United labor bulletin., 1909-12-03

tried on numerous other occasions and
predict that it will fail in this particu-
lar case
In 1887 Rev. Elijah p. Lovejoy pub
hshed a small paper in Alton, ILL.,, called
the Advocate" and dedicated to the
abolition of slavery, and at the same time
William Lloyd Garrison commenced the
publication of a paper called the Lib
orator" in Boston, Mass, and in each
instance an attempt was made to stop
these brave champions of freedom, lib
erty and equity in their noble and hui
name efforts to free the black man.
Lovejoy was warned that his paper
was displeasing to the citizens OF his re-
spective community, and he repliad:
"Gentlemen, as long as am an Ameri-
can citizen; as long as American blood
flows through my veins, shall hold my
self at liberty to speak, to write, to pub
iish whatever please on any subject,
being amenable to the, laws of my country
for the same"
Indignation arose in Alton, and a meet
ing of the people was held committee
was sent to Mr.. Lovejoy with the admon-
ition that if he did not cease his activity
that violence would be resorted to. Love
joy replied:
~ have sworn eternal opposition to
slavery, and by the blessing of God
will never turn back. If the laws of my
country fail to protect me, appeal to
God, and with Him | cheerfully rest my
cause. can die at my post, but ! cannot
desert it,
/ L.ovejoy was disgracefully shot to
DEATH his printing press and other para
phernalia was thrown into the Mississippi
river; but it was not long until the citi-
zens of Alton, and the great state of IL
linois fully realized the awful blunder
and foul stain committed by. that murder
and the citizens of Alton and that same
state contributed towards a beautiful
monument that has been erected in Alton
to commemorate the life and death of
that noble martyr.
About the same time Garrison was
warned in Boston that the publication
of his paper was displeasng to the citi-
zens in Boston. He refused to stop and
was chased through the streets and drag
ged from a workshop by rope placed
around his neck to the spot on which the
first drop of blood was shed for Ameri-
can independence, and then asked to
cease publishing his paper. He replied:
81 am in earnest. will not evade.
will not equivocate. will not excuse.
will not retreat a single inch, and / will
be heard"
The mob was about to complete their
devilish work when the sheriff and his
deputies arrived and rescued Garrison
and placed him in Jail, and while con-
fined he wrote the following words on the
prison wall;
"Confine me as a prisoner but bind me
not as a slave. Punish me as criminal
but hold me not as traitor. Torture me
as man but drive me not like a beast.
Doubt my sanity but acknowledge my i'm
mortality"
He again wrote:
Better to sit in freedoms hall.
With cold, damp floor and moulding wall,
Than bow the head or bend the knee
In the proudest palace Of slavery"
Garrison was finally given his freedom
and continued his activity for the cause
in which he was so sincerely Interested, /
and today on the boulevard leading to
Boston's public garden a beautiful
bronze statute rests to commemorate
the nobility of his life and loyalty to
humane historical cause
The courts of our country must recog-
nize the fact that the American people
are remarkably patient and that they will
tolerate abuses long period of time but
Just as sure as this sentence is executed
the time will come when our people win
refuse to be punished contrary to the
laws of our country and the fundamental
principles of our government.
1t may crafty the Buck Stove & Range
Company and the Court of Appeals of
the District of Columbia to sustain JUS
tice Wright in sentencing these brothers
and causing them to serve this sentence,
and 1t may please others antagonistic to
organized labor and who manifest pref |
udice at every opportunity, but we desire |
to impress upon the minds of our read
ers that this is not question of Com
Dor and the court as much as it is n ques- |
tlon of the FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
AND OF SPEECH, and we do not hest |
tate to declare that injunction is danger
Gus to the liberty-loving people of our
country, and that it Is an outrage to deny
these men or any other men the right /
to exercise that which has been guar
anteed to them by the constitution of our
country, and we cannot help feeling dis
respectful to the court for taking such a
narrow view in this particular case.
These three men can, and will, If nee
essary. serve their sentence without any
serious injury to them. but the most in