New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-18
TIE SOUTF-TNE KU-KLUX-TEE TUIEV-
ING ClRPLCKAGGrn

] from inc DuIeiu'
-----------
/ TIE SOUTF-THE KU-KLUX-TEE THEY
ING CAPPEEBAGGER&
The Editor OF this journal, throughout his
recent southwestern journey, endeayored TO
! enlarge his knowledge and correct bis Yrecon-
ceptions with regard TO The people Of tho
I states he visited their political differences,
their industry. and their social condition. TO
this end, he cOnverscd with White and Black,
loyal and rebel, high and low, rich and poor,
50 far as opportunity was afforded him. The
fruits of his inquiries were embodied in his
| letters which from time 10 time appeared in
| these columns and in his speech on his return
in response to the address of welcome by Mr..
Fancher on behalf Of the Union Republican
General Committee. An these, having been
founded on thc observations Of some three or
four weeks, may have had little merit or
value; but they were at least the conclusions
of ore who had earnestly sought the truth,
fully resolved to proclaim it without fear or
favor.
Two topics, whcreon litte had been said
IN his letters. were briefly discussed in his
Union Square speech They were, I. The
alleged (and denicd) Ku-Klux outrages;
and 2. The asserted rapacity and venal-
ity OF those stigmatized as "carpet-
baggers that is, men of Northern
birth and breeding who had migrated during
or since the war to the South, and there taken
an active part in the organization of the
Republican party and the legislation and rule
of the reconstructed States. Thousands at the
North were earnestly and properly asking:
"Are the alleged Ku-Klux Outrages sober
realities or partisan falsehoods and gross
eXaggerahOnsl Is it true that a part of the
"'Carpet- baggerS' are rapaciOus rascals, intent
"mainly on filling their own pockets 7"
He answered both these questions in the
affirmative There have been many Ku-Klux
outrages at the South, though all the Demo
Gratis are not Ku-Klux; there are rapacious
hypocrites and swindling jobbers among the
carpet-baggers,' though many "carpet-bag
"gers" $50 called are upright, worthy, true
men, who are hated and maligned mainly
because of their Republican convictions and
efficiency.
OF course, there were men of this or of that
party, more especially at the South, whom
these answers did not please, and whO in the
interest of their party or of their own reputa-
TONS demurred to them. This was to be ex-
the alleged Ku Klux outrages, or insisted that
they were few, insignificant, and melted by
the bad conduct of their victims, attributed
the testimony thus borne to One-sided infor-
nation and partisan prejudice.
Now, this Editor, in the speech aforesaid,
had based his conviction that Ku-Klux out
RACES were not only perpetrated but were in
cited by hate and dread of Republican ascend
ency not by personal or private cOnsdera-
tions, upon the official returns of the registra-
ton Of voters in successive elections in Louisi
ana. These returns incontestably show:
1. That a very large majority of the voters
of that State, as officially registered in 1867,
were COlored
2. That the State Elections, held just before
and since the Presidential contest of 1868, re-
suited in large Republican majorities;
3. That the vote for President in 1863, never
theless, resulted exceptionally in a very large
majority for Seymour and Blair over Grant
and ColfaX;
4. That, in half the Counties of the State,
wherein at least Fifty Thousand Colored men
are registered as legal voters and which at
each State Election under the present Con-
stitutiOn have given an aggregate Republican
vote of about Forty Thousand, there were
less than TiC0 Thousand votes in all cast for
Grant and Colfax; many Counties which usu-
ally cast from One Thousand to twenty-five
Hundred Republican votes each having given
Grant and COlfax but 3, ., or 1 vote, and sew
eral not one.
Is it necessary to explain such figures? The
Republicans uniformly testify that there was
an organized and armed conspiracy whereby
they, and especially the Blacks, were deferred
from voting-that offering to vote would have
! cost them their lives-that the Democrats
were determined to carry the State for Sey-
mOur, and did carry it, by systematic terror
| ism, against which the poor and humble dmst
not contend.
| If YOU affect to disbelieve this, what do you
believed Why did these Forty Thousand Re
publicans abandon the polls on that one occa-
sion and on no Other7 Can't you say some
| thing?
! Now, the Ku-Klux organization may be ac-
tive in this locality and dormant in that-may
seem dead to-day and be revived tomorrow
but the Ku-Klux spirit still lives at the South,
! and is very formidable. 1t is grounded in a
conviction that the Blacks are unfit and not
really entitled to vote-that Reconstruction is
/ uSQGDaIlOU-jUdJ llllS ID IL w llJt Aldl > Wv
"ernment r-and that the Black vote is some
how to be nullifed; by fair means, if prac-
ticable; but by some means anyhow.
| 1t is against this spirit and its myriad mani
festations that the Ku-Klux legislation Of Con-
gress is drected-in our Judgment, most right
eoVsly and properly. If Congress be not en-
| pd9eered to protect the right of the People to
choose their President and Vice-Presdent
against such conspiracy as that which falsi-
| fed the verdict of Louisiana in 1868, then the