Speech of Sedition (eBook)

Eugene Victor Debs (1855–1926) was an American socialist, political activist, and trade unionist. He is best remembered as one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), as well as for his five candidacies for the presidency of the United States as a member of the Socialist Party. His rhetoric, filled with a fiery passion for human rights and equality, was encapsulated in his book 'Speech of Sedition,' which includes Debs's impassioned speeches that often highlighted the struggles of the working class and critiqued the capitalist system. Debs's literary style, rooted deeply in the oral tradition, was noted for its persuasive force and its ability to connect with the common people, which was evident in both his political campaigning and his written work. He was sentenced to ten years in prison under the Espionage Act of 1917, for a speech urging resistance to the military draft during World War I, however; his sentence was commuted in 1921. Throughout his life, Debs was admired for his unwavering commitment to social justice, his critique of economic inequality, and his advocacy for labor rights.