The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-21
LARGE AUDIENCE At THE AUDI
TORIUM.
TALKS OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM.
''ETERNAL JUSTICE" OF THE
FIGHT.
STILL HARPs ON THE COURTS
Commends the Declarations of the
Democratic Party as Laid Down
in the Chicago Platform.

An audience that packed the Audi
forum went to hear Eugene v. Debs,
| Sylvester Kelliher and Maj Bowler last
night. The great hall was uncomfort-
able almost beyond endurance, but the
crowd remained until the last and
cheered until it was as hoarse as the
| speakers.
| The crowd came early and was noisy.
On the platform were members Of the
Democratic and Populist state central
| committees candidates for office and
! distinguished lights of the two political
| parties. There were also a number of
| ladies on the platform and many in
the audience. Maj. Bowler, fusion can
| dfdate for lieutenant governor, came on
the platform unnoticed. w. W.. Err
wins tall form emerged from the rear
in full view, and the cheering began.
AS he stepped to the platform he was
followed by Mr.. Debs, whose pale face
was instantly recognized, and great
cheers went up for the two men,
Mr.. Erwin quelled the disturbance by
stepping forward and lifting his hand.
| He announced that he had been ap-
pointed presiding officer for the occa-
| sion, and with few words introduced
Maj. Bowler, "the next lieutenant gov
ernor Of the state" Maj. Bowler spoke
| briefly and was noisily approved
Chairman Erwin again addressed the
| audience briefly. Among other, things
he said:
-Four years ago the most disgrace
full scene ever enacted occurred in the
second city of this continent The
railroad companies. their stock wa
tered, their dividends unpaid, con-
ceived the idea of a horizontal reduc-
ton of wages Of their employees, from
superintendent down to traekmen. The
beard of managers Of these companies
appointed committee with power to
act-but not report. All the powers of
the government sat supine while this
outrage was being perfected, and the
work OF laying low the wages Of thous-
andS OF WOrklnen was ruthleSSly be-
gun. This was simply carrying out
the plan to reduce the wages Of the
Worklngmen to a minimum. Labor,
organized in classes, was powerless to
help itself. Conductors were not In
sympathy with trackmen; brakemen
with telegraphers. This committee be-
gan to cut the wages of trackmen at
one point, brakemen at another, and
so on, that the men, without sympathet-
1c support, must part in their efforts
to maintain wages. In this exigency,
Eugene Debs Sprang forth like a young
lion and taught the world that organic
ed labor was not as a rope of sand. He
formed the American Railway Union.
so that when one department was
struck, other departments of skilled
labor might respond to protect the In
terests Of ALL
Mr.. Irwin then briefly rehearsed the
great strikes of 1894. Every reference
to Debs was vociferously cheered Then
n oil sx,k-
pressed his thanks for the warmth of
his reception and retired in favor of
the speaker of the evening The aud
fence cheered for several minutes, when
Mr.. Erwin grasped Mr.. Debs by the
shoulder and pushing him toward the
front Of the platform said: Gentlemen.
Eugene Debs." The audience rose as
man, cheered, whistled. threw hats
in the air. and the band in the gallery
footed a lively set of chords. Mr.. Debs
said in part:
1.-THE scenes Of 1776 are today being
enacted on a larger scale. The people
are again aroused to the necessities of
the times. AS were our forefathers
we are engaged in cause of human
ity, and when the smoke of battle shall
have cleared away, it will be seen that
we have achieved our financial indie
pendence. The contest is an unequal
one, but 1 believe that the principles
Of eternal justice are on our side.
ST assume that we are all patriots
1 shall not appeal to your passions or
to your prejudices, but to your SYM
pathies. 1t requires a rare, degree of
courage to oppose the existing order of
things, to go contrary to public opinion,
for public opinion Is sometimes cruel.
But for one have made up my mind to
do as conscience may dictate, and then
as Andrew Jackson said, BY the
eternal, take the consequences. We
live in wonderful age-a wonderfully
cruel age. We live in an age when men
are engaged in struggle for money
Here and there we find a man who is
content with his surroundings, but the
masses of the people have been reduced
to degradation by a few who, in their
cruelty, have amassed great fortunes
at the expense of humanity. Condi-
lions are such now that the cheapest
commodity in the world is human flesh
and blood. My critics say that such
expression of sympathy for suffering
fellow creatures is the language of a
demagogue. Is 1t possible that men
may not discuss the course of humanity
without being charged with selfishness?
So, in my conduct of this campaign I
depart from the customary methods of
oratory. There is something more than
free silver at stake in this campaign.
hold the life of the tiniest waif of this
COuuIIy VI IIlOTe consequence imam all
the wealth Of the Standard Oil COM
pany. Think Of the three millions of
men of this country who are unern-
plpyed-+ When I see this pitiful army
say there Is something radically
wrong that needs attention There are
other millions who labor by permission,
whose employers have the hardihood to
assume that they buy the individual as
well as the labor. Centralized wealth
is In control of the republic. The cor
poratlon has Supplanted the individual
The just and humane employer has dis
appeared and given way to the corpc-
ration, that soulless, powerful creation
that cannot be held responsible for the
results that follow the destruction and
misery it causes. The blaek-listed man
finds he is pursued everywhere he may
go. and in desperation, perhaps through
corporation cannot be punished for it's
part in the tragedy.
This Capitalization of wealth domi-
mates our government: it enters the
White house at the front door and com
pels the president to issue bonds in
times of profound peace; it has bought
and debauched congress; has entered
the Sanctity of the Christian church.
debauched it's ministers and sent them
forth with the price of treason in their
pockets.
The supreme court recently declared
the income tax law unconstitutional
1t usurped the legislative functions
OF the government in order to accom-
modate the wishes of the money pow
err venture to say that If it had
been the party of the nation that was
to- be taxed, the decision would NOT
have declared the law -HneoHStitutioraJ