The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-06-05

lmpeded the transportation OF tne
mails, an injunction was issued by a
court of the United States forbidding
them to interfere with commerce and
the mails. This injunction was disre.
garded, and Debs and his associate Off
GERS were brought into court to answer
to the charge of contempt. They were
tried, found guilty, and sentenced to
Imprisonment for periods ranging from
three to six months. They appealed to
the United States supreme court, which
has unanimously reaffirmed the judy
ment of the lower court. Debs has
learned that Uncle Sans power is gu
preme, that his mandates must be
obeyed, and now he must 90 to Jail for
period all too short for adequate pun
ishment and a proper incubation of the
lesson of the decision.
The court enforces its decision with
the enunciation of important truths
respecting the potency of the national
government in the matter of its self
preservation. Upon it's supposed inn
potency, Debs and his confederates were
leaning when they began their warfare
upon the railways, and, through these
corporations, upon the traffic and mail
service of the United States. The SUI
preme court says:
"There is no such impotency in the ma
tional government. The entire strength of
the nation may be used to enforce in any
part of the land the full and free exercise of
all national powers and the security Of all
rights intrusted by the constitution to it's
care. II the emergency arises, the army OF
the nation and all its militia are at the SER
vice OF the nation to compel obedience to its
laws. We hold that the government Of the
United States is one having jurisdiction
over every foot of soil within its territory,
and acting directly upon each citizen; that,
while it is a government OF enumerative
powers, it has within the limits of those
powers all the attributes of sovereignty.
No wrong, real or fancied, carries with it
legal warrant to invite, as means OF
redress, the cooperation of a mob, with its
accompanying acts of violence"
These are exceedingly wholesome
truths, and their emphatic enunciation,
with the concurrence of every member
of the court, is stronger guaranty than
bayonets against the recurrence of dis
turbances like those of Chicago in the
summer Of 1894. Debs' Imprisonment
adds to the moral force of the decision.
His present punishment is for contempt
of court merely. The criminal aspect of
his conduct has not yet been passed
upon. Of the courts decision the New
York Sun says;
"The founders of this government did
not make the fatal mistake, which some
would impute to them, of having denied to
it the right and the power of self-preserva
ton. The impressive lesson taught last
summer to Debs and his associates is that
this is land Of liberty protected by law,
and that the government of the people will
not allow its machinery, provided for the
orderly administration OF public affairs and
for the promotion of the interests and the
welfare of the community, to be INSTRUCTED
by their lawless combinations and violence. q"
Socialism, in the decision against the
income tax law, and lawlessness and
violence in the Debs decision, have re-
ceived fatal blow at the hands of the
supreme court, and that tribunal, by
these decisions, has rendered the coun-
try very distinguished service.