The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-23
DEBS' OVATION.
Unusual Spectacle on His Ar
rival in Chicago.
Thousands Greet Him With
Cheers and Tears.
HUGGED AND KISSED.
Big Meetings Were Held to Do
Him Honor.
Makes Characteristic Speeches
to the Crowds.
HUGGED AND KISSED.

CHICAGO Nov. 23.-Eugene V. Debs
spoke in Central Music hall last night
to an audience that taxed the seating
and standing capacity of the hall
Most of the leading labor organiza-
tions were represented, and the recep-
ton accorded to the leader of the
American Railway Union was enthu-
siastie in the extreme Eight car
loads of Debs' friends went down tic
greet him on his release from jail, and
several thousand men were at the
station of the Northwestern road
when the train bearing Debs and his
friends arrived at 100 o'clock.
The reception given Debs as he
stepped from the train bordered on
the frantic. Hundreds of men pushed
and struggled to get a grasp of his
hand, many of them Rugged him and
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
instant stopped its shouts and cheers,
he was escorted to the hall about one
mile distant. The warmth of the re-
ception at the depot was repeated
when he entered the hall, with the ex-
ception that the men were unable to
selves with cheering and waving their
hats.
The speech delivered by Mr.. Debs,
which was received with great ap-
plause by his audience, was in part as
follows:
''Manifestly the spirit of '76 still
survives. The fires of liberty and
noble aspirations are not yet extin-
guished. l greet you tonight as lovers
IL I
I comprehend the significance of this
demonstration and appreciate the
honor that makes it possible for me to
be your guest on such an occasion.
The vindication and gloriicatiOn of
American principles of government,
as proclaimed to the world in the
Declaration of Independence, is the
high purpose of this convocation.
The speaker here gave history of
the events leading up to his arrest and
sentence, commenting freely thereon,
and continuing said: In my vocab-
ularv there are DO walls of despOnd-
ency or despair. However gloomy the
future may appt ar to others, I have
an abiding faith in the ultimate tri-
umph of the right. To the unified
hosts of the American working men
fate has committed the charge of
rescuing American liberties from
the grasp OF the VdnQal nOrOG InaG
have placed them in peril by seiz-
ing the ballot and welding it
to regain the priceless heritage and to
preserve and transmit it without scar
or blemish to the generations yet to
come. l am not here to assert the in
fallibility of the organization or it's
officials, or to claim exemption from
error. But 1 am here to declare to
every friend of the American toiler,
regardless of banner, name or craft,
that if the American Railway union
has erred, it has been on the side of
sympathy, mercy and humanity"
Mr.. Debs gave several "reminiscences
of his prison life, and concluding said:
''From such reflections l turn to the
practical lessons taught by this Lib
Grafton Day demonstration. 1t means
that American lovers of liberty are
setting in operation forces to rescue
their constitutional liberties from the
grasp of monopoly and its mercenary
hirelings. 1t means that the
people are aroused in view of impend-
ing peril, and that agitation, orga MIA
ton and unifcation are to be the
future battle cries of men who will
not part With their birth rights, and
who, like Patrick Henry, have the
courage to exclaim, Give me liberty
or give me DEATH