The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02

gates are c0gniZant of the fact that civil
liberty is dead in America. have said,
and say again. for the last time, that l
have appealed to the courts for Justice
and shall appeal to them no more. The
American Railway union expended S45,-
OOO to have the question of civil rights
tested In the supreme court of the United
States, only to be told that we have no
rights. that capital was bound to be re-
spe spec, Shall we appeal to the supreme
convention and to the country for an up
rising of all the common people in every
walk of life to beat back the courts and
re-enthronc the rights of the American
people. Labor day is near. What shall
we, do? | predict, my friends. that we
Will see the extraordinary spectacle of
enslaved labor rafting its chains and
dancing to the music. Labor is the
cheapest commodity on Gods earth. and
yet there are those who would have il ut
Il lower price. Only the other day the
united voice of brotherhood was raised
against the appointment of Mr.. Powdcrly
to federal position. and notice that he
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 organized sources of society are
against labor and If labor expects eman-
cipation. labor itself must do the work"
Mr.. Debs then told the convention that
much restitution existed among the
miners of the once proud state Of In
diana and stated that 1000 underground
workers and their families were starving.
| He read the report of the commission APP
pointed by Governor Mount TO examine
into the condition of the miners of In
diana. and then took up the thread Of
his argument.
"The time has not quite come to in
cite the populace." said Mr.. Debs, shak-
ing his fist vehcmently 81 serve notice
on the plutocratic element of this coun-
try we are on the eve of another meet
ing in Chicago which will be attended by
all branches of labor.
THAT convention will take mp the
same questions and will institute agi-
tation and keep it going till the public
conscience and heart is aroused. Then
will come such an uprising as the world
has never seen.
81 did not come to this convention to
exploit social democracy or any other
movement. 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 own opinion and mis-
right to express, it: each man to do his
duty as becomes that man. am side
by side with you. j am socialist.
tremendous cheering) Whenever the
trades unions of this country decide to
do battle with our common enemy 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. l am not gifted with
great visionary powers, but can see
the beginning of the end. tCheers.)
This meeting is an insDiration. 1t will
lead to great results. This movement
has attained tremendous impetus and
will go ahead with n rush. When the
people are ready. ana that day is not
far off, my friends. there will he ire
mendous, spontaneous uprising, the SUI
preme court will be abolished, congress
dispersed and the sacred rights of Amer
lean citizens and American freedmen
will be enthroned. Great applause)
81 plead guilty to the charge of being
radical. | only wish you would allow
me to he more radical still. Support
ms, gentlemen of the convention. and
promise you we will support the at
tempt to abolish government by injunc-
ton and the judges who issue them.
"On bearing arms, hope in the march
of common intelligence we will reach
n point where we will be able to set
tie the questions without appealing to
| TIE SWOTu UT Duilel. tdll HOt tel.
Certain 1t Is there are thousands of
your fellow citizens suffering and GER
tain 1t is they can not last. The time
will come to incite the populace. When
this time comes you can depend on me.
Cheers.) | will not stand in the rear
and ask you to 90 ahead. ] will be in
the front and say to you come on
(Renewed cheering.l
81 shrink from that bloodshed." and
IN he, Inn. sol, Al, tk,,N
this is necessary to preserve liberty and
our rights. in that event ] wish the
last drop of blood that courses through
my veins" Outbreak of cheering.)
"Plutocracy can not buy me; they may
send me to Jail, may ostracise or hang
me, but in the language of the revolu-
tionary heroes, l do not propose to part
company with my self-respect. indie
pendence and manhood. We no longer
have n republic; there Is not vestlge
of 1t left. The judiciary of this country
has placed paddock on my lips, for
hidden me to walk on public highways
and destroyed all of my rights. ] sub
nit because You compelled me to. am
helpless. appeal to You and to the
country to come to the 'front.' take this
cause to heart. and the question will
be solved. ! will be free and so will
you.
! "rhe people are ripe for n great
change. All they lack is direction and
| leadership.
LET this conference supply it. Let
| this conference set the pace. Announce
to the world that it will temporarily
| adjourn for three weeks to renew prep
| arations. Ask every man to pledge
| himself to be there, come If you have TO
walk no man has right to plead power
| ty."
Mr.. Debs went over the conditions
existing in Pennsylvania, and when he
finished with that state, took up West
Virginia. West Virginia., he said, had
more government to the square inch
than any state in the Union, and that
meant less liberty. Less government.
the more liberty: the only perfect gov
eminent was no government at all.
In conclusion Mr.. Debs said:
."My friends, assert yourselves; en-
force your cause. Let every man who |
can be as good as his word stand erect" |
Nearly every delegate rose to his feet |
and cheered the speaker.
He went on:
THE significance of this movement |
pOrtends new and important develop |
ments along the line of battle. look |
forward to the time when the people |
will dethrone the power that has en- |
shaved them. The movement is march |