Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-09-11
THE KU-KLUX KHAN AND THE DEMoC-
RACY IDENTICAL,

special correspondent of the Cincinnati
6ap,mcrciut has recently had an interview with
tic rebel General N. B. F0RREsr, the bloody
butcher of Fort Pillow, and one of the delegates
50 the New York National Democratic Convey
ton, In this conversation, FORREST declares
himself to be in sympathy with the operations
Of tho kuklux, aud says that tho organization
numbers 10000 members in the State Of Ten
nesSee alone, aud that in all the Sauthern States
their number is about $50 GOO mon. He says
its character is that Of u protective, political,
military organization" He says, furthermore
+" Its objects original, were protection against
Loyal Leagues aud the Grand Army Of tho
Republic, but after it became general 1t was
fund that political matte r. and utter, ats could
best be promoted athin 1t, and il wds hN made
Wpoiiicdi orgdHhttioH, GIVING IT'S SUPPORT, or
sOuRsg, TO TiE DEMOCRATIC PARTY"
This Is the evidence Of one of the prominent
leaders in tho southern wing At the Democratic
party. He dehbcrtely declares the object OF tho
Eu-EluS is to kill oi'the Radicals. lrGovcnor
blow NLnw shou'd cull out the miIiua Of Ton
nessee to upheld the laws and suppress the
Outragcs committed by this Internal gang upon
the unarmed and hulplrss Union m1n ut that
State, then, says MIR, FoRWEsr, 7hry and .W.
Brotcnlops gorcrRmsHt irW beapspt ont 4fcri,t,Hcc;
rot q Rddieai wWhe l,jt 0iiro, | have told these
Radicals here what thcT might expect in such
an event. hare ~ Dpicicr 10 barn kUiirg negroes.
Iiatcnd 10 kW tie R,Iicols. hare tnR them iii.
aud more there Is not Il R1jtcud iCtfrr IL his
to,rn bR Is marked ran, 0Ht Il tr.0tic aoUiui
break ont, not one af thcm lroUtt Be irH uiirc.
Nave told them that they were trying to crluto
disturbance and then slip out aud leave the
consequences to fall upan tho negro, but they
can't do It, 1ieirhopses are pickct,d, aud rira n.
GJht comes not one " hcm cauid erer get out ofi,
tu,ca diirc. We don't intend they shall ever get
out of the country. but want it distinctly nm
derstood, that am opposed tn auy war, and will
emily fight in solI-de enSe. II the militia attack
MS, we will resist ~ the last, and If necessary
] hmk I ccWd rdjsc forty aJasaad men, d, fr,
days rcUIg for ae fH,"
II being an admitted fact that the Ku Klux
organization Is nothing more nor less than thu
Southern wing Of the Democratic party, with
assassination as the means Of carving out is
ebjects let us see how olrctmlly it has done
It's work. olmmlttce was appointed by the
Legislature Of Tennessee To examine into the
outrages Of the klau, aud their report was made
to the Legislature on the 81 inst, IL is an eN-
traorlinary document comprising several hun
dred pages. il gives tbs Swoyn testimony Ut
scores Of victims, concerning the horrible out
RACES committed by the ku kluN Democracy
throughout the State. Some ct the narratives
are more startling In their simple reality, than
the most elaborate cunrtS of thcNou. Tho whole
report is SO full Of horrors as - make onc's
blood run cold, ANA presents most nigl ttul
caial que Ot crime, embracing murder, avs ~
robbery aud all manner uf Gcndish cru ltv.
The entire repor, iortH' a weapAn of terrible
W
ming mp the investigation, the committee saws
" The number ct outrdPcS which have been
perpctrltad in many counties of Middle aud
West Tennessee, during the past few months,
have beon Sn numerous, aud ht such an aggra-
vated character, as almost bafi IS investigation.
In these counties reign at terrar exists, which
is so absolute in its nature, that the best Of
citizens are unable or unwilling to give free
expression Ia their opinons. The terror in.
spired by the secret organization known as The
ku-klnx klaa is 50 great that the ollccrs Of
tile law are ppwerlesS tn execute its PROVISIONS
10 discharge their duties, or To bring the guilty
perpetrators Of these outrlges To the punish
ment they deserve. Their stealthy movements
are generally made under cover of tie pight
and under masks or di5gpises, which rrudcr
their Identification illcult, II not impossible,
Added TO the secrecy which cnvelups their
operations, is the fact that no information Of
their murderous acts can be obtained without
the greatest difficulty ard danger in the locali-
ties where they are committed. No one ddres
TO inform upon them or 10 take any measures To
bnng them u punishment, because NJ such
one eau tell but he may be the next victim Of
Their animosity.
The members Of this organisation, with
theh trends, aidors and abet,ors, take especial
pains to conceal their operations.
me moving principle bv watch they are
RctsRied appears - be hostility TO the State
nhSnauonal authorities, and in the minds of
these men 10 have voted for nrowulow' ar
the Republican ticket or TO be Radical
Is the greatest Of crimes
" Your committee believe that during the
past six months the murders in Tenn, ssee, to
say nothing of other outrages, would average
one per day, or one for every twenty fur hours;
mat IN the great majority Of cases tLey have
been petpetratea BY The Khan referred to, aud
lew, any, have been brought 20 punishment
number Of counties IN the State are entirely
AZ the mercy OF this organization, aud rowing
bands OF nightly maranders bid defiance 10 ths
elvll authorities, and threaten go drive ou
every man. white or black, who does not submi
u Their arbitrary dio,ation.
10 add 20 the general lawlessness Of thes
communities, bad men OF every description TAX
advantage OF the circumstances surraundin,
them ana perpetrate acts of violence, from pei
sonai or peeuniery motives, under the plea O
political necessity.
"Oolored laborers have been driven from
their homes BY dishonest laEd owners, in orde
10 deprive them Of their share OF the crops ne,
cultivated and the wages they have iustl'
earned by their labor. Other outIagos Of simi
lar character are daily committed. and ia
officers VI tie Law are unable "a unWilipe 4