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Debs on Violating the Sedition Act: Tough-o-Meter

    Debs on Violating the Sedition Act: Tough-o-Meter

      (5) Tree Line

      Dude does not mince words—most of the language, until the metaphorical conclusion, is deliberately straightforward.

      As Debs tell us at the start, he considers himself part of the lower class and is speaking to and for 'em. He has more than a little understanding of the theory of socialism…and of the horrible conditions for factory workers in this time period. But overall, Debs is more interested in emotion than theory and that makes this speech both hard-hitting and accessible (double threat).