some portions 81
tho country with "A show Of authority ms ~
what It calls regular processes 81 law III WIN
are styled courts, presided over ny nv" WIZ
erc called Judges cnjoincd DrhN from Inc 'A'r'
else u his proper and legitimate functions ~
Head High Daddy or High MuckainucK OF
whatever II is Of the American Nali"hy h'""'
which IS now the actual recognized Government
az This country Ty this process inc I me-"
States Government has undertaken 10 r'>'r"i"
pebs from stopping the business ~ IN" country
whenever Il seems 10 him necessary. Ana II -
said that II pcbs continues 10 discharge MS duE
os High Daddy or High Mpkamuck or WHAT
over II il. the United States Government VIII
hold him rs In contempt or It's authority anu
undertake 20 deal with him summarily
Now this. clearly enough, Is Federal on
croochmcut" THE New-York World said 50
Tuesday morning with earnestncSS whlch gran
,ou,. grow through n column Of space into
ylrtuous Indignation Not only tha'' pul II -
l,hla 70 make Debs angry. and that Is The last
thing the Government u the 'hi''N N'"'N van
AFFORD 70 do in the present emergency 1t -
understood that In all his proceedings against
,,o mon women and children Of the country
Dcbs has up TO date kept his temper I" IT,
markahe degree. The outlook Is pretty p'u III
II H. but If the United States 'oN'rhh'h'' III
stead OF devoting Its energies rs Il Gooh 'oN'i"-
ment should 10 conclliaing DebS' "AaSpera''S
Min, and drives him TO retalatory measures, no
one can fOrcsee the consequences. Inc run -,
nc may be clearly inferred from "Thc World
able essay on the subject, though not expressly
,,o,od ,hrrojn that II IL the United States Gov
ernncnt that Is IN contempt or DeDS ana ho'
pchs OF the Government II lS bcpS WHO HIS
.nioincd the Government. Enjonei II, ana rs
nil thc world knows, he holds II, without 'he
formaliiy Of legal process III contempt, n"'"iuc
and unuttprable contempt. "Ihe Norh| VIII"
Is always a pioneer In political discoveries was
the first and only newspaper to take III the sl'-
nation nj n glance, and dcnounce with liz GUS
tomarv fervor the Federal cncroachln'nt by
which II was attempted to rcvers" the ha'nrhl
order. Debs cannot be In contempt. or course
not. He Is the Head High Daddy or lilGh
Muckamuck or whatever 1t Is OF the American
Railway Union. which at this moment has vast
" more power than tho United States Govern
mont and Is frccr 10 exercise il. How can ne
be in contempt Of an inferior power out upon
the Federal cncroachmcnt'
And now, the question we were about 70 ASK
If we may venture 10 do so without giving OIL
fence. u.s. What docs Dcbs propose 10 do win
tbc Government Of the United States Some OF
lis are quite fond Of 1t. md would like II II be
entirely consistent with Dcbs's plans TO nav"
nj least the frame OF II saved. B'lt, or course
we shall all bow 10 the decision Of D"bS