The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-05
That August Body Scored and
Called a Tool of Mo-
nopoIy.
Capital Rules the President, Congress
and the Courts Of the
Country. *
Right Of Trial by Jury Ignored and
Government by Injunction
Substituted.

Springfield, ILL.,, June 3.-Gov John P.
Altgeld is of the belief that the United
states Supreme court has established a
dangerous precedent in remanding Eu-
gene V. Debs and his friends to Jail. He
expresses himself in very caustic man
ner regarding the decision; accuses the
court of trampling on the rights Of the
people and being the tool of monopoly.
He gives his views for publication in a
signed article, in which he says in part:
This decision marks a turning point
in our history, for it establishes a new
form of government never before heard
of among men. The provision Of the con-
stitution that no man shall be deprived
of his liberty without a trial by an i'm
partial jury is practically wiped out by
this decision of the United States Su-
preme court, and the theory that ours
was exclusively a government of law is
now at an end, for every community is
now subject to obey any whim or caprice
which and federal judge may promul-
gate. And if federal judges can do this,
then 1t will not be long until state judges
will follow this example.
For over century our government
moved along the lines of the constitution
and we became great and powerful; life
and property were protected and the law
was enforced. Now we have made de-
parture; the bulwark of liberty has been
undermined, trial by jury has been
stricken down.
For number of years it has been re-
marked that the decisions Of the United
States courts were nearly always in IA
vor of corporations. Then it was noted
that no man could be appointed to feder-
al judgeship unless he was satisfactory
to those interests. Over a year ago the
New York World talked about a packed
Supreme court, and that court has with
in a few days rendered two decisions
which, unfortunately tend to confirm
this charge. A week ago it did violence
to the constitution and laws Of the land
by holding that the government had no
power to tax the rich Of this country
Now it has stricken down trial by jury
and established government by injunc-
tion.'
Forty years ago the slave power pre-
dominated; today it is capitalism The
American people crushed the slave power
and saved our institutions. Can they
rescue them again? Many say yes, but
they have not reflected that the crushing
force which now confronts them is great
er than was ever the slave power Cap
ital sits in the White House and 1egis-
lates in the capitol. Courts of justice are
it's ministers, and legislatures are it's
lackeys. And the whole machinery of
fashionable society is its handmade.
Just see what brood of evils have
sprung from the power of capitalism
since 1870:
First, the striking down of over one
third of the money of the world, thus
crushing the debtor class and paralyzing
industry.
"Sscond, the growing of that corrupt
use of wealth which is undermining our
institutions, debauching public officials,
shaping legislation and creating judges
who do it's bidding.
Third, exemption of the rich from
taxation.
Fourth, the substitution of govern
ment by injunction for government by
the constitution and laws
Fifth, the striking down Of trial by
jury.
Never was there 50 much patriotic
talk as in the last 25 years, and never
were there so many influences at work
strangling republican institutions"