The herald., 1895-11-23
THE DEBS DEMONSTRATION
Crowds the Seats of Chicago's
Music Hall
ENTHUSIASM LIKE FRENZY
Shown In the Greeting Of the Labor
Leader
Inc Unified Hosts Of American Workmen
Hust WieI the Ballot to Regain the
Heritage OF Liberty


| OhiCAOO. NOV. Z.-Eugcn9 V. De Di
spoke in Central Music hall tonic ht to ar
audience that taxad ths seating anC
st ndinR capacity of the hall. Most o.
tho | aiding ORGANIZATIONS were represent I.
ed. and the reception accor led t, the
leader OF the A. r. U. was enthu iastit
| in thc extreme. Eight carloads of Deus
! friends went down to Woodstock tc
greet him on his release from i.il, and
several thousani man we're at the station
OF the North hwestern road woen the trai
bearing Debs aud mis- friends arrived al
1880 o'clock. The reception -iven Debs as
he stepped from tie train bordered on
frantic. Hundreds of men p.she and
struggled to get a grasp of his hand.
Many OF them hugged him and some
welt to tie length kissing him. Fin l.
ly ne wes tossed upon the sh ul lers oil
l'fOur stalwar. nen. Il "a, folio ~e4 Dy the
dense tnrong thst never for an instant
stopped its clesrs, he was escorted to tic
hall, about ems mile distant. TIE
warmth OF tho reception at the n. pot was
repeated wnen ne entere the ball, Will,
the exception that the men were unable
to aet close 10 him aad oontenteu the n :
selves with cheering an waving their
hats.
The speech delivered by Mr.. Debs, which
was received with great applause by MS
audien 9, was in substances az follows: d
Manifsstly the spirit OF rs still sur
wives. The fres of liberty and mob 9
aspirations are not yet extinguishsd.
greet you tonight as lovers of liberty and
despisers OF osspotism: / comprehend
the signitica nee OF this dem onstration
and appreciate the honor that makes it
possible for me to bs your guest on such
an occasion. The vi dication and glori-
hcation OF merican principles OF govern
ment, as proclaimed tn the world in he
declaration OF Independence. Is the high
purpose of this convo. alton.
Speaking for myself personally. I AM
act certain whether it is az occasion {
rejoicing or lamentation. I confess to
serious doubt as to whether this day
marks my deliversnce from bonds to
freedom, or from fre dom to bundage.
Certain it IL, in the light nf recent Judi
c)al proceedings. that l stand in your
presence stripped OF my constitutional
right as q free man and shorn of the
most sacred prerogatives o: American
citizenship; and what is true Of myself
is true of every othsr citizen who has the
tenierity to protest aRainst corporal on
RUS or questio: the absolute sway OF the
money power. IL in not law, or the ad-
ministration of law of hicn I COM
plain. 1t is this fragrant violation of the
constitution: the total abropation uf law
and that usuIpatlOn of judiclal and dcs-
potic Lower. by virtue OF which my col.
leagues and myself we're com nitted to
Jail. against which l enter my solemn
protest. and any honest analvsis of the
procee iings must sustain the truth of the
indictment.
The. speaker gave the history of the
events leading up to his arrest and SEN
tence, commenting freely thereon. and
continuing. sal SIN my vocabulary
4 bps ls, >F. 4 i i
pair. However gloomy the future may
appear to others, have all abiding faith
in thu ultimate triumph OF the right.
TO the unified hosts OF American
work men fate has commit ted the charge
of rescuing America lihe-ti from the
grasp of tnev .ndal horde that has placed
them in peril, by seising the ballot and
welding it to regain the priceless herit-
age and to preserve and transmit it with.
out scar or blemish to the generations yet
to come.
81 am not here to assert the infallibl,i-
ty OF the organization or Its off cials, or
to claim exemption from error. But l
am here to declare to every friend Of
American toll, regardless OF banner,
name or craft. that # the American Rail.
way union has erred. it has been on the
siae cf sympathy, mercy and uTanity."
Reverting to the strike, Mr.. Dehs said :
1T m ust be barne in mind that the
mericAn Railway union did not chal-
lenEe tie government it threw down
no gauntlet to courts or armies--it sirrply
resisted the invasion of the rights of
by corporations. 1t chel-
lenged and defied tha p"wer OF corpora
tlons. Thrice armed with d just cause,
the org ,nization bellsvsd that justice
would win fur labor notable victory.
and the records proclaim that its conf
dence WIS not misplaced.
"Ihe def at of the American Railway
union involved questions of law. cousti- |
tuition ana government which, all things |
are without parallel in conrt |
or governmental proceedings under the |
constitution of the srubl c."
Continuing, the speaker said. referring |
to the famous supreme court decisions:
II challenge the woTl to assign a |
Ieason why judge under the solemn OBJ
liga,ion OF al oatn to obey the constitn-
lion. shnuld, in u temple dedicated to |
Justice stab the magma chsrta of A ner-
can linarty to death, in the Interest of
corporations, that labor might be dis
robed of its inaliepssle rights and those
who advocated its claims to justice i'm |
prisoned as if they were fslo.s."
Mr. Debs gave several rsn,inis iscences OF |
bis prison life, and. con. lu iing, said:
from such reflections I turn to the |
practical lessons taught by this 'libera-
lion uay' demunstration. 1t means that
mericsn lovers of li2erty are setting n
operation force to rescue their const,-
,opoly and its mcrcenary hireincs. 1t
means that the people are aroused in
'iew Of pending peril and that agitation.
and unifcation are to be
he future battle cries OF men who will
rot part with their birthrignts ard who.
ike Patrick Henry. have the courage to
,xclaim: Give me liberty or give me