Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1887 — THEY DON'T WANT MERCY. [ARTICLE]

THEY DON'T WANT MERCY.

Fischer, Lingg, and Engel Write Letters to the Governor of Illinois. Cook County Jail, Chicago, Nov. 1, 1887. To Mr. R. J. Oglesby, Governor of the State of Illinois: Dear Sir—l am aware that petitions are being circulated and signed by the general public asking you to commute the sentence of death which was inflicted upon me by a Criminal Court of this State. Aueut this action of a sympathizing and well-meaning portion of the pconle I s-lemnly declare that it has not my sanction. As a man of honor, as a man of conscience, and as a man of principle I cannot accept mercy. lam not guilty of the charge in the inuictment—of murder. I urn no murderer. and cannot apologize lor an action of which I know lam innocent. And should 1 ask "mercv” on account of my principles, which I honestly belie e to be true and noble ? Ao/ I am no hypocrit, and Lave, therefore, no excuses to offer with regard to being an Anarchist, because the experiences of the last eighteen months have only strengthened my convictions. The question is, Ami responsible for the death of the nolicemen at the hnymarketf and I say no, unless you assert that every Abolitionist could have been held responsible for the deeds of john Brown. Therefore, I could not avk or accept "mercy” without lowering myself in nty self-estimation. If I cannot obtain justice from the authorities and be restored to my family then I prefer that the verdict should be carried out as it stands. Every informed person must, I should think, admit that this verdict is solely due to class hatred, prejudice, the inflaming of public opinion by the m ilicioos newspaper fraternity, and a desire on the part of the privileged classes to check the progressive labor movement. The interested parties, of course, deny this, but it is nevertheless true, and I am sure that coming ages will look-upon our trial; conviction, and execution us the people of the nineteenth century regard the barbarities of past generations —as the outcome of intolerance and prejudice against advanced ideas. History repeats itself. As the powers that be have at all times thought that they could stem the progressive tide by exterminating a few “kickers,” so do the ruling classes to-duy imngine that they can put a stop to the movement of labor emancipation by hanging a few of its advocates. Progress in its victorious march has had to overcome many obstacles which seemed invincible, and many of its apostles have died the death of martyrs. The obstacles which bar the road of progress to-day seem to be invincible, too; but they will be overcome, nevertheless. At all times when the condition of society had become such that a large portion of the people complained of the existing injustice, the ruling classes have denied the truth of these complaints, but have said that the discontent of the portion of the people in question was due only to the “pernicious influence” of “malicious agitators.” Today again some people assert that the “d—d agitators” are the cause of the immense dissatisfaction among the working people! O, you people who speak thus, can you not or will you not read the signs of the times? Do you not see that the clouds on the social firmament are thickening? Are you not, for instance, aware that the control of industry and of the means of transportation, etc., is constantly concentrating in fewer hands ; that the monopolists—i. e., the sharks among the capitalists—swallow the little ones among them; that "trusts,” “pools,” and other combinations are being formed in order to more thoroughly and systematically fleece the people ; thut under the present system the develojiment of technic and machinery is from year to year throwing more workingmen on the wayside ; that in some parts of this great and fertile land a majority of the farmers are obliged to mortgage their homes in order to satisfy the greed of monstrous cori>orations; that, in short, the lich are constantly growing richer and the poor poorer ? Yes ? And do you not comprehend that all these evils find their origin in the present institution of society which allows one portion of the human race to build fortunes upon the misfortunes of others; to enslave their fellowmen? Instead of trying to remedy these evils, and instead of ascertaining just wnat the cause of the widening dissatisfaction is, the ruling classes, through their mouthpieces, the press, pulpit, etc., defame and misrepresent the character, teachings, and motives of the advocates of social reconstruction, and use the rifle and club on them, and, if opportunity is favorable, send them to the gallows and prisons. Will this do any good? As an answer I may as well quote the following words with which Benjamin Franklin closed his satirical essay, “Huies for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small one,” which he dedicated to the English Government in 1776: “Suppose all their (the kickers’| complaints to be invented and promoted by a lew factious demagogues, whom if you could catch and hang all w ould be quiet. Catch and hang a few accordingly; and the blood of the martyrs shall work miracles in favor of your purpose—i. e., your own ruin.” So, I say, society may hang a number of disciples of progress who have disinterestedly served the cause of the sons of toll, which is the cause of humanity, but their blood will work miracles in bringing about the downfall of modern society and in hastening the birth of a new era of civilization. Magna est veritas, et prevalebit 1 Adolph Fischer. To Mr. R. J. Oglesby, Governor of the State of Illinois: Anent the fact that the progressive and liberty-loving portion of the American people are endeavoring to prevail upon vou to interpose your perogative in my case, I feel impelled to declare, with my friend and comrade, Parsons, that I demand e.ther liberty or death. If you are really a servant of the people according to the Constitution of the country, then you will, by virtue of your office, unconditionally release me. Referring to the general and inalienable rights of men, I have called upon the disinherited and oppressed masses to oppose the force of their oppressors—exercised by armed enforcement of infamous laws enacted in the interest of capital with force in order to attain a dignified and manly existence by securing the full returns of their labor This—and only this—is the “crime” which was proven against me, notwithstanding the employment of perjured testimony on the part of the State. And this crime is guaranteed not only as a right but as a duty by the American Constitution, the representatives of which you are supposed to be in the State of Illinois. But if you are not the representative of the Constitution, but, like the great majority of office-holders, a mere tool of the monopolists or a specific political clique, you will not encroach upon the thirst for blood displayed by the extortioners, because a mere mitigation of the verdict would be cowardice and a proof that the ruling classes which you represent are themselves abashed at the monstrosity of my condemnation, and, consequently, of their own violation of the most sacred rights of the people. Your decision in that event will not only judge me, but also yourself and those whom you revresent. Judge then ! Louis Lingo. Rear Sir: I, George Engel, citizen of the United States and of Chicago, and condemned to death, learn that thousands of citizens petition you, as the highest executive officer of the State of Illinois, to commute my sentence from death to imprisonment. I protest emphatically against this on the following grounds : I am not aware of having violated any laws of this country. In my firm belief in the Constitution which the founders of this Republic bequeathed to this people, and which remains unaltered, I have exercised the right of iree speech, free press, free thought, and free assemblage, as guaranteed by the Constitution, and have criticised the existing condition of society and succored my fellow-citizens with my advice, which I regard as the right of every honest citizen. The experience which I have had in this country, during the fifteen years that I have lived here, concerning the ballot and administration of our public functionaries who have become totally corrupt, has eradicated my belief in the existence of equal rights of poor and rich, and the action of the public officers, police and militia, have produced the firm belief in me that these conditions cannot last long. In accordance with this experience I have taught and advised. This I have done in good faith of the rights which we are guaranteed by the Constitution, and, not being conscious of my guilt, the “powers that be” may murder me,, but they cannot legally punish me. I protest against a commutation of my sentence, and demand either liberty or death. I renounce any kind of mercy. Respectfully, George Engel.