The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-04-03

certain negroes in this community. insiiga-
ted, no doubt, by mean and cowardly white
men, who go about always armed. and an
nounce that they are looking for Kuklux,
and threaten to shoot them on sight-that
they intend to annihilate them.
1t has long been and is yet question of
doubt with most people whether there is
or ever was any real, organized clan Of the
sort referred to in existence, but the con-
clusion has forced itself upon US that Ku-
kluxism isn't all mythe-thst there are
number of men, organized for some pur-
pose, powerful in numbers, especially in
Middle Tennessee, calling themselves Ku-
klux. An&iL is not surprising that there
should be. When brave, chivalrous men
are forced to the desperate conclusion that
the laws of the land are insufficient to pro-
tect them in their inalienable rights, as citi-
zens, and insure them against the merciless
prosecutions of an ignorant and vindictivs
foe, and that hatred and malice towards
them as a class are the chief characteristics
Of the law-givers as we'll as those who -
entrusted with the enforcement of the law,
is it not perfectly natural for these organi-
zations to spring into existence, that mutu-
al protection against usurpers and tyraUts
may be insured The people of the South
were educated to believe that they were
lreemen, aud when the yoke of tyranny
weighs too heavy upon their necks, placed
there by usurpers and interiors, it is but
natural that they should resort to some
means to lessen its weight.
Ii seems to have been settled in the
minds Of many that such is the nature and
objects of the secret society of which We
| write Whether such conclusion is correct
| or not il is not our purpose in this article TO
say, but 10 all good feeling for an ignoF-
! ant and misled race, to warn those negroes
who are making such threats, to desist
| Beware how you make threats and attempt
to enforce them. We do not hesitate to ex-
press the conviction that an outrage psrpe-
sraled upon one Of this mysterious Khan.
| for being such, by negro, would be fol-
| lowed by results horrible to contemplate.
For the sake Of peace and quiet We coun, Ell
| you again TO be cautious 10 what you do
aud say. If the Kuklux Khan is an or gani-
cation which has for its object tyrrany and
oppression upon your race, we are as much
in favor Of its suppression as you are but
we do not believe this to be the case, and il
it were, your course would only aggravate
tbs matter and result in their enlargement
and your disaster.
If the government would insure that pro-
lection to the lives. property and social
privileges Of that portion of the cOmmuni.
y who are supposed to constitute this or
gsnization which the Constitution and the
laws of God grant them. the existence Ct
such Khan would never have been heard
of. Let the government do its duty to this
class of it citizens, sod tits more than like
ly that the Kuklux Khan will cease to ex
! list.
From very sensible article upon this
subject which appeared short time since
in Memphis paper. We clip the following
paragraph rrEr#a.
1--WE counsel good government and ODE
dience to law. They must go hand in hand
We abhor the establishment OF all irregu
lar, illegal and irresponsible organization
for the purpose of lynch law. When gov
eminent is so well administered as to b.
even .toisrable. every good citizen SHOULD
use his influence and power to put then
down. But we also abhor all tyFrauniel
aud. more than all. that which, while it
efficient for the destruction Of a people
prosperity, is insufficient for the public pre-
tectiop against criminals AID crimes.
government which will not do it's own dat
has no right to require that the PeoPl
should do theirs. Aud, while It respect
not their rights. il has no good reason for 81