The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-01-04
THE RELEASE OF DEBs

hELEftOE Ut DEDO
"What do you think of the release of Debs p
inquired gentleman in the Dispatch office yes
terday. Don't you regard it as mighty poor
politcs?"
We had to confess that we looked upon the re-
lease of Debs as about the worst piece of political
chicanery that was ever perpetrated upon the
people of this republic Had Debs robbed bank
rifed the mails, or killed neighbor in hot
argument over line fence, the quality of mercy
might not have been out of place in considering
an appeal for executive clemency.
But the crime Debs committed was against
Human Liberty the world over Had there been
enough men and women of his stripe in the United
States, there would have been no American Ex-
pedtionary Force to send across the seas to
snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat and
humble the Prussan demon of militarism in the
dust of defeat Debs and his fellow-conspirators
would have made it impossible, could they have
had their way, for Uncle Sam to raise an army to
go to Europe to battle for the eternal principles
Of Liberty and Justice.
Debs and his followers are not good Americans.
They are unalterably opposed to our form of gov
eminent, and have done and will continue to do
all in their power to destroy the principles upon
would tear the Stars and Stripes from the Ma
TONS Capitol and run up the red flag of Socialism
and Anarchy. They would make every man a
law unto himself and bring about chaotic con-
dition in which no sane man would care to live.
Debs and his kind have manifested an unmistak-
able and supreme contempt for government and
for law and have scattered their seeds of discord
and discomfort far and wide Appealing to the pre-
JUDGES and passions of men, especially the for
eigners who come to our shores seeking haven
of refuge from unbearabe conditions in the old
world, they at one time had obtained quite foot
hold in the United States, even going so far asI
to elect one of their number as mayor of large
American City, and sending another Of their
blatant treason-spreaders to the Congress of the
Nation But the war came on, and the unpat-I
riotc stand the Socialists took reacted against
them. Their influence has since that time been
steadily on the wane. At the last national cleo
ton the Socialist vote dropped almost to the
point
Now comes Warren Gamaliel Harding repub-
can president of the United States of America
who, out of the kindness of his heart opens the
gates of freedom to Debs and he walks out into
the Georgia sunlight as free as any of those
splendid American boys who went through the
hell of war for the honor of our flag.
right to turn this tratorous old blatherste loose
but we claim that in so doing he violated the moral
aw and the law of justice Debs should have
been compelled to complete his sentence, which,
in its full length, was all too short, not only as a
righteous punishment for his own misdeeds, but
rs an example to others of his class who will now
eel free to insult Uncle Sam to their utmost
satisfaction and eXpectorate upon the Stars and
Stripes, the glorious old banner that foated over
hat wonderful army of American patriots who
tailed across the seas to perpetuate Human Lib
rty that is as much of a safeguard for Debs and
lis followers as for those in whose hearts the
ich, red blood of patriotism beats.
Warren Gamaliel Harding will perhaps switch
few votes from the Socialist to the Republican,
arty. But at the same time he will switch loyal
americans from the Republican party into the L
ranks. Woodrow Wilson, like Thomas
Jackson, stood like a stone wall when he was
ppeaed to for a pardon for Debs. But then
Woodrow Wilson and Warren Gamalie Harding t
,ere not formed of the same kind of clay One t
a giant king eagle that scars aloft and bathes
is pumage in the thunder's home. The other
asnt yet learned to fly