Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-07
FRIGHTENED ont of his Wits.

Brownlow, the devil, is frightened out of his
wits at the movements of the X. Il. AS, IN
Tennessee. In the last Knoxville Wing, the
old reprobate issues a manifesto against the
Klans, which shows the extent of his terror, and
at the same time evidences the malignity OF the
diabolical spirit which reigns supreme IN his
breast. Nobody but Brownlow could have
given utterance to the following bloody senti-
ments and advice:
Thatthere is in Tennessee such an organization
as the one above named no doubt can be enter
tanned 1t is true the conservative press and
party attempt to ridcule the idea, and to de-
nounce and stigmatize as weak and over crcdu-
lous those who believe in the existence OF the
Kuklux Khan yet does such ridicule disprove
their existence. Does it disarm them OF MUIR
derous intent and wicked purpose? Can the
rebel and conservative press whistle highland
ed murder terrorism down the wind? Will de-
rision and sneers give us back to life the pale
victims of their fendish wickedness? Yes, the
Kuklux Klans exist. They are known to be
formidable in Middle and West Tennessee
Their murderous, bushwhacking conduct in the
counties of Dyer, Lincoln and Rutherford are
now matters Of history. Their organizations
have not appeared in force in many points in
East Tennessee, but they are evidently organic
ing. AS they burrow in darkness and skulk
behind mysterious names and forms, they may
think 10 escape detection, and even to elude
suspicion. Yet they are observed, and their
movements more known that they themselves
imagine. Who make up these organization p
They are rebels and conservative-men, who
fought In the ranks of the rebel armies during
| the war, and those who then sympathized with
! them, but who through sheer cowardice, gave
the battlefield wide berth. Those conservatives
fully sympathize with the lost cause" now
They work for it, vote for it when they can,
| plan for it, and now, at last, go into Kuklux
Klans, to help by lawess violence, riot and MUIR
! der. what can no longer be kept alive by fair
| legitimate methods. What are their objects
| Precisely the objects that have animated the
whole rebel crew, from jeff Davis down to the
veriest pimp that huzzahed for the rebellion all
along during the war. They hate loyalty, and
! the men who uphold and embody it. Loyalty
| In black or white is so odious to them, and
especially in black men, that they cannot refrain
| from venting their hell-inspired magnity upon
them: They seek to compass their objects by
intimidating colored men, and by wreaking
vengeance upon white radicals Their objects
are the overthrow of loyalty, which they loathe
| andhate, by any and every means, whether right
or wrong, lawful or unlawful, honorable or despi-
CABLE true or false, and more generally by the
| latter than the former. Union men leaguers,
beware of them; watch them spot them. In
nearly every county you have strength sufficient
to make yourselves terrible to these midnight
assassins and lawless desperadoes, and to visit
swift and signal punishment on those fends in
| human form who may break the peace of the
country and mob and terrify honest, innocent
citizens, and if in any case you lack the numbers
or the means to do this there are more than a
million swords ready to be unsheathed to avenge
your fall or to facilitate your victory. Especial
| ly in East Tennessee are you numerous and
counsel once for all is, that whenever these vile
miscreants make their appearance among us,
mounted, booted and spurred, and however dis
guised, let the white and colored radicals meet
| them promptly, and in the spirit of their own
lawless mission, and disperge them, and if need
| require this in dispensing them, exterminate
them. At all events, and at whatever cost, let
these inhuman scoundrels learn that in East
Tennessee at least they can not be allowed to carry
forward this cowardly, miserably sneaking kind
Of warfare. We speak earnestly because the
occasion demands it. But we are calm-we were
| never more so. Desperate cases require despe-
rate remedies If the Kuklux Klans attempt
to run riot over our law, order and the public
safety by these midnight raids, In disguise and
darkness, then let force be met and punished
| by superior force. Pull off their vizers and
expose their faces and their foul crimes at once
to the light Of the sun and to the gaze of merit
ed scorn of an indignant, outraged public.
| 10 prevent any misunderstanding as to the
authorship of this article we append our name
HE SENIOR EDITOR.