The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-03
LAW NOW AT AN END.
Bitter Attack on the Tribunal
by the Illinois Execu-
tive.
NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
He Says the Injunction Henceforth
Will Override the Con-
stitution.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL, June Ex-Governor
John P. Altgeld is of the belief that the
Supreme Court of the United States has
established a dangerous precedent in re-
handing Eugene V. Debs and his Ameri-
can Railway Union associates to Jail. He
expressed himself in very caustic man.
ner to-day regarding the decision, and &C
cuses the court of trampling on the rights
of the people and being the tool of
monopoly. He gives his views for publ
cation in signed article in which he says
in part:
This decision marks q turning point in our
history, for 1t establishes new form of govern
ment; that is, a government by injunction.
The provisions of the constitution that no man
shall be deprived of his liberty without q trial
by an 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 within or
caprice which any Federal Judge may promul-
gate; and if Federal Judges can do this, then
1t will not be long until State Judges will
follow this example. For over century our
Government moved along the lines of the con-
stitution, and we became great and powerful.
Lille and property were protected and the law
was enforced. Now we have made a new de-
parture; the bulwark of liberty has been
| undermined and trial by jury has been stricken
down.
For a number of years 1t has been remarked
that the decisions of the United States Supreme
Court were nearly always in favor of the corpo-
rat1ons. Then it was noticed that no man could
be appointed to Federal Judgeship unless he
was satisfactory to those interests. Over a
year ago the New York World talked about O
packed Supreme Court, and that court has,
within few days rendered two decisions
which unfortunately tend to confirm this
charge. week ago 1t did violence to the
constitution and the laws of the land by hold
ing that the Government had no power to tax
| the riches of this country. Now it has stricken
down trial by jury and has established
| government by injunction"
Forty years ago the slave power predomi-
mated; to-day 1t is capitalists The American
| people crushed the slave power and saved our
institutions. Can they rescue them again?
| Many say yes, but they have not reflected that
the crushing force which now confronts them
is greater than was ever the slave power.
| Capital sits in the White House and legis-
| lates in the Capitol. The courts of justice are
| its ministers and legislators are its lackeys
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 paralyzing industry.
Second, the growing of that corrupt use OF
| wealth which is undermining our institutions,
debauching public officials, shaping legisla-
ton and creating judges who do its bidding.
Third, the exemption of the rich from taxa
ton.
Fourth, the substitution of government by
injunction for government by the constitution
as laws.
Fifth, the striking down of trial by jury.
Never has there been so much patriotic talk
as in the last twenty-five years, and never were
there so many influences at work strangling
republican institutions