The Portland daily press., 1868-08-31
Satan III himself Enlisted by ihe Dem 6crats

Hata1 IN Hinaseif Enlisted BY the Dem 6crats
@Lurid, murky, foretelling war, disaster and
civil strife" So we have described the Sey-
mour a nd Blair transparencyin Market Square.
1t wounded the feelings of our Democratic
friends very seriously to have it so described
But we appeal to everybody who has seen that
fuligiDous and blood-red display if we did not
speak OF it truly, and if it is not in marked
contrast with the pure and peaceful white light
which the names of GRANT and CoLFAx flash
into the Square.
1t is matter of trivial Importance except
as both illuminations are emblematic of prin-
ciples.
We charge that behind that sanguineous le-
gend, Seymour and Blair, is diabolical spirit
that has excited among the happily limited
number of our ignorant and criminal popula-
ton, the same blind and brutal rage that burns
orphan asylums in New York and shoots
"nigeers" and "carpet-baggers" at sight in
Texas.
The glorious torch-light professions that on
Friday and Saturday nights paraded the
streets, had in their ranks detachment of
colored men from Ward 2. This kindled fire
in the Ku-Klux blood. The Klans have been
taught bytheir newspapers and by their speak
ers that these men are not human beings, and
they take the logically correct position that it
is no crime to assault or kill them. That some OF
them were not killed was due rather to chance
than to any lack of effort Oh the part of Ku-
Klux Democracy. Taunts and jeers provoking
no response, stones and bricks were repeated
ly thrown into their ranks. On Friday night
even the whites did not escape, as we have
since learned, two having been hit with stones,
and one OF them quite severely wounded. Sat-
urday night the same course was pursued, and
two or three more men assaulted.
On the forenoon of the same day a truck
man, who had acied as Sergeant of one of the
companies the evening before, was passing
along Commercial street with his team; a
crowd of Irish Democrats, assembled in an
alley-way, saluted him with the favorite sort OF
Democratic argument brickbats. They did
not convilce him, but one of them, striking
him on the head, stunned him for the moment
SO that he was able to make no reply. Pro-
ceeding few minutes later to investigate the
matter the "friend" of Seymour who had ad-
dressed him in the peculiar manner of that
You are in a great measure responsible for
this, Mr.. Argus, for the manner in which from
the first you have spoken of these demonstra-
tons had direct tendency to excite the spirit
which you would now, no doubt, like to con-
troll and quiet. You cannot claim that those
who participate in the Republican professions
are in any degree answerable for what has TAX
en- place, for all have conducted themselves
quietly and courteously, and we beg and i'm
plore them to do 80 still notwithstan ling the
assaults and murderous outrages they suffer
They will not undertake to compete with you
in ruffianism. That belongs properly to the
party of reputation, slavery, revolution and
war The party of peace will rely solely on
the law for the punishment of the would be
murderers belonging to the Portland Ku-Klux
Kan ".Y-..