The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-04-17
secret SOClctlcs..BlaC and
White.

SVGVOV n ~ - u
White.
The Republican press Of the coun-
try appears to be getting alarmed
because Of the existence of the ku
klux Khan, so-callcd. This is said
to be = secret organization of white
mcn in the South. in opposition to
the negro secret societies existing
there. 1t is perhaps unnecessary to
add that the objects Of both these
organizations arc chiefly political.
The secret negro societies have the
patronage Of the entire Republican
party in Congress, and the sympathy
Of the more INSCRIPTIONS or thought
less ofthe party all over the North.
The objects to which the negro Sc
cret societies are applied, arc to rob
the white men, bred and born in the
South Of all their political rights,
and Of SO many Of thos, that arc per-
sonal, as to leave the usurpcrs safe
in the possession Of the civil and
military government ofthat section.
These unqucstioncd facts suggest
reference to the warning Of histo-
ry, as well as to the causes, as the
dangers attending all secret orgsni-
cations if political ch:ractcr.-
Such societies arc the natural Off
spring and inevitable results Of
either Civil, Milit airy, Political, or
Social Despo tism. When the re-
construction acts brought civil an
srchy, that military dospotism might
follow in the South, they also by
law co-existiug with mans nature
called into existence secret societies
in opposition. The history of Europe
IS given by Hallam in his Middle
Ages, shows a continued struggle
extending through the entire period
or tn: dark ages, whereby the pro-
lection Of life, liberty, and property
vas sought by such organizations.
These opposite organizations in
the Soxth are founded as we'll in tho
destinations Ct RACE as the different
physical organizations Of men, with
their Political sympathies differing as
they d., all tending directly to col
lisions Of one kind and another. As
faithful a knowledge Of tho incvita-
hlc teachings Of history and of the
tendencies Of the human race, as our
law makers have had Of the ncccs-
sites Of party, would have avcrtcd
the supposed necessity Of such coun-
ter organizations in the South
They who. created these military
'lcspotisns ought to have known all
these facts. for they arc chapters in
the law Of self-prescryation that
human nature in all ages seeks to
enforce.
In all ages, At all times. and in
every possible way society will resist
the establishment as we'll rs the per-
petuation Of irresponsible rule over
them, sometimes by open war, and
At others by conspiracics. The de-
sccndants Of tho Irish and English
race upon this continent have boon
educated in the principles Of self
government. and while they may for
q time submit to, they will never
respect any other. The Irish in
their own country have been IN re-
bcllion, openly or secretly. for over
four hundred years, against Military
government over them by their Eng
lish conquerors, and yet the spirit
Of resistance is as formidable as at
its inception four centuries since.
Every new cncroacEment upon
their civil. political or religious lib
critics, are new lessons in, and new
incentives to sclf-governmcnt. In
the days Of the American revolution
it was maxim among the friends Of
Ind epenLencc, THAT resistance to
tyrants is obedience to God" The
imposition Of negro oligarchies,
outside Of the Constitution, and in
defiance Of law. is species Of ty-
ranny never to be respected or sub
mitted to. The only question for
prudent men is when and how are
they to BIO resisted aud overthrown
whether by violent or lawful renee
dics-and where tho latter are de-
MED, the former will be resortcd to,
for. 50 hath God created, and our
race educated itself.