The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-11-23
DEBS DEHEERANCE
The A. r. U. Strike Leaders, Fran
tic Reception at Chicago.
WARMLY GREETED By THOUSANDS


Carried ON the shoulders of Four Men to
Hall n mile Distant FROM the Station,
Where He Delivers a Characteristic Adj
dress-He Is Done with Strikes.
CHICAGO Nov. %. - Eugene v. Debs
spoke In Central Music Hall last night TO
an audience that taxed the seating and
standing capacity of that hall. Most Of
the leading labor organizations were rep
resented, and the reception accorded to tho
leader of the American Railway 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 station of the North
western road when tho train bearing Debs
and his friends arrived at 4 80 o'clock. The
reception of Debs as he stepped from the
train bordercd on tho frantic Hundreds
of men pushed and struggled to get n grasp
of his hands, many Of them Rugged him,
and some went to the extent of kissing
him. Finally he was tossed upon tho
shoulders of four men and, followed by
dense throng that never for an instant
stopped its shouting, he was escorted to
the hall about mile distant. The warmth
of the reception at the depot was repeated
when he entered the hall. The speech de-
livered by Mr.. Debs which was received
in substance as follows:
He commenced by saying that In the
light Of recent judicial proceedings he
stood stripped of his constitutional rights
as q free man, and shorn of the most sacred
provocative Of American citizenship; and
what was true Of himself was true of every
other citizen who had the temerity to pro-
test against corporation rule, or question
the absolute sway of tho money power. 1t
was not the law or the administration Of
the law of which he complained. 1t was
the fragrant violation of the constitution,
the total abrogation of law, and the
usurpation of judicial and despotio power
by virtue of which he and his colleagues
were committed to jail against which he
entered his protest. He had been denied q
trial. He was charged now with con-
spiracy, and il guilty should go to the
penitentiary. He wanted to be tried by n
jury of his peers, and all he asked was n
fair trial and no favor. 1.-THE conspiracy case
Is still undisposed of in the United States
COURT.
He then spoke at great length of per-
sonal liberty and in defense of the Amori-
Railway union, saying it would have tri-
umphed but for tho interferencs of the fed
eral authorities, which he characterized az
"an exhibition of the debauching power OF
money"
This demonstration, he said, meant that
Jne ADltFtChn IONerS OF ilDcfty were SET
ting in operation forces to rescue their con
stitutional liberties from the grasp of mo-
nopoly and its mercenary hirclings; that
the people wero aroused, in view of i'm
pending perils, and that agitation, organ
ization and unification were to BIO tho flu
ture battle cries of men who would not
part with their birthright.
Were he a criminal, guilty of crimes
meriting prison cell. Ind he over lifted
his hand against tho life or liberty of his
fellow men, hal he ever sought to filch
their good name, he would not be on tho
platform. He would have ned from tho
cave, where the voice of his kindred was
never heard. But he was standing before
his hearers without n self Gceu snafon of
crime or criminal intent fostering in his
conscience, in the sunlight once more,
contributing rs best he could to make this
Elaboration Day" a memorial day
Before leaving tho Jail yesterday Mr.
Debs reiterated his assertion that he would
never again accept money from a labor or
ganization for services rendered. He in
tends to earn his living by publishing n
weekly industrial paper, OF which he will
be the editor also. First, however, In re-
sponse to many requests, he will make
speeches in most of the big cities of tho
country. II never intend to accept an
other political office, /" said he. Il havo
one desire only, and that is the ratification
of laboe To that end shall devote my
life. Under no circumstance will 1 over
again lead strike"