Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-06-20
|SCOLDED BY ALTGELD,
The Supreme Court Accused of
Subscribing
To Corporations by the Illinois
Governor.
CITES THE DEBS DECISION.
"The Bulwark of Liberty Has
Been Undermined;
Trial by Jury is Stricken
Down"

From New YOik World.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 2.--Gov.
John. p. Altgeld is Of the belief that
the United States Supreme Court has
oouADlIshsd dangerous precedent in
demanding Eugene V. Debs and his
friends to jail. lie expressed himself
in a very caustic manner today regard
ing the decision and accused the court
of trampling on the rights Of the peo-
pie and Of being the tool of monopoly.
he gives his views for publication in
a slgued article, In which he says in
part:
"This decision marks a turning
point in our history, for it establishes
u new form of government never be-
fore heard af among men, that is, gov
Eernment by injunction. The prOvi-
slOns of the constitution that mo man
shall be deprived OF his liberty without
a trial by an impartial jury is prac-
tically wiped out by this decision of
the United States Supreme Court, and
the theory that Onrs was exclusively a
government of law is now at an end,
for every community is now subject to
lobey any whim 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
follow this example.
] GInr. n M t1f
moved along the lines of the constitu-
ton, and we became great and power
full; life and property were protected
and the law was enforced, Now we
have made a departure; the bulwark
of liberty has been undermined; the
trial by jury Aas been stricken down.
For number of years it has been
remarked that the decisions of the
United States court were nearly al
ways in favor of corporations. Then
it was noticed that no man could be
appointed to a federal judgeship UNI
less he was satisfactory to those inter-
ests.
"Over a year ago the New York
World talked about packed supreme
court, and that court has within few
days rendered two decisions which, un-
fortunately tend to confirm this charge.
A week ago it did violence to the con-
stitution and the laws of the land by
holding that the government had no
right to tax the rich of this country.
Now it has stricken down trial by jury
and has established government by in
junction.
Forty years ago the slave power
predOminated; today 1t is capitalism.
The Amarican people crushed the
slave power and saved our institutions.
Can they rescue them again? Many
, say yes, but they have rot reflected
that the crushing force which now con-
fronts them is greater than was the
slave power.
"Capital sits in the White House
and legislates in the Capitol Courts of
justice are its ministers and legisla-
lures, are its lackeys, and the whole
machinery Of fashionable society is its
handmade.
"Just see what brood of evils have
sprung from the power of capitalism
since 1890. First, the striking down
of over one-third of the money of the
world, thus crushing the debtor class
and paralizing Industry. Second, the
growing of that corrupt use of wealth
which is undermine our institutions,
debauching public officials, shaping
legislation and creating judges who do
its bidding. Third, the exemption of
the rich from taxation. Fourth. the
subititutiOn IF government by injunc-
tion for government by the constitu.
ton and laws. Fifth, the striking
down of the trial jury.
Never has there been so much pat.
riOtic talk as in the last twenty-five
years, and never were so many inau-
ences at work Strangling republican
institutions"