Download - Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I
Eugene Debsdefends political dissent – WW I
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/ Primary content source: The Story of Us by Joy Hakim
Americans were deeply divided on World War I. To generate popular support for the war effort, President Woodrow Wilson enlisted specialists in advertising and public relations.
President Woodrow Wilsonhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/leonandloisphotos/2968465760/
http://www.worldwar-1.net/world-war-1-timelines/world-war-1-1917/world-war-1-1917-index.htm
Through speeches, publications, and films, these officials convinced many citizens to buy war bonds and to demonstrate their loyalty to the
U.S. government.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/canada.htm
At times, patriotism degenerated into anti-German hysteria, nativism,
and intolerance.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/australia.htm
Despite this hostile climate, anti-war protestors, political radicals, and pacifists continued to oppose
the war.
http://www.drugwar.com/propaganda.shtm
To suppress this dissent (voice), government officials instituted severe restrictions on speech.
http://huquq.com/WordPress?p=19
In June 1919, Congress passed the Espionage Act, imposing high fines
and long jail terms for broadly defined antiwar activities.
Eugene Debs protesting American involvement in WWI.
http://worldcitizen.bloghi.com/
In May 1918, the law was amended with a Sedition Act that penalized “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or
abusive language” about the federal government, the U.S. flag, the
Constitution, or the armed services.
http://www.tjhsst.edu/~sgoswami/legislation.htm
Public officials imprisoned thousands of pacifists, antiwar activists, and political radicals.
Eugene Debs was among those imprisoned. A long-time labor activist, Debs gained national
attention when he was sentenced to a six-month jail sentence for his role in leading the 1894 Pullman strike.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
While imprisoned, Debs read many political texts and grew highly
critical of capitalism.
Upon his release, he converted to socialism and led the Socialist
Party of America for many years (also their presidential
candidate.)
In June 1918, Debs gave a speech in Canton, Ohio. In the address, he declared, “The master class has always declared the wars; the
subject class had always fought the battles.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
Debs was immediately arrested for violating the Espionage and
Sedition Acts. During his September 1918 trial, Debs presented his own
case.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
“I have never advocated violence in any form. I have always believed in
education, in intelligence, in enlightenment; and I have always made my appeal to the reason and
… conscience of the people.”
“I admit being opposed to the present form of government…I am
doing what little I can…to bring about a change that shall do away with the rule of the great body of
the people (the working class) by a relatively small class…”
“When great changes occur in history, when great principles are
involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right…”
“In every age there have been a few heroic souls who have been in advance of their time, who have
been misunderstood…persecuted, sometimes put to the death.”
“…when American colonists were still foreign subjects…to speak against the king was treason…
Washington, Adams, Paine, these were the rebels of the day.”
Thomas Paine
http://www.historicaldocuments.com/ThomasPaine'sCommonSense.htm
“At a later time…It was against…the institution of slavery…that
controlled the President, both branches of Congress, the Supreme Court, the press…And again there were a few lovers of liberty who
appeared.”
http://www.hstc.org/frederickdouglass.htm
“I believe in patriotism... I love the flag as a symbol of freedom. I object only when that flag is prostituted…
to sordid ends…in the name of patriotism, would keep people in
subjection…”
http://www.jeffmccord.org/?p=199
“Yes, I was opposed to the war. I am perfectly willing…to be branded a disloyalist, and if it is a crime …punishable by imprisonment, for
being opposed to bloodshed, I am perfectly willing to be clothed in
the stripes of a convict…”
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/d/pics
“I believe in the Constitution…Isn’t it strange that we Socialists stand
almost alone in defending the Constitution of the United States.”
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/University_of_Minnesota_to_observe_Constitution_Day_with_Law_School_presentation.html
“The Revolutionary fathers… understood that free speech and
free press and the right to assemblage by the people were the
fundamental principles of democratic government…It can be
understood by a child…”
http://www.militaryartgallery.com/HTML_3a/founding_fathers.htm
“That is the right that I exercised …and for the exercise of that right, I
now have to answer to this indictment (charge). I believe in the right of free speech in war as well
as in peace.” – Eugene Debs
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/d/pics?C=N;O=D
It made little impression to the jury. Debs was sentenced to ten years
and stripped of his U.S. citizenship.
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/constitution/constitution1b.html
Though imprisoned, Debs won 1 million votes in the 1920 presidential election.
http://www.icc.coop/houses/debs/debs2.html
The following year, President Warren C. Harding ordered Debs
released. In 1976, the government restored his citizenship
posthumously (after his death.)