The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-01

IN Chicago.
H. NJ. Williams of ST. Louis presented
substitute for Mr.. Claiborne's motion
to strike outdhe plank calling for the Chi
cago convention covering labor congress
in St Louis, Sept. 20.
Without action the convention adjourned
until 2 O'clock
AT the afternoon session, the third
plank in the platform was amended by the
use of the word proper" before ''use of
the ballot number of other amend
ments were debated when Eugene " Debs
was called upon His appearance was the
signal for loud applause.
Mr.. Debs said: Il believe the gravity
OF the Industrial situation in this country
is well understood. 1t Is quite evident
tnat delegates to this convention are cog
INFANT OF the fact that civil liberty is dead
IN America. l have said, and say again,
Tor the last time l have appealed to the
courts for justice, and shall appeal to
them no more. The American Railway
Union expended $45, 900 to have the ques-
ton of civil rights tested in the supreme
court OF the United States only to be told
that we have no rights that capital was
pound to respect
Shall we appeal to the supreme courts
again! No. We appeal to this convention
ana TO the country for an uprising of ali
the common people in every walk of life to
peat back the courts and re-enthrone the
rights OF the American people. Labor's
day is near What shall we do? I predict,
my friends, that we will see the extraor-
dinary spectacle of enslaved labor rafting
its chains and dancing to the music
From the justice of the peace to JUS
tice of the supreme court of the United
states all the judicial powers of the Uni
ted states are directed against labor All
the organized sources of society are
against labor and If labor expects to
emancipate itself, labor itself must do it,"
Mr.. Debs then told the convention that
much destitution existed among the min
ers of the once proud state of Indiana,
and stated that 1000 underground workers
and their families We're starving.
He then took up the thread of his argu-
ment.
THE time has not quite come to incite
the populace,' said Mr.. Debs, shaking his
fist Il serve notice on the plutocrats of
this country that we are on the eve of a
meeting in Chicago which will be attend
ed by all branches of labor. That conven-
ton will take up these same questions and
will institute agitation and keep it going
until the public conscience and public
heart are aroused. Then will come such
an uprising as the world has never seen.
L did not come to this convention to
exploit social democracy, or any other
movement. There is something greater in
this movement than any one element can
manage-the emancipation of labor. There
is no division here. Each man is entitled
to his own opinion, and his right to ex-
press it, each man TO his duty as becomes
that man. I am side by side with you.
l am trades unionist and a socialist.
| tremendous cheering)
Whenever the trades unions of this
country decide to do battle with our com
mon 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 l been more hope
full than now. / am not gifted with great
visionary powers, but i can see the begin
ming of the end. This meeting is an inSpi-
ration. 1t will lead to great results. This
movement has attained tremendous impe-
tus and will go ahead with a rush.
when the people are ready, and that
day is not far Off my friends
will be a spontaneous uprising, the su-
preme court will be abolished, congress
dispersed, and the sacred rights of Amer
lean citizens and American freedmen will
be enthroned. 1 plead guilty to the charge
of being a radical. 1 only wish you would
allow me to be more radical. Support US
gentlemen of the convention, and l prom
Use you we will support the attempt to
abolish government by injunction and the
judges who issue them.
"On bearing arms, 1 hope in the march
of common intelligence we will reach a
point where we would be able to settle
these questions without appealing to
sword or bullet.
Il cannot tell, certain it is, there are
thousands of our fellow citizens suffering
and certain it is this cannot last The
time will come to incite the populace.
When this time comes, you can depend on
me. I will not stand in the rear and ask
you to go ahead. 1 will be in 'front.' and
say to you, come on (Renewed cheers).
-I,,- -;,,lx l,,,th ,,,I IL
Debs paused impressivey but if this is
necessary to preserve liberty and our
rights, in that event l will shed the last
drop of blood that courses through my
veins. (Shouts of cheering).
"Plutocracy cannot buy me; they may
send me to jail may ostracise me or hang
me, but in the language of the revolu
tionary heroes, j do not propose to part
company with my self-respect, indepen-
| dence and manhood. We no longer have a
republics; there is not a vestige of it left.
The judiciary of this country has placed a
paddock on my independence, forbidden me
to walk on public highway and denied all
of my rights. l submit to you and TO the
country to come to the front, take this
cause to heart and these questions
will then be solved. | 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 sup
ply it, Let this conference set the pace
and announce and show to the world that
it will temporarily adjourn for three
weeks to renew the preparations. Ask
every man to pledge himself to be there.
come, if you have to walk; no man has a
right to plead poverty"
Mr. Debs went over the conditions exist
ing in Pennsylvania, and when he finished
with that state, took up West Virginia
West Virginia" he said. shared more
government to the square inch than any
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; my
| friends, assert yourselves; enforce your
| cause. Let every man who can be as good
as his word" Nearly every delegate in
the convention rose to his feet and cheer
ed the speaker.
He went on: 1.-The significance of this
| movement portends new and important
developments along the line of battle. 1
look forward to the time when the people
will dethrone the power that has enslaved
them The movement is marching grandly
| forward and plutocracy will soon under
stand that slavery and despotism have no
rights to a place on American SOIL
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