A Circular Protesting the Sentencing of the Haymarket Defendants

New York, September 16, 1887.

APPEAL ENDORSED BY THE CENTRAL LABOR UNION AND DISTRICT 49, K. OF L.

Fellow Workingmen:

You are aware of the decision rendered by the Supreme Court of Illinois confirming the verdict of the lower court in the so-called Anarchist cases, and fixing the day of execution of the prisoners for November 11 th of this year.

As citizens who stand united on the broad platform of human rights and equal justice to all, irrespective of political or social opinions, we now appeal to you to do all in your power to secure a modification of the above-mentioned decision.

Liberty, free speech and justice impartially and fearlessly meted out to friend and foe, are the only safeguards and the primary conditions of a peaceable social development in this country.

Under the misguiding and corrupting influence of prejudice and class-hatred, those men have been condemned without any conclusive evidence as accessories to a crime, the principle of which, as well as the motives which may have actuated the same, are unknown.

The execution of this sentence would be a disgrace to the honor of our nation, and would strengthen the very doctrines it is ostensibly directed against.

The undersigned appeal, therefore, to you as representatives of Organized Labor, the foremost champion of our rights and liberties, to immediately take such steps as may save our country from the disgrace of an act that can be considered in no other light than as a judicial murder, prompted by the basest and most un-American motives.

This is an issue on which all Patriotic Citizens ought to stand united. No factional differences ought to divide us when the fundamental principles of American liberty are at stake.

Leaving to you to decide as to the most efficient method to be adopted, we would suggest that a call should be issued by all the representative labor organizations of this country for great public demonstrations to be held simultaneously in this and in all other cities of the Union on or about the 20th of October.

Hoping that you will consider this our communication in the spirit in which we address it to you, we remain,

Yours in the cause of Justice and Humanity,

Samuel Gompers.
Jas. E. Quinn.
Martin A. Hanly.
Frank Ferrell.
Edward King.
Everett Glackin.
Henry Emerich

 

Tom O’Reilly
John D. Dunn, Syracuse.
Geo. H. McVey.
A.G. Johnson, Jr.
Matthew Barr.
Fred Haller.
Michael J. Kelly.

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