The times., 1897-12-05
AltceId on Injunction


During recent years it has grown 20 be
a fashion 10 denounce as anarchists all
A merican citizens who, in any prominent
sense. undertake OF dare to place them
selves in opposition to the organized forces
OF the gold and bond syldicates, the trusts
and monopolies. In this way the Hon.
John T. AHgeld, former governor Of Iii
nols, has been assailed by all the powers
OF the day opposed to the interests of
the plain people of America, and denounced
as an enemy OF modern society; but when
one comes 10 analyze his utterances, with
out prejudice, and without reference to the
manufactured opinion regar rding him, which
certain influences have spent labor, in
| teIect and money to build up. it does not
SO clearly appear that his pubiished riews
and sentiments do not lairly represent good
American sense and patriotism.
For example, Mr.. Altgeld sent to a New
York paper, the other day, an epitome OF
his ideas as TO government by injunction, a
matter which everybody must admit is
growing to be an issue before tha country
In this connection he says that courts
Of chancery have the power to grant such
injunctions rs are clearly within the law,
and Tie field Of chancery Jurisdiction, and
but little fault was found With the practice
as il formerly existed in this country. Hut
when some or the Federal courts bee anne
mere sHle door conveRiences for corpora
tions usurpaiion followed, and he enumer-
ates some of them as follows:
1st-Courts of cbancery undertook to
exercise criminal jurisdiction with which
they We're not vested by law.
2d-They undertook to iegiSlate by for
bidding or commanding things which the
law did not forbid or command. For ex-
ample, in one case for bidding men to quit
the employment Of a railroad; in. another
case commanding men TO return to work
| for railroad on pain Of being sent TO
jail; in another case forbidding men from
marching back and forth on the highway;
and in another case forbiuding preacher
from preaching to miners during a strike
because the corporation boss did not like
the tenor Of his sermons.
3d-They forbade things which the law
already forbade, and did this for the pur-
pose OF depriving men Of the right Of trial
by jury, so that they might be ra !lroa cied,
10 prison without the necessary evidence to
convict. Trial 10y jury is guara nteed by
the Constitution to every man, yet these
corporation judges brush it aside with a
mere wave OF the hand.
4tll-The Constitution divides the now
ers of government into legislative, judicial
and executive, and neither one is per-
mitted to trench upon the other. Yet at
present the Federal judges assume the
right TO exercise all three.
5th-Instead of government by law and
according to the forms OF law, we get gov
ernment according TO the wllims and pre- j,l-
diceS OF one man.
Ex-tiov. Altgeld expresses the opinion
that the Federal judiciary is destroying
republican institutions in this country, and
viii have TO be changed or we will have th3
worst form of government ever known, and
that is an oligarchyof rich scouadrels." He
announces the conclusion that all Judges
must he elected by the people, must
be responsible TO the people, and limited
in their terms of office Just as much as
the legislative and executive officers are. y
In this we cannot say that as vet we ara
ready altogether to side with Mr. Abigail.
Evils and abuses must be attacked and
overcome at the fountain head, which is
the national awnaking power and that
OF course, is the Congress. If the law
IGaking power is under The control IF an
oligarchy. il Will make little DIFF ,rn,rce