The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in ChicagoMcLean, George N.
History
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago
McLean, George N.
Anarchists -- United States; Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886
Mr. Foster, who followed for the defense, had not lived long in
Chicago. He came in March from Davenport, Iowa, near which city he
was born about forty years ago. He is of medium height and square
build. His features are refined and intellectual. An abundant growth
of rich auburn hair adorns his shapely head. Mr. Foster obtained
considerable fame as a lawyer in his native state, took an active part
in politics, and was one of the Blaine Electors in 1884, and was very
active in the campaign of that year. After having made an energetic and
finely-eloquent plea to the jury to cast aside all prejudice arising
from hatred of the principles of the Anarchists, love of and loyalty to
the land, inherent patriotism, and the teachings of the popular press,
Mr. Foster proceeded, in order to set himself right, to tear down
without apology the theory of the defense set up by Messrs. Salomon
& Zeisler. He had no defense to make for Socialism--it is dangerous;
Communism is pernicious, and Anarchism is damnable. Lingg had
manufactured bombs, and he ought to be punished therefor; but he was on
trial for throwing, not manufacturing bombs. Spies, Schwab and Fischer
had no business to preach social revolution in America. If they were
not satisfied with the state of things here they ought to have gone
back to Germany and tried to reform things there. Mr. Fielden might
have found occupation in teaching his brother Englishmen to be just to
Ireland. Parsons he rebuked in an eloquent passage for his lack of
patriotism. Having thus skillfully set himself right with the jurors,
Mr. Foster proceeded to define the issue of the trial as he understood
it, and as he wished the jury to understand it. He admitted the moral
responsibility of some of the prisoners for the crime. He denied their
legal responsibility.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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