The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-12-04
A TRUTHFUL HISTORY OF THE KU
kLUX KHAN.

We have already given the telegraph
| ic abstract OF the annual report of Maj
Gen. George H. Thomas. 1t is now
published i'll full it is a correct state
ment of the condition of affairs in Ten
nessee and Kentucky, and derives al
additional value from its history of thai
fiendish organization known as the Ku
klux Khan. Gen. Thomas says:
With the close of the last, and begin
ming of the new year, the State of Ten
nessee was disturbed by the strange OPP.
erations of mysterious organization
known as the ''Kuklux Klan," which
first made its appearance in Giles coun-
ty. Within a few weeks it had spread
over great part of the State, and ere.
0ted no little alarm. Accounts of il
from many sources were received al
these headquarters. The newspapers
recognized it's existence by publishing
articles on the subject, either denuncia-
tory or with an attempt to treat its pro-
ceedings as harmless jokes, according to
the political opinion of their editors.
The Assistant Commissioner of the Bu-
reau of Refugees and Abandoned Land
of Tennessee, in his report-copies OF
which were furnished me - narrated
many of the proceedings of the organi-
cation whose acts were known to be of
a lawless and diabolical nature. Or
ganiZed companies of men, mounted
an darmed, horses and riders being dis
guised, patrolled the country, making
demonstrations calculated to frighten
quiet citizens, and in many instances
abused and outraged them, especially
that class of cOlored citizens, who by
their industry, energy and good conduct
are most prominent.
That portion of the press of the State
whose greatest labors are to bring obi
um upon all who aided to save the Gov
eminent from being destroyed by the
rebellion, hasten to deny the truth of
the statements made to me, reflected
very severely upon them, and to fortify
their assertions, procured and publish
ed the certificates of IA few amiable per-
sons of Northern birth, who were liV-
ing under the protection of well or
ganiZed police force that the alarm was
a false one. But this only caused to be
added further evidence concerning the
truth of the original statements. From
this time forth l was in the receipt OF
stories of oppression and outrage COM
mitted by these midnight providers. 1t
was evident that the old spirit of pro-
scription was far from havidg died out.
1t had remained a latent fire, ready to
burst forth with violence upon the least
occasion. Some of these statements
were accompanied by appeals for assist
ance from the military.
just at this time, also, the Metropol-
itan Police of Memphis arrested the
members of one of the dens at their
meeting, and seized some papers con-
tanning what purported to be the oaths
and obligations of the members of the
society, which, being published, caused
considerable excitement, as by these pa
pers, one of the objects of the society
appeared to be the assassination of all
who interfered with their plans. = The
expose had a good effect for a short
time. For some weeks afTerWard there
was a perceptible diminution of the
number of outrages reported, and it
was hoped the society had spent its
force, and would gradually die out; but
in the month of June disturbances were
renewed in Middle and West Tennessee
to such an extent that His Excellency,
Governor Brownlow, made an applica-
ton for troops to be stationed in num-
Der of counties in the State.