New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-29
TIE LAST or DEBS.
ing

So Dcls must serve his sentence Inc th''"
STATES Supreme Court has unanimously decideu
that the General Government has power by force
OF arms to prevent the violation OF It's laws, ana
,ha, the authority Of its courts may be invoked
IN the same end That appears to be simple
and by no means sensational declaration IL
does not on the surface appear to threaten the
,ihorties Of the citizen. to interfere with the
RIGHTS az orcanizcI labor. or 10 foster the tyran-
meal rule Of monopolies. Yet in sending 10
prison as it does Debs and his companions. anu
making sweeping statement OF the Drcauth "i
Federal authority and the supremacy OK iaw IL
puts the final stamp OF condemnation on
method ~ carrying on industrial disputes which
within a year was the subject OF serious defence
bv Populst Governors and lolld-mon'heu agl-
,ators. who talked glibly about the rights OF man
under the Constitution which they wished 10 set
at ualIghi The opinion Of the Court * not sur
prising. What seems remarkable IL that dema-
coru.s should have been able To persuade any
number 81 people in this country that their Gov
eminent was so impotent that II had no right 10
prevent rnobs from interfering with the orlerly
conduct ~ public and private business, ana 'ii'
its courts had no power to enforce respect Tor
their decisions The discussion which the vio-
lence I'm Chicag, provoked showed the need OF
some elementary instruction in American law
and government and that the Supreme Court
has given in emphatic form.
Not the followers Of Debs only. but some men
in authority have need Of This instruction. Gov
ernor Altgcld when he was protesting against
the use Of Federal troops in Illinois would doubt
less have denied that the Government OF the
United States Is one having jurisdiction over
.f,t.f, 10. Tor ispr
ing directly up,n each citizen" That Is an in
convenient doctrine for men who have votes
which make State authorities tolerant ~ their
cycr>>rs but who find the United States Gov
crnm.nt inncxihle toward all lawbreakcrs who
fall within It's Jurisdiction. Likewise the afhrna-
ron of ,he power ~ courts 10 inquire into alleged
violation Of Federal law, and II they find 1t Is
occurring. or even likely to occur to restrain such
violation by injunction and enforce obedience To
II is A powerful blow 10 the Kind OF disorder
which frequently finds immunity In the common
hcsiiancv 10 suppress II promptly by force. IL
takes time 10 bring soldiers 10 face mob. AMI.
when they are brought. there Is a natural reluc
tame. 10 fire on men except as last resort III
court can order mob To dispense and It's lead
crs TO cease their plotting and punish those who
violate its order Anarchy has little chance 10
make itself felt in this country.
A. for Dcbs himself We are rather sorry Tor
him. lie thought he was hero but finds that
he was only Presidential lawbreakcr He made
the ulea 81 unsclfsh defence of those whom he
believed oppressed and on that subject the Court
gives him some elementary instruction in this
form:
We yield TO none In our admiration OF any act
Of heroism or self-sacriiice. but we may he per
mlt,ei TO add that II is n lesson which cannot be
learned too soon or too thoroughly that under this
Government OF and by the people the means OF re-
dress OF all wrong through the courts and at
carries with 1t legal warrant TO invite as means
OF redress the cooperation OF a moD' Win JUS aC-
cofnpanying acts OF violence.
Dcbs. Of course, considers his punishment OPP
urcssion. He announces that he and Justice
Harlan have lost confidence In the Supreme
Court In fact he admits that he has all the
contempt ~ court which any of his enemies could
wish to convict him Of That certainly Is his
privilege. since he Is paying the penalty for con
tcmp, He looks TO see down'roddcn people
rise 10 aycngc him. But he takes himself too
scriously The people got tired Of Debs Il long
while ago His trouble Is that he thinks act
Ing on his passions and prcjudices Is an in
olIcnable right. The country does not think 50
ot all. and Is quite ready TO let Debs and his
friends pondcr their new lesson on the nature Of
the American Government I'm confinement and
ubsc,lrIty.