Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-10-06
THE INVISIBLE EMPIRE-NOT Pc
LITICAL SOCIETY.


The testimony for the defence in the
Ku-Klux triaie, now going OH at Raleigh,
dlscloses a very singular feature
one which seems 10 have escaped
'attenion altogether until now. Witness
after witness testified that he be-
longed to 1.-THE Invisible Empire (the real
name OF the order) and that there was
nothing In the oath referring to politics,
to the suppression of Radicalism, the pun
ishment Of Radicals or prescribing how the
persons taking it should vote. MANY of
the witnesses testified that they were Re
publicans and bad cast Republican votes
at the last election. Others said that they
had voted both ways at different times, and
the object of the order was to protect the
people from the stealing and burning that
was going on, without regard to politics.
We cannot at present do more than glance
at the testimony of two OF the witnesses ::
Thomas Woods examined by Judge
Fowle-Live in Cleveland knew nothing
of the Invisible Empire till he came here;
Joined the Union League first; then heard
of something else being gotten up-some-
thing like this; joined it 1st March last 4;
was opposed to the rebellion; was for the
Union, and since the rebellion have claim
ed to be the same; don't know which of
the present parties he belongs to; IAN for
the General Washington platform; did
not vote last election; was in prison al
that time; election before that voted for
all the Republicans but one; never voted
otherwise; voted for Grant, for the con-
stitution and for Holden; go for the party
which is for the good of the country
there was nothing in the organization to
interfere with voting; would not have
joined it if there had been anything against
the Union, the constitution, or in refer
ence to voting; would have had nothing
to do with ~ such; did not swear to op-
pose the Republican party; no recollection
as to its corruptions; Joined for self-pro-
lection chiefg-heard Of raids and rows
and whipping in the country, and was
told that L would be cafe in it.
John S. Green sworn and examined by
Judge Fowle. Live in RutherfC ID aIway
voted the Republican ticket; never voted
the Democratic ticket; belonged to the In
visible Empire; was initiated by Franklin
Green in cleveland; was a Republican
then and remained so while In the order
took no obligation as to voting; took one
to oppose the Republican party in all its
corruptioDs; good Republic ADS did all they
could to purge tho party; saw nothing in
the Invisible Empire to affect witness Re-
publienni>po ; was not sworn to disobey the
laws Of the Stale Or Of the United states,
and nothing to keep him from voting as he
pleased; it was no secret that witness voted
the Republican ticket.
Among the twelve or fifteen witness es
whose testimony is before US, a majority
confessed to being Republicans, and testi-
fed as to the non-politGcal character of the
order.
This testimony must, when it comes TO
be spread abroad, convince the public that
there is more rottenness and cruelty in the
party that is attempting to keep itself in
power by means of the Ku Klux than there
is in that order itself. The truth will all
come out finally. Thus far political judges
and prosecutors and Congressional com
nittees aud bribed witnesses have had it
all their own way. Bad as vigilance COM
character OF this order,) there is something
much worse, and that is an administration
that persecntes citizens of the country for
vile. personal and partisan ends.-Rich-
mond Wig.