The Labor Enquirer

Louis Lingg was one of the bravest of the seven. The theory that he suicided in a moment of insanity can not be upheld by the facts regarding his last hours. He had determined not to die, as he mistakenly thought it an ignominious death. Whatever may be said by his and all our enemies regarding the honesty of his motives, of one thing there can be no doubt he had the courage of his convictions. He might have saved his life by asking for mercy from the governor, but his sense of honor would not allow him to plead for a commutation of sentence when to do so was in his opinion an acknowledgement that the principles for which he died were wrong and indefensible. In answer to the pleadings of friends for his signature to an appeal to the governor, he said with a determination which ended all efforts in that direction: "I am an Anarchist, Socialist and a Revolutionist. I will not compromise my principles. I cannot sign."