The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-01
SOCIALIST DEBs.
He Shrinks From BIOodshed, hut
VIII Meet the Inevitable.

| lie Shrinks From BIOOdshed, hut
| VIII Meet the Inevitable.
| When the cheering ceased, Mr.. Debs be.
gan speech which was interrupted at the
end Of nearly every sentence by cheering
and handclapping. He sald:
Il believe the gravity Of the industrial
situation in this country is well understood.
| 1t is quite evident that the delegates are
cognizant of the fact that civil liberty is
dead in America. l have said. and say
| again. for the last time. that have ap-
| pealed to the courts for justice and shall
appeal to them no more. The American
Railway union expended $4,000 TO have
| the question of civil rights tested in the
supreme court Of the United States, only
to be told we have no rights, that capitol
| was bound Ito be respected. Shall We ap-
| peal to the supreme court again? NO. We
| appeal to the convention; to the country for
! uprising OF all the common people in
| every walk Of life to beat back the courts
| and re-enthrone the rights OF the Aineri-
CEN people. Labor day is near. What
shall We do? | predict. my friends, thai
we will see the extraordinary spectacle OF
enslaved labor rafting its chains and
dancing the music. Labor is the cheapest
commodity on Gods earth, and yet there
l ta'c tuOse WIN WUuiu uhNe IL Ut ioNSi PitS'
Only the other day the united voice of
brotherhood was raised against the ap
| pointment of Mr.. Powderly TO Federal
position, and notice that he was promptly
put into the place. (Mingled cheers and
| hisses)
From Justice Of the peace to justice OF
the supreme court of the United States, all
the judicial powers OF the United States
| are directed against labor. All the organ
lied sources OF society are against labor,
and IL labor expects emancipation labor
| itself must do the work.
| Mr., Debs then told the convention that
much destituton existed among the miners
| Of the once proud State OF Indiana and
stated that 1000 underground workers ard
| their families were starving. He read the
report of the commission appointed by Gov
ernor Mount TO examine into the condi-
ton of the miners of Indiana and then
| took up the thread of his argument.
"The time has not quite come to incte
the populace." said Mr.. Debs. shaking his
| fist vehemently. Il serve notice on the
| plutocratic element of this country. We
| are on the eve of another meeting in Chi
cago which will be attended by all branches
| OF labor. That convention will take UP
| some questions and will institute agita-
| ton and keep 1t going until the public
conscience and heart is aroused. Then
will come such an uprising as the world
| has never seen.
, II did not come to this convention to ex-
| ploit social democracy or any other move
| ment There is something greater In this
| movement than one element can manage
| the emancipation OF labor. There Is no
| division here. Each man is entitled to his
I, own opinion and his right TO express It:
| each man to do his duty as becomes that
| man. | am side by side with you, l am
a socialist Tremendous cheering) When
ever the trades unions of this country de-
nil Ia 10 In hnst 1A
they can count upon us to come TO the
| front and take our places side by side with
them and fight with them. Never In my
| life have been more hopeful than now.
am not gifted with great visionary powers,
but l can see the beginning of the end.
(Cheers.) This meeting is an inspiration.
II will lead to great results. This move
ment has attained tremendous impetus and
will go ahead with a rush When the peo-
pie are ready, and that day Is not far off.
my friends, there will be a tremendous
spontaneous uprising, the supreme courts
will be abolished. congress dispersed and
the sacred rights OF American citizens and
f, American freedom will be enthroned.
(, tGreat applause)
II plead guilty to the charge OF being
radical. / only wish you would allow me
| to be more radical still Support us, gem
tlemen of the convention and l promise
you we will support the attempt to abolish
government by injunction and the Judges
who issue them.
ION bearing arms--I hope in the march
of common intelligence we will reach a
point where we will be able to settle these
questions without appealing to the sword
or bullet. ! can not tell Certain 1t Is
there are thousands Of our fellow citizens
suffering and certain 1t Is they can not
last The time will come to incite the
populace. When this time comes you can
depend on me. (Cheers.) l will not stand
in the rear and ask you TO go ahead.
viii be In the front and say to you come
on (Renewed cheerng.)
Il shrink from that boodshed." and Mr..
Debs paused impressfyely, but II this
Is necessary 10 preserve liberty and our
| rights, in that event ! will shed the last
drop of blood that courses through my
veins. tOutburst OF cheering.) Plutocracy
can not buy me. they may send me TO jail,
may ostracize or hang me, but in the lam
guage OF the revolutionary heroes, / do
not propose to part corhTny with my SELL
respect. Independence and manhood. We
no longer have Republic; there is not a
vestige of 1t left The judiciary OF this
country has placed paddock on my lirs,
forbidding me TO walk on public highways
and destroyed all Of my rights. submit
because you compelled me TO. / am help
less. appeal TO you and TO the country
| to come to the front. take this cause to
will be free and so will you.
THE people are ripe for a great change.
| All they lack Is direction and leadership.
| LET this conference supply 1t. Let this
conference set the pace. Announce TO the
| world that II will temporarily adjourn for
| three weeks TO renew preparations. Ask
| every man 10 pledge himself to be there;
come II YOU have to walk. No man has
right to plead poverty"
Mr. Debs went over the conditions ex-
| isting In Pennsylvania and when he I'm
| ished with that State took up West vir-
| ginia. West Virginia" he ssid had
more government to the square inch than
anv State in the Union. and that meant
| less liberty The less government the
more liberty The only perfect government
was no government at all"
In conclusion, Mr.. Debs said: Ny
frienda. assert yourselves; enforce your