Three in One: Ethos, Pathos, and LogosDebs' "Statement to the Court" is basically a master class in balancing the elements of ethos, pathos, and logos. (A+, Eugene.)In his famous opening paragraph,...

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 mome...

The tone of Debs' "Statement" goes from A to Z to P (for pathos). And yet it works.He begins very dramatically, but keeps to broad and simple statements about the stakes of his case. He uses phrase...

The formal title, Statement to the Court Upon Being Convicted of Violating the Sedition Act, is just that—formal. But Debs' biographer, Ray Ginger, gave the speech a much catchier title, the "Ben...

The opening lines, those two sentences that make up the first paragraph, are just. so. good. And because of their awesomeness, they're certainly the most widely quoted words in the history of Ameri...

(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 lo...

In-Text ReferencesIdeological ReferencesSocialism (Throughout)Historical and Political ReferencesEspionage Law (4) Biblical ReferencesMammon (11)Psalms 30:5 (38) References to this TextAnthologies...

Eugene Debs had a pretty open affair with a woman named Mabel Curry, whom he met when she worked on his 1916 campaign. Mabel was also married, to a college professor. Their respective spouses didn'...