The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-23
TOSSED ON MEMS SHOULDERS
AND CARRIED, AMID CHEERS AND
SHOUTS, TO CENTRAL MUSIC HALL,
Where He spoke ON personal Lfber-
Denounced "MonopoIy's HireIinss.v

sented and the reception accorded TO the
leader of the American Railway Union
was enthusiastic In the extreme. Eight
carloads OF Debs's friends went down to
Woodstock to greet him on his releass
from jail to-day and several thousand men
were at the station OF the Northwestern
road when the train bearing Debs and
his friends arrived at 7:30 o'clock. The re-
ception given Debs as he stepped from the
train bordered on the frantic. Hundreds
OF men pushed and struggled 10 get q
grasp of his hand; many or them husgcd
him and some went 10 the length OF
kissing him. Finally he was tossed on
the shoulders of four men, followed by
dense throng that never for an instant
stopped its shouts and cheers. he was
escorted to the hall. about one mile dis
tant The warmth of the reception st
the depot was repeated when he entered
the hail. with the exception that the men
were unable TO get close 10 him and con-
tented themselves with cheering and wav-
ing their hats.
The Martyrs Speech.
The speech delivered by Mr.. Debs. which
was received with great applause by his
audience. was in substance as follows:
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies' and Gentlemen.
Friends. Comrades and Patriots.-Manifest-
ly the spirit OF 'l6 still survives The hres
OF liberty and noble aspirations are not yet
extinguished. greet you tonight as lovers
Of liberty and despisers of despotism. COM
prehend the significance OF this demonstra-
tion and appreciate the honor that makes
IL possible for me to be your gueet on such
an occasion. The vindication and giorifica-
ton Of American principles of government.
proclaimed TO the world In the Declars-
tion of Independence, is the high purpose OF
this conyocation Speaking for myself; per-
I.an oil 11x or "A, mn n. m W I
an occasion for rejoicing or lamentation.
confess 10 a serious doubt as TO whether this
| freedom, or from freedom to bondage. Ger
| tain IL Is In the light of recent judicial pro-
ceedings, that ] stand In your presence
stripped OF my constitutional rights as a
| freeman and shorn of the most sacred pre-
negatives of American citizenship, and what
| is true of myself II true OF every other citi-
| zen who has the temerity 10 protest against
corporation rule or question the absolute
| sway of the money power IL Is not law,
| nor the administration OF law OF which
| complain. IL Is the nagrant violation. OF the
| Constitution. the total abrogation OF law
| and the usurpation OF judicial and despotic
power. by5 virtue of which my colleagues
| and myself were committed ia jail, against
which / enter my solemn protest. and any
honest analysis of the proceedings must
sustain the haseard truth of the ind'etment-
! able Judge Trumbull, the eminent surist
says: The doctrine announced by the SUI
preme Court in the Debs case, carried ,s 20 iss
the mercy of any prejudiced or malicious
| federal Judge who may think proper TO i'm
prison him. This Is the deliberate conclu-
sion of one of the purest. sblest and most
distinguished judges the Republic has pro,
! duced The authority OF Judge Trumbuil
| upon this question VIII not be impeached by
! anyone whose opinions are not deformed or
| dehauched.
! At this juncture I deem IT proper 60 voice
! my demand for trial by jury OF my
neers At the instisation of the railroad
| corporations centered here in Chicago was
! indicted for conspiracy, ana i insist upon
being tried as to my innocence or guilt. IL
I viii be remembered that the trial last win
| ter terminated very abruptly on account OF
a sick juror. 1t was currently reported al
\ the time that this was merely pretexf 10
| abandon the trial and thus defeat the vindi-
cation of favorable verdict which seemed
inevitable, and which would nave peen IN
painfully embarrassing contrast with the
sentence previously pronounced by Judge
Woods in Substantially the same case
Whether this be true or not, do not know
| do know, however, that i have been de-
| MED a trial, and here and now / demand 2
hearing of my case. 1 am charged with
conspiracy. and. If guilty. should go 10
/ the penitentiary. All / ask is fair trial
| and no favor IL the counsel for the gov
! ernment. alias the railroads. have been cor
rectly quoted in the press. the case against
pressed" as they do not wish TO appear IN
| the light OF prosecuting the Defendants
repei with scorn their pIofessed m. meTxys a.,
| posed to shrink from the fullest responsi-
! bility for my acts. I have had time for
meditation and reflection. and ] have no
hesitancy in declaring that under the same
circumstances / would pursue precisely the
same policy. So far as my acts are con-
have neither sRology ss nor rssss
permit me to assure you that 1 am not here
| TO bemoan my lot. In my vocabulary there
| However gloomy the future may appear TO
| others I have an abiding faith In the ulti-
mate triumph OF the right.
The speaker then entered upon discus
sion of liberty, OF which the following para
| graph Is a sample:
1t does not matter that the Creator has
sown with stars the fields of ether and
decked the earth with countless beauties
| for mans enjoyment IL does not matter
Of innumerable forms OF life to challenge
mans admiration and investigation IL
does not matter that nature spreads forth
| all her scenes OF beauty and gladncSs
and hours forth the melodies OF her myriad
| tongued voices for mans delectation. II
! liberty IL osUacised and exiled man Is .
! slave and the world rolls In space and
whirls around the sun gilded prison, q
doomed dungeon. and though painted fe
all the enchanting hues that infinite art
could command, IL must stand forth =
biotch amidst the singing spheres OF the
sidereal heavens. and those who Gull from
the vocabularies OF nations, living or dead.
| their flashing words with which 10 apostr0-
phize liberty are engaged In perpetuating
the most stupendons delnsion .,de me ages ages
4 y
OF American workingmen fate has COM
mtted the charge OF rescuing American
| liberties from the giasp OF the vanuai -.
| that have placed the I'm peril. by seizing
| the ballot and welding IL TO regain the
| priceless heritage and 10 preserve aud
transmit IL without scar or bienish 10 the
generations yet 20 come.
AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION.
/ have no ambition 10 avail myself Of
this occasion to be sensational or to thrust
my feIlow-prisoners and myself into prom
inence. Ny theme expands 10 proportions
| which obscure the victims OF judicial
tyranny and yet, regardless OF reluctance.
II so happens by the decree OF ciretm-
stances. that personal references are un-
avoidable To wish otherwise would be 20
depiore the organization of the American
Railway Union and every effort that great
organization has made 10 extend help
ing hand 20 oppressed. robbed. suffering
and starving men. women and children
the victims OF corporate greed and
rapacity. II would be TO bewail every
lofty attribute OF human nature. lament
| the existence OF tho golden rule and ~
| the world We're. jungle. inhabited by