The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-27
KUKLUX DEMOCRACY Z0F MS
SOURI,.
Startling Revelation of Plot to
Overthrow the Laws.
REBELS AND DEMOCRATS AT WORE
ON BLAIR'S PLATFORM. 3

A conspiracy In the form of q secret
armed organization for the purpose of
carrying the State of Missouri for
SEYMOUR and BLAIR. has been dis
covered in st. Louis. The Democrat
of that city publishes the documents
in full, which establish the existence
and strength of the secret order.
We have not space for the documents,
but give the Democrats comments,
which indicate the spirit and object
of this new midnight band Of rebel
Democratic conspirators
1--WE have before us the papers of a
secret armed organization of Demo
Gratis, the purpose of which is to over
power the Government and to trample
into dust the laws. In this State the
immediate point Of attack is the loyal
Government and the law excluding
rebels from suffrage. In the South
ern States it aims at the overthrow of
the existing State Governments. In
both it is composed mainly of rebels,
and is a complete military organiza-
ton. Though its name differs In diff
ferent States, all branches are closely
in connection. Whether it has any
existence in the Northern States, we
can not positively say. At the South
it works actively by the assassination
of leading Republicans. In this State
few mysterious murders have occur
red, and in several localities we have
proof that lists of Radicals to be re-
moved at the earliest opportunity,
have been made. But it's first object
here is to carry the election by force,
if possible. 10 this end picked
band of men, limited in number, is to
be organized in every locality. 1t is
military organization In every par
ticular Its purposes are concealed
even from the body of Democrats, for
no Democrat, not a member, is allow
ed to be present at any meeting or
roll call. Its members are bound by
a secret oath to obey the orders of
their leader, and every company is re-
quired to meet every week for roll call,
to send constant reports of the effect
i've force, and to keep. the force up
to the full number. Between COM
panies and headquarters, as between
headquarters here and in other States,
there is constant communication but in
all such papers the nature and objects
of the organization are carefully con-
cealed These papers, perhaps, for
the sake of secrecy, have been signed
and sent by different persons in the
city, whose names we retain for the
present, but the proper authorities
have been informed of them. The
nature of the organization ST ows that
! no lawful effort TO carry the State is
contemplated. It binds men directly
to armed cooperation to force the
admission of all Democratic votes
: including those of rebels. The in
junction of secrecy, the oath to obey
vows, the establishment of secret
signs and signals, the peculiar form
} of the organization in sections of ten
men each, under control of an officer
the prohibition of books and records,
and the exclusion of all visiting mem
bers aud Democrats not sworn mem.
bers, show that the action contem.
plated is one which men, even before
their party friends, dare not put upon
paper, and can hope to. accomplish il
only by a conspiracy of the most des.
: perate and lawless men IN the State. y
n