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.)