New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30

Mr. Harrison was right in taking up me
Anarchy plank first in his mastery Indictment
of the Chicago platform. Hitherto il has re-
ceived less attention in public discussion than
IL deserves Free Trade may be reckoned blow
at industry and free silver n blow al honor but
Anarchy is a blow at life itself The moment
the principle is established. as the Chicago pat
form demands that the Federal Government
shall have no power 10 enforce Federal laws.
the Federal Government becomes Il nullity and
the Federal Union is dissolved. The moment
the Supreme Court is as the Chicago platform
demands it shall be- degraded 10 the rank of a
political machine. periodically reorganized and
packed 10 do the bidding of the party tempo
rarily in power that moment all law and JUS
tice vanish from the land The Anarchy planks,
for there are two Of them in the Chicago plat
form. We're put there at the more or less iilnedi-
ate instance OF TWO men-Dcbs. who organized
an insurrectOn against the Government OF the
United States and Altgeld. who was the friend
| and official champion Of Debs and who par
! donpd the Chicago Anarchists 1t may serve a
| good purpose 10 recall the salient Incidents OF
| Dcbss attempt at revolution. and 10 show the
sort Of work the Chicago Anarchy planks are
| Intended 10 vindicate and promote II was only
| two years ago But American mcmOrie3 are
| short
In the early summer of 1894 n dispute con-
| corning wages arose in large car factory near
| Chicago. and the wOrkmen went on strike.
Forthwith a general "sympathelc' strike was
ordered by the American Railway lnion OF
which DebS was the president. The result was
an almost total sloppage Of traffic on all the rail
roads cenring at Chicago. and on many other
lines in the West Not content with quitting
work themselves the strikers. AT Debs'S dicta-
ton undertook violently To prevent other men
from working. They began wholesale destrnc-
ton and punderng Of property. and deadly a.
saulls upon limb and life. Acts Of malignant
! cruelty were committed. such * are supposed
10 he done only by savages. Carloads OF pas
srngers. including many women and children.
were run upon sidctracks kept prisoners there
in the clustering summer sun. and not permitted
to drink from public hydrant or to obtain food
from a restaurant. Moreover. the carrying OF
! the United States mails was stopped by force OF
arms and mpudent announcement was made
| that that essential ana important function of the
| Federal Government might be performed only
on conditions imposed by the insurgent govern
ment of which Dcbs was "I'reSdent. There
upon the Federal Government intcrfered, to as
scrt ana TO maintain its constitutional rights
! United States deputy marshals We're detailed to
protect the mail carriers and 10 arrest all who
| interfercd with them. But as this measure was
! insufficient. the next day further action was
! taken
The regulation Of commerce among the States
being constitutional function Of the Fed
eral Government. il logically held that
| the Federal Government had the power. and
was in fact. under obligations 10 protect such
| commerce from violent and lawless Interrupt
! ton Accordingly an injunction was issued
against Debs ana his fellow conspira tors enjon-
| ing them to refrain from interfering with the
| carrying Of the mails and with the operation of
| railroads engaged as common carriers Of pas
! sengers and freight between the States. Dcbs
replied that he cared nothing for the injunction
! and his followers continued 10 disregard and
! violate If ThereupOn the Federal Government
| ordered detail of Federal troops 10 proceed &c
! the scene Of disorder 10 enforce the DEGREES OF
/ the Federal courts. Altgcld. the Anarchst-par
doning Governor Of Illinois. protested against
! this. and so showed his sympathy with the mol
! that rioting arson and murder We're renewed
! with redoublcd fury. practical state of civil
war prevailed Many men We're killed and
wounded in the fighting and millions of dollars
worth Of property was destroyed In the end
I the forces Of law and order prevailed. Debs ana
some Of his fcllOw-conSpirat were arrested
| tried and sent to jail for contempt of court IN
violating the Injunction issued against them
/ Thus ended the "Debs Rebellion against The
! United States Government. Of which the chi
cago Convention at the bidding of DcbS ana
Atged made itself the apologist and champion
4 According to the Chicago platform. the Fed
eral courts should moi have cnioined Debs anc
his lawbrcaking followers against interfering
with the carrying Of the mails or the conduct Ing
OF interstate commerce. 4 rloOus. incendarl
ana murlerous mob should have been permitted
Ia nullfy those vital functions of the Govern
lnent. And if the courts did issue any order
which the mob refused to obey. the President
had no business 10 send troops 10 cnf0rc" 1t. Mr.
Cleveland should have abdcated in favor Of
"Prcsidrnt" DcbS. and Congress and the conri'
way Union. And 10 make sure Of no fuur,
moddling Of the courts with the free will Of the
mob the courts should be made subserylent t,
whatever political party may for the moment
BE- in power such is the revolutionary pro
granme of the Chicago Convention. explicit,
set forth in its platform. which Mr.. Bryan
stands and of which he fully and cordially APP
proves Anarchy is the issue. pnre and simple
Again we saw Mr.. Harrison was right in giving
II the first place in his great speech As he wei
said. "Thcrr is no issue presented by the CHI
"cogo Convention more important and vital than
"the oucsfion they have raised Of protecting The
"power and duty OF the National courts aho
National Executive. Iarlf ana coinage