The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-03
Illinois Executive Also Observe. that
the Buiwark OF American Liberty
Is Undermined.
INDICTMENT OF JUSTICE
SAYS CAPITAL SITS IN THE WHITE
HOUSE AND ON THE BENCH.
Believes the Country Is Under the
Heel OF n Worse Enemy than Sla-
very-Debs Thinks the Same.

SPRINGFIELD, H.. June Gov. John
r. Altgeld is OF the belief that the United
States Supreme Court has established
dangerous precedent I'm remanding Eugene
V. Debs and his friends TO Jail. He ex-
pressed himself in a very caustic manner
to-day regarding the decision; accuses the
court OF trampling on the rights of the peo-
pie and being the tool OF monopoly. lie
gives his views for publication in a signed
article, in which he says, in part:
This decision marks a turning point In
history for it establishes a new form
of government, never before heard OF among
men; that is. government by injunction.
The provisions OF the Constitution that no
man shall be deprived OF his liberty without
a trial by impartial jury is practically
wiped out by this decision OF the United
States Supreme Court, and the theory that
ours was exclusively a government OF law
is now at an end, for every community is
now subject to obey any whm or caprice
which any federal judge may promulgate.
And if federal judges can do this, then it
will not be long until State judges will fol-
low this example.
For over a century our government
moved along the lines of the Constitution
and we became great and powerful. Life
and property were protected and the law
was enforced Now We have made a de-
parture; the bulwark OF liberty has been
undermined; trial by jury has been stricken
down.
For a number Of years IL has been re-
marked that the decisions of the United
States courts were nearly always in favor
OF corporations. Then ii was noticed that
no man could be appointed TO federal
judgeships unless he was satisfactory TO
those interests. over a year ago the New
York World talked about a packed Su-
preme Court and that court has, within a
few days, rendered two decisions which
unfortunately tend TO confirm this charge.
A week ago it did violence TO the Constitu-
ton and laws OF the land By holding that
the government had no power TO tax the
rich Of this country. Now, il has stricken
down trial by jury and has established
government by Injunction.
Forty years ago the slave power predon-
mated; to-day il is capitalists. The Ameri-
saved our institutions. Can they rescue
them again? Many say yes, but they have
not reflected thai the crushing force rec which
Capital sits in the White House and leg
islates in the Capitol. The courts OF jus
tice are its ministers. and legislatures are
its lackeys, and the whole machinery OF
fashionable society is it's handmade. Just
a
the Lower of capitalism since 1890.
''Fnst-The striking down of over one
third of the money OF the world. thus
crushing the debtor class and paralyzing in
dustry.
"Second-The growing of that corrupt use
OF wealth which is undermining institu-
tions, debauching public officials. shaping
legislation and creating judges who DO its
bidding.
'Third-The exemption OF the rich from
taxation.
"Fourth-The substitution of government
by injunction for government by the Con-
sttuton and laws
''Fifth-The striking down OF trial by jury.
Never has there been much patriotic
talk as in the last twenty-five years and
never were there so many influences at
work strangling republican institutions