The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-04-10
GOV. Br0WnI0W on me KnKlnY,

The article charges that tho order 10
forming In East Tennessee: aq4#
TUE KUKLUx KLAN. ir
That there 10 in Tennessee such an
organization as the one above named
no doubt can be entertained. IL Is
true the Consrvative prehs and party
attempt to ridicule the idea, and to
denoace and stigmatize as weak and
Ovgr-eredulous those who believe In
tho existence Of tho Kuklnx KlSR;
yet Goes auch ridicule diGprovs their
oxistenceG Does II diSartn them Of
muFdeFvus intent and wicked puFpose'
Can the rebel and Conservative press
whistle high handed murder and ter
rorism down the windH Will deFisiOn
and sncer give US back to lite the pale
victims Of their flendish wickedness3 7
Yes, tho Kuklux Klans exist. They
are known to be formidable in Middle
and West Tennessee. Their murder
ous, bushwhacking conduct in the
counties Of Dyer, Lincoln and Ruther.
ford are now matters Of history.
Their organizations hSve not ap.
peared In force In many points In East
Tennessee, but they are evidently ORE
ganizing. As they burrow in dark.
ness and skulk bCihd mysterious
names and forms, they may think TO
escape detection, and even TO olude
suspicion. Yet they Rre observed, and
their movemonts more known than
they themselves imagine.
Who make up these organizations!
They are rebels and Conservatives
men who fought in the ranks Ofthe
rebel armies during the war, and
those who then sympathized with
them, but who, through sheer COW.
ardice, gave the battlefield a wide
berth. Those Conservatives fully
symrathize with the "lost cause"
now. They work for IL, vote for IL
when they can, plan for 1t, and how
at last, go into KUklux KlaDs, 20
help, by Iawless violence, riot and
murder, what can no longer be kept
alive by fair, legitimate methods.
What are their objectsI Precisely
tho objects that have animated the
whole rebel crew, from JEFF. Davis
down TO the veriest pimp that huE-
zahed for the rebellion all along dur
ing the war. They hate loyalty,
and the men who uphold and enbody
| it,. Loyalty, in black or white, is so
Odious to them, and especially in
black men, that they cannot refrain
from venting their hell-innpired ma
lightly Upon them. ThSy seeA to
compass their objects BY intiRildat.
ing colored men, and by wFeakiRg
vengeance upon white Radicals
Their objects are the overthrow Of
loyalty, which they Ioatifb and hate,
by any and every tieaRS, whether
ri ht or wrong, lawful or unlawful,
honorable or despieable, true or false
and more generally BY the latter than
tho forttet:
I Union men, leaguers, beware Of
theml Watch theml spot them! In
nearly every county you have strength
sufficient TO make yourselves terrible
10 these midnight assassins and law
less desperadoes,, and to visit swift
and signal punishmeht on those fienda
in human form #ho fRGy break the
peace of the country, and mob and
terrify honest, innocent citizens, and
ifin any case you lack che numbers
or means TO do this. there are more
than q million swords rcady 10 an.
sheath to avenge your fall, or to
facilitate your victory EspeCilly in
East Tennessee are you numerous
and strong enough, TO hold the situa.
ton. Our counsel once for all Is
! -hthaJ whehSfef these vile mfscreantI
make their appearance among us
mounted, booted and spurred, and
however disguised, let tho whitO and
colOFed Radicals meet them prompt
lly, and in the spirit of their own law.
less mission, apd disperse them, and
!, If need require this IN dispersing them
exterminate them. Al all events, and
> at whatever cost. let those inhnman
3. scoundrels learn that in East Tennes-
see, at least, they will not be allowed
, TO carry forward this cowardlY, mis-
: orably sDeakihg kidd Of w6ffare.
We speak earnestly because tho 90
casion demands It. But we are calu
h-He we're never more, so, DespefatI
cases require desperate remedies. 4
the Kukl1x KIaRs attempt to run rio
. over our law, order, aad the publiI
safety, BY these midnight raids, IN die
guise and darkness, then lot force b
met Snd p1hishe9 By 6lpsriio
force. Pail Oh their viEiers and OK
pose their faces and their fould crime
at once 10 the light Of the sun aud d
? the gaze Of meriied scorn Of an indig
, nant, outraged public.
) To prevent any. notwithstanding d
% thS authorship Of this article, W
? append our name.
An Ill.Fated House
III Mr. nudloy n member Of the low