The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-04
PHILADKLpdlA STOCK KxOHANGE SALES, JAN. 4
ARKANSAS.

outrage that flood the country from sources Dit
meet that something of the true condition of
affairs in Arkansas be know. As in most OF
the Southern States, originally, society proper
was divided into thee separate and distinct
The aristocratc or leading class,
comprising the more intelligent and leading
men, professional, political, or other Sise
the landed ~. and slave ,.tnIS a.rtlsiociraIs, i,
other States. Second. A middiug cla.s, COM
prisng mostly small but independent farmers OF
comparatively little education, but of kindly
heart and sterling Integrity O1n,ng few or no
slaves, they had little interest in common with
their more aristocraic neghbors, and formed
in times OF Rebellion, as oR, the main Union
element OF the State. Third. Tue great mass
of ignorant, degraded inhabitants known IN
From that seeming trait OF human na-
ture engendeled by ignorance and degra-
dOs da,ion Of hating and desPi;sng n;I those
general tAing manifested a bigo.ed aud brutal
hatred for the blacks. THIS feeling of cas- e,
lnsidiously worked upon by the political leaders
through incendIary appeals 20 their most bitter
prejudces, eliminated III an Intense aud Vindic
tive feeling of revenge and haired towards auy-
thing and everything savoring OF asolltlOnism,
as placing the hated and desp.sel blacks on
level with themselves. From this class came
also the great mass OF the rank and file of the
Arkansas Rebel forces, as also the hordes of
guerillas, bushwh HACKERS, and river assasslns OF
the war; men lying in wait to sLoot do oWn the
unsuspecling Federal who ventured beyond his
lines, to board and pluDder the small trading
craft, 10 shoot lndiscri im,nately among unarmed
women AID children, and MAKE deliberate target
OF the Federal pilot. From the same elias
comes, without doubt, the more bm'al of toe
assassins, linked with and acting behind the
mask of q secret banded organization, knowu
far and wide as "Ku-Klux," out here termed
"Knights of the White CAmelia." Here, too, it
were well to observe that through very many
sections Of Arkansas very much Of la Slessness
existed even before the war. Gangs of despe-
Iadoes, comprising noted counterieiters, rob-
befs, and horse thieves, as well as outlaws from
the peighboring States, had their well-SHown
rendezvous in various directions, and
literally set all law at defiance. Toto
extensive depredations, this element, as a na.u-
raj consequence, entered heart and soul. The
close OF The war found'th again returned to
their iavorite haonts, increased hundredfola
by the more recklee anu discontinued sUirits
OF rebellion. With the organization of an im-
mense secret banded ASSOCIATION throughout the
State, under contfo OF the came nlaster-spirts
that formerly literally bounded the people into
rebellion, this laWless element natuTally frater-
nlzed, and az naturally, also. soon became the
more desperate spirits OF the order.
The ri,tocratic and leading classes al ways in
tenfely bitter and proscripttve 10 wards Repub-
licans. having staked their all upon the die OF
rebellion, and lost naturally returned despou-
dent, but none the less bitter still. Looking
upon themselves as the rightful lords of the
soil, aad insanely blaming the hated Yankees
TOR all the myriad evils of the war they had
themselves promulgated; the viewing of such
persons in the r own former seat of po Wer was
certainly far from calculated TO promote
feeling of love and yeneratiou. Had it
not been for the foolish and perncious
teachings of Andrew Johnson, however,
and the insane, insane hopes for resumption OF their
upon and nred to fever heat without doubt,
all would soon have settled do Wn into cendi-
tion OF peace and security, at least eq lal to
that existing before the war. Taught, no Never,
by the highest magnate in the land to look
upon themselves as still, despite the taint OF
treason, entitled to all their former political
prominence, the same old leaders of rebellion
again began their iDcsndiary harangues and
teachings, through which 10 awaken all Of the
vindlctiVs feelings and terribly bitter memories
OF the war
Reconstruction came as the fnal stumbling
block TO ali their hooes and desires. Upon 1t,
therefore, and Its advocates and representatives,
. was centerd all OF the former malignant hatred
and prejudices OF the war. As an effect OF MY
Policy" the former myrmidons OF Rebellion
were 20 melted against the reconstructed state
government as illegal, unjust aud oppressive,
and forced upon them only by the strong arm OF
power IN the hands of their bitterest enemies, as
to be quite, il not literally, prepared tor open
instruction. "The Knights of the White
Camelis," ;" under control Of the more incendiary
political leaders of the times, spread itself
rapidly over the State, and, absorbing the more
bitter OF the intelligent class, the great mass OF
the young and unthinking sprigs Of q detunct
aristocraey, with thousands OF the third or
poorer classes a. entioned, and the former des-
peradoes became monster power In the State.
Assass ssinations, shootings, outrages, and intimi-
dations of the more prominent white Rspubli-
cans and obnoxious blacks, became OF almost
daily occurrence. So powerful, ln fact, did this
organization become, that without doubt 1t at
one time seriously contemplated the overtime "
of the State Government. Powell Clay.
ton, as Governor, unexpectedly. without
doubt, manifested degree Of determination to
uphold the government as reconstructed en-
tiIely unlocked for by those who hooed and
prayed for his overthrow. Armed with tue
necessary power by his Legislature, suitable
force of militia was orgauiZed for suppression
OF lawlessness throughout the State. Where
the NEST laglessness was found to exist the
militia moved in. martial law was proclaimed,
weak, kneed officials thrust aside, and the no wer
of the government upheld. or course, in the
exercise of such desperate remedy, innocent
persons 10 some extent suffer with the guilty.
Such is the natural effect of all extreme sani-
tary meAsues: the few suffer for the general