This is a courtroom speech given by the convicted defendant, Eugene Debs. (We like to call him Little Debs-ie, because he's as sweet as an Oatmeal Creme Pie.)

In TV and movies, this is always a moment of high drama, as it is the (presumably) guilty person's chance to finally have a say. Usually, defendants don't take the stand in their own defense—but in Debs' case, he was the only witness in his own defense and he had gone on (and on) for two hours during his testimony in remarks that were often moving…but also very rambling.

However, on the day of his famous speech, he had gotten a chance to make a last statement to the judge, knowing that—unless his lawyer made a successful appeal—he would soon be going to jail. Debs wanted to use this time to make a more focused and more concise statement of his beliefs and feelings about his past activities on behalf of the working class and the future of Socialism.

We think he nailed it.

How it Breaks Down

Section 1 (Paragraphs 1-3)

The Ethical Hook

In this section, Debs establishes himself as a person with a high sense of morality. He strongly identifies with the downtrodden, believes the Espionage Law to be undemocratic and, on principle, opposes the whole unfair social structure of America.

Section 2 (Paragraphs 4-6)

The Pathos of American Society

In this section, Debs movingly describes the pathetic, long-suffering life of American workers. His other major emphasis is on how maddening it is that a country so rich in resources allows the greed of the few to inflict so much hardship on the many.

Debs finds it insane that many people chalk this up to God or the natural order of things, and believes that things don't have to be this way.

Section 3 (Paragraphs 7-11)

The Logic of Socialism

In this section, Debs makes his case for the virtues of the Socialist point of view that having the government run major industries for society's benefit makes more sense. He predicts the ultimate triumph for his ideology, predicting that the working class will slowly awaken and organize.

Section 4 (Paragraphs 12-14)

A Metaphor for the Future

As he concludes, Debs again shifts his focus to emotion and morality. He sees himself as on the side of a rising tide that favors social justice. In an extended metaphor about the constellation the Southern Cross, he offers his belief that a better day is dawning for humanity.