The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-23

from Jail. and several thousand men were
at the station of the Northwestern foad
when the train bringing Debs and his
friends arrived at 7:S0 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
hugged him. and some went TO the length
of kissing him. Finally he was tossed up
on the shoulders of four men, and, fol-
lowed by a dense throng that never for an
instant stopped it's cheering. he was es-
corted TO the hall about one mile distant
The warmth of the reception at the depot
was repeated when entered the haH.
with the exception that the men were un-
able TO get close 10 him. and conteuted
themselves with cheering and waving their
hats. The speech delivered by Mr.. Debs,
which was received with great applause
bv his audience. was in substance as fol-
lows:
"Manfestly the spirit of '76 still sur
wives The fires of liberty and noble
piratfons are not vet eNtinguished. | greet
YOU tonight lovers of liberty and de
spisers Of despotism. | comprehend the
significance OF this demonstration, and ap-
preciate the honor that makes II possible
for me to be your guest on such an ocCa-
sion The vindcation and glorifcation of
American principles OF government as
proclaimed to the world in the Dec1ara-
tion Of independence is the high purpose
Of this convOcaton. Speaking for myself
personally, | am not certain whether this
is an occasion for rejoicing or lamenta-
ton | confess to serious doubt as TO
whether this day marks my deliverance
from bonds to freedom. or from freedom
to bondage. Certain it is. in the light Of
recent judicial proceedings that | stand
i'm your presence stripped of my consutu-
tiOnal right as a free man and shorn or
my sacred prerogatives of American citi-
I Hga. d Fraf. of nv r.
of every other citizen who has the temer-
ity 70 protest against corporation rule or
question the absolute sway OF the money
power It Is not of law or the adminis-
tration of law of which | complain. II is
the fragrant violation OF the constitution,
the total abrogation of the law. and that
usIrpation Of judicial and despotic power
by virtue of which my colleagues and my
self were committed 10 Jail. against which
| enter.my solemn protest. and any honest
analvsis of the proceedings must sustain
the truth OF the indictment"
Tho speaker gave the history OF the
events leading up 10 his arrest and SON.
tence commenting freely thereon. and.
continuing said: I'm my vocabulary there
are no walls Of dependency or despair.
However gloomy the future may appear
10 others. I have an abiding faith in the
ultimate triumph Of the right To the
unified hosts Of the American workmen
fate has committed the charge Of rescuing
American Liberties from the grasp OF the
vandal horde that has placed them In peril
By se,zlug the ballot and welding II 10 re-
gain the priceless herit3ge and q preserve
and transmit IL without scar or blerish
10 the generation yet to come
Il am not here 10 assert the inialiiDihty
~ the organization or SIS officials. or -
claim exemption from error But ! am
here 70 declare 20 every friend Of Amer
can toll regardless Of banner, name or
Hfrt-a,w FH ffHT
has erred. y has been on the side ot sNnl-
p,thy. mercy and humanity"
Rever,iue to the strike. Mr.. Debs said:
1T must be borne In mind that the Amert-
can Railway Union id not challenge the
government II threw down no gauntlet
70 courts or armies. IL simply resisted
tho invasion q the rights ~ work. ngmen
nv corporations. u challenged ana
defed the power Of Ccrporations. Armed
with A Just cause, tho organization ut
Uoved that justice would w.n TOR IaooF "
notable victory. and the records proclaim
that rs confidence was not misplaced Tn@
defeat q the American Railway mon
involved questions = law. constitution
and government which. all things c0HsiI-
cred are without a parallel IN court or
governmental proceedings under the con
s,ituti0n ~ the republic.
Continuing. the speaker said. referring
n tho famous supreme court declsl'h.
challenge the world n sEn res~""
w1v fudge under the solemn OH gston
- an oath t0 obey the constitution, shohld.
in : temple dedicated - Justice. S'aH -"
r,.g-a ~harta ~ American NaeTfy 70
ieath. in the interest u corporations. mar
fshor might be disrohed ~ rs inaHenaoie
rights and those who aaF2ettFa .,f - 49, -,
=, t.7S-..e imprisoned as II they we're it9-
Ef- rebs gave several rerla scenes
- hsa prison lfe. and 81 canci1alne sAt1-
.s~sI lessons .augat ov This liberation
4,,.. .,.-,lrsr~4r.1n If means that Amer
-s~ lovers n liberty Gre saft7g .n rf
,.,--, q force % res~Ie their cansfitut-o-ai
--tgs rr,rn ire grasp % monopoly sna
- r7ar-a~arv nfrel nEs. j. means tnat
.br ,a4rle are 4r9us-3. .n vie" - PEND
NJ peril and hat agitation orFsn--3l l-.,t
Ia ,tuta.-sts9n are 90 ae n" future oafiie
--,ea ~ men who VII not part win their
-.-.E,--stt ard who. Ike Patrick Henry.
nave the courage 20 exciatfn, Give me ho-
ertv or give me death.