Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-06
GENERAL COURT

Held Of Boston The 18th Of March 1901.
The solemn Consideration of those awful
threatenings that in the face OF divine tToVl-
dence, both toward the world in general III re-
spect of that fearful Sight and Sign from Heaven,
which hath of late been taken notice OF; and
towards our selves more particularly, Tor that
the Lord hath this last year manifested his holy
displeasure against us, having Dy an unusual
Flood by the Blast, and by worms, which his
own hand (who is able by the most contemplate
of his creatures TO stain our glory hath sent
among us, diminished the fruits of the earth.
Having also delivered some Of our New En-
gland Vessels with those in them, into the hands
of such as are enemies to the Christian Name,
and more lately frowned upon us by Shipwracks,
aud considerable losses at Sea; and visited some
amongst us by sudden and unexpected deaths.
Being also sensible, that there are in other re-
spec S, dark clouds impending over us. And
that the present state of the Protestant interest
abroad, and more especially in the land OF our
Fathers Sepulchres, doth call for earnest Prayer
before that God ucto whom salvation belongeth.
The Consideration of all these things calling
aloud upon us for more than ordinary seeklngs
of the Face of God in Jesus Christ:
This Court doth therefore appoint the 21st day
of april next to be observed as a Day of Fast
ing and Prayer, hereby prohibiting all seryile
labor upon that day, and exhorting all the Min
listers, Churches and People throughout this
Colony Teigiously to observe the same; and
TO intreat that the favour of God through Jesus
Christ may be towards his People in other parts
of the world. And that If it may stand with
his good pleasure, we may be hid in the day of
the Lords anger, our publick Peace, Health,
Libertyes still continued. That Seed time and
Harvest may not fail. And that a good success
may be to the endeayours of this Court, and
particularly for our worthy Agents in their ne
gotiation. And to pray unto him, that he would
order a perfect Lot for us, with respect unto
those that are in the approaching Election, to be
chosen as Rulers over this his People.
By the Court, Edward Rawson Seer.
Governor AIcOrn and the KukIux.
Democrats in congress and elsewhere were
quoting with great satisfaction a statement, pur-
porting to have been made by Governor Alcorn
of Mississippi that the state was generally
quiet and peaceful, and that there were no dis
orders anywhere which could not easily be re
pressed by the ordinary methods. This asser
ton did not agree very well with authentic re
ports of the kuklux operations at Meridian ant
elsewhere. The democrats, therefore, insisted
that these reports were refuted by Governor Al
corn's testimony, while republicans, knowing
that these reports were too well authenticated
were led to believe that the governor was will
fully blind to these villainies, because he had
more sympathy with their authors than with
the victims. Governor Alcorn was elected as a
republican, and, though he has in some respects
proved less energetic and thorough-going than
was anticipated, no one has doubted his honesty
of purpose, or supposed that he would tolerate
the systematic oppression of any of the citizens
of his state, if he had the power to prevent it
or the wisdom to suggest a remedy.
1t was therefore with very general satisfaction
that the news was received on Monday, of Gov,
Alcorn's message to the legislature, in which he
asks authority to institute measures more prac-
teal and promising than have been hitherto
tried for the suppression of the kuklux. His
suggestion is founded upon the assurance that
these marauders and assassins could not flourish
unless they were sustained by the active aid or
shielded by the tacit connivance of the people
of the neighborhood in which they operate. He
asks, therefore, that he may have authority to
offer rewards for the detection of persons en-
gagged in kuklux outrages, at the expense of the
county in which they are perpetrated, and also
to organize and put into the field cavalry reg
iment of picked men to operate wherever mask
ed assassins may be seen, their cost to be levied
on the county in which their services are need
ed. If this policy is pursued, the men of prop
erty and influence will find the kuklux an ex
pensiye luxury, and when they find their toler
atioHof these villains is costing them heavy
Sim in penal taxes, they will probably begin tC
have more realizing sense of the moral and
social enormity of their proceedings.