The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-05-31
DEBS is DOOMED.
He Must Serve His Sentence OF
Six Months for Conte mpt.
The United states supreme Court Refuses
TO Grant q Writ of Bsbess
Corpus-synopsis OF the
Deciston.

growing out OF Inc 8redt RAILROAD
strike at Chicago last summer was de-
cided in the supreme court of tho
United States Monday, it's unanimous
opinion being read by Justice Brewer
The Case In Question.
The opinion recited the facts con-
nected with the origin of the Casa
suit by the United States in the circuit
court for the Northern district of Illi-
nois for an injunction to restrain
Debs and his associates of the
American Railway union from in
terfering with the movement of the
interstate traffic; the issuing of the
injunction prayed for; the violation Of
the injunction by Debs ct al. their ar
rest and punishment by Judge Woods
for contempt of court, and the
application of the petitioners for
writ of habeas corpus. The
case was argued, it will be rcmem-
bered, some weeks ago by Attorney
General Olney for the government and
c. 5. barrow for the petitioners,
. the contention of the latter being that
the circuit court had no jurisdiction Of
the original bill and therefore there
could be no contempt of court in fail
ing to observe the terms of the In
junction issued hereunder.
Substance of the Opinion.
The opinion of the court was in sub
stance as follows:
THE case presented Is this: The United
states. finding that the Interstate transporta-
tion of persons and property, we'll the
carriage OF the mails. is forcibly obstructed
and ma eYt In
TO subject the control OF such transport atton
TO the will of the conspirators, applied to one
OF their courts, sitting as q court OF equity
for an injunction to restrain such obstruction
and prevent carrying Into effect such con-
spiraoy Two questions OF Importance are
presented
II. Are the relations OF the general govern
ment TO interstate commerce and the trans
portation OF the mails such as authorize d.
rect Interference TO prevent forcible obstrue-
tion thereof
- II authority exists. as authority In
governmental affairs implies both power and
duty. has a court OF equity the Jurisdiction
30 issue an injunction In aid OF the per-
Torrance OF such dutyp What are the re-
lations of the general government to inter-
state commerce and the transportation Of
the mailsH They are those OF direct super
vision, control and management While I'M
der the dual system which prevails with US
the powers Of government distributed
between the state and the nation, and
white the latter IL properly styled govern
ment Of enumerated powers, yet within the
limits OF such enumeration 1t has all the at
tributes OF sovereignty and in the exercise Of
those enumerated powers acts directly upon
the citizen and not through the intermediate
agency OF the state.
Powers of General Governments.
Under the power vested In congress to es-
tablish post Offices and post roads congress
has by a mass OF legislation established the
great post office system OF the country, with
all its detail OF organization, It's machinery
for the transaction OF business, defining
what shall be carried and what not,
and the price OF carriage, and also prescrib-
ing penalties for all offenses against it. o.
vousiy these powers given TO the national
government ovor Interstate commerce and In
respect TO the transportation OF the mails were
not dormant and unused Congress had taken
hold OF these two matters, and, by various and
specific acts had assumed and exercised the
powers given to 1t, and was In the full dis
charge OF It's duty To regulate Interstate COM
merce and carry the mails
IF the inhabitants OF d single state or a
great body OF them should combine TO obstruct
interstate commerce or the transportation
OF the mails, prosecutions for such ofenses
had in such community would be doomed
in advance to failure And II the GER
tainty OF such failure known and the
national government had no other way to
enforce the freedom OF interstate commerce
and the transportation OF the mails than by
prosecution and punishment for interference
Herewith. the whole iiIeresSs of the nation in
these respects would be at the absolute mercy
OF portion of the inhabitants OF a single
state.
Resort to- tho Courts.
The decision says, however. that there is
no such impotency n the national govern
ment. The strong arm OF the national gov
eminent may be put forth To brush away all
Instructions To the freedom OF interstate
commerce or the transportation OF the mails
II the emergency arises, the army Of the
nation and all It's militia are at the service Of
the nation to compel obedience To It's laws. In
the present case the right to use force does
not exclude the right OF appeal TO the courts
for judicial determination and for the
exercise OF all their powers OF prevention.
Indeed. il is more To the praise than to the
blame OF the government that instead OF de-
termining for Itself questions OF right and
wrong on the part OF these petitioners and
their associates and enforcing that determine
tion by the club OF the policeman and the
bayonet Of the soldier. it submitted all those
questions to the peaceful determination OF
judicial tribunals, and invoked their consid-
Grafton and judgment as TO the measure OF its
powers.
Acts Worthy OF Admiration.
After further argument the opinion says:
"A most earnest ana eloquent appeal was
made to US In euloyy OF the heroic spirit Of
those who threw up their employment and
gave up their means OF earning "a livelihood
not in defense of their own rights, but In
sympathy for and to assist others whom they
believed to be- wronged. We yield TO none In
our admiration OF any act OF heroism or self
sacrifice. but we may be permitted to add that
IL is lesson which cannot De learned too soon
or too thoroughly that under this government of
and by the people the means OF redress of all
wrong Is through the courts and at the ballot =
box and that wrong, real fancied, car
ries with 1t legal warrant TO invite as means
OF redress the cooperation OF mob with It's
accompanying acts OF violence
I'VE have given to this case the most anx-
ious and careful attention, for we realize that
IL touches closely questions OF supreme inn
portance to the people OF the country" The
court then sums up its conclusions substan-
TALLY as given above and denies the petitio
for a writ Of habeas corpus.
Men Affected by Decision.
The men who are affected by the
decision are Debs, Howard, Keliher,
Rogers, Burns, Hogan, Goodwin and
Elliott. They are president, vice pres
ident and directors of the American
Railway union.
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Female Preac hers Good Work.