The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-07-08
tn. ko.l story Of tho e. Kirr.

Journal Of Commerce. has letter in that
paper, in which he gives his evidence as
TO tho existence and character OF the Ku
Ktux in the Southern States. The Jour
nal says editorially, by way. Of comment
on the letter:
Besides being one Of the most COM
piete accounts of that mysterious orga-
nization that we have ever read, it has
the higher merit, we believe, OF absolute
impartiality. A Northerner journeying
Southward is npt to be- awayed bv in
tense prejudioeB when lie approac chea
this ticklsh subjec II he is a bitter
Radical, he talks with Radicals only, he
lieves all he hears, and imagines ku
hIn1es for himself in every stirring bush
by moonlight. If he is an extremist of
ultra men Of his owu political schuol.
who are greatly tempted to unlcrstnto
or eAteDnate or even pooh-pooh ut the
lawiess deeds ascribed to tho mystic
crew.
Our representative Mt the South, net
ing under explicit directions from this
Office, purges himself from all bias,
erases from his memory, 20 far us my
man can, tho one-sided statements Of
Congressional reports, md proceeds to
Investigate, independently aud Impair
italy, from all available sources on the
spot. the exact status of the ku klnx
Klan. His stntements, therefore, pos
sess an interest aud value wanting in
nll. or nonrly nll, the expositions of this
theme which have hitherto appeared.
The conclusions that he reached may be
briefly set down thus: Florida has no
Ku klux organization. but is cursed
with her shnre Of outlaws. like every
State in the Union. No Ku Klux band
proper exists in Georgia. Aabama is
equally free from the pest, but in por-
tions of North and South Carolina there
are gangs Of providers, who sometimes
rob md murder. The leaders of those
are dissolute whites, some Of them scions
OF good families, and their followers,
especially in North Carolina, ars fellows
who were the scum of society before the
thirst for rnpine aud blood. Their nun
bers arc small, and their maraudings
confined to limited districts. Owning
horses, and having the complete disci-
pline and bond of secrecy which always
obtain among banditti the world over, and
living in sparsely settled country, they
fly from this point to that with the speed
of the wind, defyiug detection, arrest
and conviction, and can keep q hundred
miles square in IL constant fermcnt.
Like stage soldiers, who run behind the
scenes from one wing to another, and
then marcll past tho foot-lights in end
less procession, these K K X. 8 impress
the casual observer rs n vast army;
whereas, all told. they are but hand
full, and if corraled, could be captured
by company or two of regular troops.
But there's the rub. Their game is
not to be caught-and twenty regiments
OF soldiers, mounted, might not be sue
cessfnl i'll bagging them. Tint they
will disappear as suddenly as they sprung
into notoriety, we hive no doubt-but
their extinction will come from the clear
ing up md improvement Of tho South,
politically and socially. AS fever and
ngue vanishes before proper Drainage
and culture, SO the kn KIux distemper
will quiet tic Southern body polite as
the Southern people are re.a,lmitted to
Of self-governmcnt. The ku klux are
not political cabal; although they pro
fess to sympathlzp with The conserva.
lives. This illusion they keep up by
confining their outrages mostly to
negroes and Northern or Southern lsalli-
Gals But the conservatives, without ex-
ception. so far ns our correspondent can
ascertain, rerna!a!e these Beflouins. mud
wish for nothing better thnn their ex-
ter mination. When the conservatives
regain power at the South, they will
make short work with the false pretend
ers who occasionally steal and murder
in their respectable name. The list of
GASES presented in the letter makes II
startling exhibit Of crime; but SO would
half dozen atrocities cullcl from the
police records Of day throughout any
Northern State. This should be romc1n.
bcrcd IN reading them; nor should the
reader fail to note, whilo execrating
such midnight horrors that some of the
feeling against negroes and cnrpot -bng-
gers. TINS terribly cxemplified ut tho
South, arises from tho misgovern ncnt
md oppression inflicted upon that sec
ton by the latter aud their accom- plices.
| Where rulers are demoraized, some Of
the ruled will inevitably be 80, too. Tie
nuisance of carpet-bnggers breeds the
nuisance OF Ku klux Klan. Tho
dcath of ono will be fatal to the other
also.
An enthusiastic Indy, who takes mart
in the religious exercises in the st.
Louis Central Polico Stutions Sunday