The herald., 1895-06-03
Governor Altgeld Discusses the
Debs Decision
CAPITALISTS RULE TODAY
Some Very Pointed Remarks Made by
the Governor
A Circular Issued BY the President of the A.
r. U. Before Going to Jail TO
Serve Sentence
Associated Press snecial Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
n MSPRINGFIELD, Ill.,, June 2-Gover-
nor Altgeld is of the belief that the SUI
preme court OF the United States has es-
taplshed a dangerous precedent in re-
manding Eugene V. Debs and his a. X.
U. associates to jail. lie exposed HIM
self in very caustic manner today re-
garding the decision and accuses the
court of tram pling on the rights or the
people and being the tool OF monopoly.
He gives his views for publication in a
signed article in winch he says in part;
.'This decision marks a turning point
in our hist ry for it establishes new
form OF government, that Is. government
by Injunction. The provision OF the
constitution that no man shall be de-
priyed OF his liberty without a trial by
IN impartial Jury is practically wiped out
BY this decision of the supreme court of
the United States and the theory that
ours is a government OF law IS now at an
end, for every community is now subject
to any whim or caprice which any fed
eral judge m adly promulgates. And II led
eral judges can do this, then II Will not
be long until state judges will follow
this example. For over a century our
government moved along the lines OF the
constitution ard we became great and
powerful. life and property were pro-
tected and the laws were enforced. Now
we have made a departure: the bull
wark OF liberty has been undermined;
trial by Jury has been stricken down.
''For number OF years ii has been re-
marked that the decisions OF the United
States court were nearly always in favor
of the corporations. Then 1t was noticed
that no man could be appointed to q
federal judgeship unelss ne was satislac-
tory TO those interests.
Over year ago the New \ ork World
talked about a packed supreme court, and
that court has within few days rendered
two decisions which unfortunately tend
to confirm this charge. A week ago it
did violence to the constitution and iaws
OF the land by holding that the govern
ment had no power to tax the s.of
this country. Now it has stricken down
the trial by jury and has established
government by injunction
'sForty years ago the slave power PIE
dominated; today it is capitalists. The
American people crushed the slave power
and saved our institutions. Can they
rescue them agaln? Many say yes, but
they have not reflected that the crushing
force which now confronts them is great
er than was even the slave power.
''Carital sits in the White House and
legis' ates in the capitol. The courts of
Justice are It's ministers and legislators
are its lacSeys. The whole machinery of
fashionable society is its handmaiden.
Just see what brood of evils have
spruug from thepower OF capitalism since
1880. 1t is the striking down of over one
third OF the money of the world, thus
crushing the debtor class and paIalyzing
industry.
Second the growing of that corrupt
use of wealth which is underm lining our
institutions, debauehing public officials.
shaping Legislation and creating judges
who do it's bidding.
Third, the exemption OF the rich from
razo tion.
Fourth. the substitution of govern
ment by injunction for government by
the constitution and laws.
Never has there peen SO much patri-
otic talk as in the last twenty-five years
and never were there So many influences
at work strangling republican institu-
tions.'