The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-13

| pTelne SOuTC 10 TeIuSe VIII VI HuOcuS
corpus to Eugene V. Debs and his asso-
ciates is a magnificent assertion of the
power and dignity of the Government.
and of the rights of law-abiding people
to "life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness," unmolested by the menaces OF
any arrogant rebel or dictator who may
choose to set himself up.
The elementary facts in the case are
that one year ago there was dispute
between the employers and the employees
of certain manufacturing concern.
The merits of that dispute do not enter
into the case. Whether the Pullman
Car Company was paying its people too
much or too little was a question that
should have been discussed solely on its
own merits, and with careful consdera-
ton of the facts that both sides in the dis
pute might submit to the Grand Jury
of Public Opinion. If gross oppression
and injustice existed, it could have been
easily shown, and the American people
relied upon to compel reform. At least
some reason should have been given why
an ordinary wage dispute should not be
settled in an ordinary way, without
trouble to those outside of the quarrel.
But Mr.. Debs, swollen with his newly
acquired selfimportance, would have
none of this. He intruded himself into
the quarrel, and insisted that it should
be settled just as he ordered. 1t would
have been strange if Americans had sub
mitted to such arrogance. While we all
believe in the most loyal obedience to
the lawfully-constituted authorities, every
instinct in us rebels against submission
to selfconstituted bosses. AS the Pull
man Car Co. failed to receive Dictator
Debs's mandates with bated breath and
Bonded knee, he resorted to most out
rageous bulldozing. He would stop
every train in the country, prevent peo-
pie from travelling from places as their
business or pleasure required, stop all |
trade and traffic, shut off the supplies of
food from the people of the cities, and SO
on. These are very serious things to do
in the midst of great war, when every
thing must yield to public safety. The
President of the United States, or the
commander of great army in front of
the enemy, would only resort to such |
measures when overwhelming danger
compelled it. But here we had it done by
an utterly irresponsible private citizen,
whose very name was unknown to 999 |
out Of every 1000 before he Illuminated |
his remarkable orders for insurrection |
and blockade. He did not stop with |
paralyzing the business of the country. |
His myrmidons took virtual possession of
the second largest city of the country,
defed the authorities, and beat, NAL |
treated, murdered, and burned at will.
1t was the most UNANIMOUSLY wicked
thing since the firing on Fort Sumter.
The long-suffering people were at first
dumb with amazement, and then burning
with anger. The quarrel between the
Pullman Car Company and its employees
was forgotten in Indignation at the inso-
lence of this small-potato usurper who
was interfering with everything and
everybody in the country. The wretched
business was ended very fortunately for
Mr.. Debs and his associates by the
Federal and State troops carrying out
the DEGREES of the courts and restoring
order Had not this been done as
promptly as it was, the outraged people
would have swept the whole rebellous
gang, out Of existence in tempest of
wrath. This Government is too precious,
and law and order too dear to our people,
to be seriously threatened by any upstart
who chooses to proclaim himself this or
that, and inaugurate rebellions for the
redress of wrongs Of which he alone is to
hsi !
Judge. -os
Debs and eight of his principal associ-
ates got off very cheaply with sentence
Of six months in Jail for contempt of
court. He and they claimed this to be
illegal, but the Supreme Court has