Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-21
THREATS OF VI0LESCE.


THREATS OF VIOLENCE.
A week ego the Bulletin noticed the
fact that the President Of the Demo
cratic Club of Shelby county had said,
on the Saturday evening previous, that
the Democratic party would drive the
Radicals beyond the borders of the
State. He spoke Of Rsdicalism, and
not of the Radicals as individuals and
he does not doubt that the day will come
when RadicaIism, as a creed, will be ez-
tinct in Tennessee, when all honest
Union men will have abandoned it as a
cheat, a snare snd fraud, and it will
lie ike q dead dog in a kennel, the mere
carcass of what was once a faction.
Coupling this declaration with the fact
that on the same night some nifty
mounted men, whom no one knew, rode
in body, masked and silent, through
the principal streets Of the city, mOlest-
ing no one and breaking DO law OF the
State, or Ordinance OF the City, or regu-
lation Of the Police, the Bulletin cried
out that the Democrats Of the city in
tended to inaugurate the reign Of viO-
lence and terror, and warned them to
desist, threatening direful consequences
in case of contumscy. It ventured TO
use this extraordinary language
1--WE have a Governor Of nerve and
pstriotisus, backed by q Legislature al
ready prepared to vote all the necessary
means TO raise and arm sufficient force
to protect every man sgainst the muir
der0us designs of these masked cavalry
men psradipg the streets at midnight,
He asks is il anyoOdy's business WAat
and who they are?' We answer yes
il is the business Of every citizen and
resident Of Memphis to know who and
what they are, and to see TO 1t that these
unlawful EXHIBITIONS are not repeated.
And we warn YOU, MIR. AUaldRche, snd
YOU. gentlemen Ku-KiuX, not to repeat
this parade, unless you desire to see
troops chartered in the very temple of
the Democracy. It is not improbable
thst troops will be sent to Shelby county,
and il msy be that they will be sent
without purse or scrip to sUbsist upon
the inhabitants, who will be paid when
they prove their loyalty, and not till
them
Maskers, we suppose, whoever and
whatever they may be, have a right to
ride through the streets Of the city, il
they in no way disturb its peace or mo-
lest any one. No one denies the ight OF
the Loyal Lssgues to do SO; and the Ku-
Kluxes, if the masked cavaliers were in
deed OF that secret order, have as much
right, at least, to ride peacefully along
the public thoroughfsres at night as ne
groes have to drill nightly, every one
armed, in squads Of thirty or forty, as
thsy are now doing in more than one To-
cality on the outskirts of the city. These,
Mr.. Beaumonrs Police never disturb
These are not unlawful exhibiticns.'
If negroes were to ride, armed and mask
ed, through the streets at midnight, and
make night hideous with their screech-
iDgs, and alsTa the city by the discharge
of fire arms, does any one suppose that
the Police would attempt TO arrest them
1t lie reported that orders have been
given the Police to fire upon the Ku-
kluxes, il they again make their appear
Rnce but the Chief of the Police would
do well 10 be somewhat cautious. There
are laws and courts IS well as 8 Consti
tuition In Tennessee; and il persons rid.
ing silently ia a body through the streets
at night are guilty OF any offsnse against
the laws, the same laws point out the
mode in which they are to be dealt with
They must be arrested by due process,
and tried by competent tribunal, and
convicted Of some act that is an offense
against some law OF the State. To fire
into body Of men not engaged in shy
unlawful act, not riOtous or disorderly,
would be simply murder with malice
sfore-thonght express. By doing 50, the
Police would at once put themselves out
Of the pale Of the law, ana justily the
assailed in returning the fire, which
there is little doubt they would do; for il
is 20 be supposed that they do not ride
without being prepared to resist an at
tack, from whatever quarter it may
come.
" = yA~tsSl aAOAA y PlJ4ECEtlDu AhAeAY
copied by us from Nashville Journal,
that there does exist an extensive secret
organization, that hiss adopted the name
OF Ku-Klux Ia word the meaning Of
which we do not know AID that it is
under the control OF prudent and dis
Greet men, who do not mean that Il
shall be used for violent or unlawful pur-
poses. Opinions may differ as to the
wisdom Of such organizations, which
do long remain secret; but it is quite
certain ths& men have right so to asso-
clste themselves, with so much of Sc
erecy, such means OF recognition end
snch obligations, as will make Their or
panization efficient. There is not,,ip0
unlawful in this. If used for unlawsuI
purposes, the actors may be published.
while the Grand Army Of the F.epublie
sxists, and the Loyal Leagues meet In
seeret council, it is sheer hypocrisy for =
member of the Radical party to elamor
against secret organizations We pops