The Anaconda standard., 1895-11-23
DEBS' MANY FRIENDS
The Reception Accorded the A. R. 0.
Leader Bordsred on the Frantic.
MEN HUGCED AND KISSED
His Release From the Woodstock
jail the Occasion of q Monster
Demonstration-A Synop-
sis OF His Speech.

Chicago. Nov. 22.-Eugene v. Debs
spoke in Central Music hall tonight
TO an audience that taxed the seating
and standing capacity OF the hall.
Most of the leading organizations were
represented and the reception accorded
to the leader of the American Rail-
way union was enthusiastic In the
extreme. Eight carloads Of Debs'
friends went down to Woodstock to
greet him on his release from Jail, and
several thousand men were at the sta
ton of the Northwestern road when
the train bearing Debs and his friends
arrived. The reception given Deos as
he stepped from the train bordered on
the frantic. Hundreds of men pushed
and struggled to get grasp Of his
hand. Many Of them hugged him ard
some went to the length of kissing
him. Finally he was tossed upon the
shoulders Of four men and followed by
a dense throng that never for an in
stant stopped its cheers. he was es-
corted to the hall. about mile dis
tant. The warmth of he reception
at the depot was repeated when he en-
tered the hall with the exception that
the men were unable to get close to
him and contented themselves with
cheering and waving their hats.
Mr.. Debs said In part: ''Manifestly the
spirit of 1776 still survives. The fires of
liberty and noble aspirations are not yet
extinguished. I greet you tonight as
lovers OF liberty and despisers OF despot-
ism. / comprehend the significance of
this demonstration and appreciate the
honor that makes II possible for me to
be your guest on such an occasion. The
vindication and glorihcation of American
principles of government. as proclaimed
to the world in the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence. is the high purpose OF this con-
vocation. Speaking for myself. personal
ly. / am not certain whether this Is an
occasion for rejoicing or lamentation. I
confess to serious doubt as to whether
this day marks my deliverance from
bonds TO freedom or from freedom to
bondage Certain II is. I'm the light of re-
cent judicial proceedings. that i stand in
your presence stripped OF my constitu-
tional right as a free man and shorn of
the most sacred prerogatives of Ameri-
can citizcnship, and what II true OF my
self is true OF every other citizen who
has the temerity 10 protest against cor
poration rule or question the absolute
sway of the money power II Is not law,
or the administration OF law OF which /
complain. IL is the fragrant violation OF
legislation, the total abrogation OF the
law and that usurpation OF judicial and
despotic power. by virtue OF which my
colleagues and myself were committed
to Jail. against which enter my solemn
protest. and any honest analysis OF the
proceedings must sustain the truth OF
the Indictment"
The speaker gave the history Of the
events leading up TO his arrest and SEN
tence. commenting freely thereon, and
continuing said: I'm my vocabulary there
a - M. H. "a -
however gloomy the future may appear
to others, / have an abiding faith in the
ultimate triumph OF the right To the
unified hosts OF the American workman
fate has committed the charge of res
cufng American liberties from the grasp
or the vandal horde that has placed them
In peril, by seizing the ballot and WELD
Ing II TO regain the priceless heritage and
to preserve and transmit II without scar
or blemish to generations yet TO come
1 am not here to assert the infallibility
or the organization or its officials or TO
claim exemption from error. but I am
here to declare every friend OF American
toll. regardless Of banner. name or craft.
that IL the American Railway union has
errer, II has been on the side OF sympa-
thy. mercy and humanity"
Heverting to the strike, Mr.. Debs said:
1T must be borne I'm mind that the
American Railway union did not chal-
lenge the government. II threw down no
gauntlet to armies or courts IL simply
resisted the invasion of the rights Of
workfngmen by corporations. Thrice arm
ed with just cause. the organization be-
lieved that Justice would win for labor
notable victory. and the records pro-
claim that its confidence was not mis-
placed. The defeat OF the American
Railway union involved questions of law.
constitution and government. which, ali
things considered are yvfthout N M ar.tl.i
In court or governmental proceedings un-
der the legislation OF the republic"
Continuing, the speaker said, referring
to the famous supreme court decision: IT
challenge the world to assign a reason
why a Judge should. under the solemn
obligation OF an oath to obey the legisia-
tion In a temple dedicated to Justice. stab
the magma charta OF American liberty 10
death. In the interest OF corporations that
labor might be disrobed OF its inalienable
rights and those who advocated it's
claims to Justice imprisoned as II they
were felons."
Mr.. Debs gave several "reminiscences OF
his prison life. and concluding. said:
From such reflections / turn TO the
practical lessons taught by this 1Ibera-
tion day demonstration. II means that
American lovers OF liberty are setting In |
operation force TO rescue their consti- |
tutional liberties from the grasp of mo-
nopoly and its mercenary hirelings II
means that the people are aroused IN |
view of impending peril. and that agita- |
ton. organization and unification are To |
be the future battle cries OF men who |
VIII not part with their birthrights, and |
who. like Patrick Henry. have the cour- |
age TO exciaim. Give me liberty or give |
me DEATH"
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