Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-23
THE KU.KLUx.KLAN--wHAT IS 1T!

THE KU-KLUx-KLAN--WHA is 1T!
The New York Herald processes to have receiv-
ed the annexed circular from an official source.
Whether it be genuine document or not, is a
matter of question: but it is at least interesting:
UNION CEMETERY, SOUTHERN STATES, |
Aprihs the 7th, 1868. !
To the Editor of the Herald
By command of the Grand Cyclops of the secret
order known to the outside world as the Ku-Klux-
Kap, I am directed in the name of truth and JUS
tice to make the following statement in reference
to this organization. The columns of the Herald
have been selected as the medium OF this state ia
ment for the reason of its well known metropolitan
1t is well known axiom that men prefer mis-.
representation and slanderous criticism to truth and
charity. 1t is equally well known that there exists
at this time in the United States two if not more)
gigantic secret political organizations sustained by
Congressional legislation, to wit: THE Grand
Army of the Republic" secret, oath bound mil
itary order, and the "Loyal League which Is
lyof fnegroes and Radical emssaries from the North
The grand objects of these secret Radical societies
is to keep in subjection the Democratic party Of
the North and to Africanize the South, and there
by, acting in concert with Congressional legislation
perpetuate the rule of the Radical party and
change the American government from free re.
public to mongrel despotism. The army and
navy of the United States, under the control OF
Radical Congress, have been and are being used
to uphold and sustain with their mighty power the
insidious and devish purposes the secret organ,
izations of the ''Grand Army of the Republic"
and the Loyal League" Therefore, it is by no
means wonderful that these secret societies should
raise the cry of a new rebellion, 'rebel," as
sassin," Southern traitor, =" &c. Let the enemies
of free government and the advocates OF negro
men, and white men alone, are the comprehensive
exponents of constitutional liberty, and must and
will exclusively rule and govern the American re-
public. Michigan and Connecticut but re-echo
this sentiment
What, then, of the Ku. -Klan? Is it a
myth or stern reality? We answer that it is q
great and uuconquerable organization 1t is not
confined exclusively to any State or Territory OF the
American Union, but has strength and form wher-
ever the flag of the American Republic is recog-
nized as the emblem of constitutional liberty. In
some localities the organization is much more pow
erful than in others. It is stronger IN Kentucky
than in any other State Tennessee next, Mlssou-
ri third, Virginia fourth, Maryland fifth, and New
York sixth There is not department Of the
Federal Government, of the army and navy that
has not potent membership. Confederate and
Federal soldiers Confederate and Federal sailors
alike vie in the objects and purposes Of the organ
ization There is not leading daily newspaper
throughout the entire country that has not their
Ku Klux. Therefore, the Ku-Klu1- Klan is nei-
ther sectional nor partisan, but eminently Conser-
vatve and national in its organization and purposes
White citizens of the United States can only be-
come members of the Ku- Kux-Klan; Radicals, In
fdels and negroes cannot become member of the
Ku-Klux-Klan; for the meaning of the term Is a
Circle of Friends, the sole object of which is the
perpetuity of constitutional liberty. 1
The organization of the Ku-K Kux-K -Klan origina-
ted from necessity-the result of Radical egisla-
ton and the formation of the secret political orders
of the Loyal League and the "Grand Army Of
the Republic" consequently the Klux-klan Is
the effect of Radical despotism and injustice The
Ku-Klux-Klan was first organized in Giles county,
Tenn, in. August, 1866, and was an absolute ne,
cessty resulting from the tyranny, domination and
aggression of the BrowRloW Legislature. The
passage of the -Shellabarger Bills and
supplements in the spring Of 1867 gave the organ
ization new impetus throughout the South The
increase of the organization in the Northern and
from the lst of November 1867, to the lst fApri,
1868, has been beyond the expectation Of its most
ardent friends. The organization at this time
numbers over seven hundred thousand members,
with as rapid additions astike pubic seedffty may
require
The Know Nothing party was defeated and Ut
terly destroyed by the National Democratic Party,
without recourse to counter secret organization,
for the main reason that the Know Nothing Party
had not the control of the Federal Government
and hence were unable to uphold their organiza-
ton by the purse and sword Until recently, how.
ever, the enemies of the Ku-K -Kux:K Klan possessed
the government and welded its mighty powers.
They possess it to-day, but only in name; not In
reality Let the tyrants of a mongrel and inta-
mously corrupt party beware! Your party Is but
q she'll The castle of radicalism has been per-
meated and undermined by the white ant OF the
Ku-Klux.
The Ku-Klux-Klan is, therefore, secret polit-
ical organization the result of necessity, the sole
object of which is to thwart Radicalism arrest ne
gro domination in the South, negro equality in the
North, perpetuate the Federal Union and preserve
the Constitution as the fathers made it. And who
the Ku-Klux-Klan have secrets unknown to the
uninitiated is not denied 50 have the ancient Or
ders of Free Masonry, Odd Fellowship and other
secret orders and societies but like Free Masonry
and Odd Fellowship the objects and purposes OF
the Ku-Klux-Klan have thus been, tor the first
time, officially promulgated. The incredulous and
guilty may carp and misrepresent; but the wicked,
the ungodly and the perjured will soon feel the
keen edge of the sickle and the invisible boring OF
the white ant.
Let the coffin be closed.
GABRIEL, G. G. T. V.
RoBBER CAUGHT.
Some time ago the Canal Bank, of New Or
LII - IL. ,l,oh& oe