Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-08-16
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PONDER
KU-KLUX DIABOLISM.
Eleven Pregnant Facts Brought TO Light
by the Congressional Investiga-
ting Committee.
Its Democratic Paternity, It's Hellish Fea
lures and Party Purpose.

The Congressional Committee inves-
tigating the Ku-Klux villainy-a sub
committee in Washington, and another
subcommittee in South Carolina-have
now been in daily session more than
two months, and have had before them
many scores Of witnesses from all sec
tions Of the late Insurrectionary States
men of both high and humble sta
tion-Presiding Elders, Preachers, ex-
Members of the Federal Congress and
ex-Members of-the Confederate Con-
gress, eX-Generals of both Armies,
Governors and ex-Goyernors, Judges,
Solicitors, Sherifs, Revenue Officers,
Officers of the Army, Postmasters,
School Teachers, Repentant and Non
repentant members of the Ku-Klux
hlans, and dozens Of their manned
and suffering victims, black and white.
And what has this patient and thor
ough investigation establishcd-an
established beyond all future cayil and
question These atrocious facts:
1. That in all the late Insurrection-
airy States, and generally difiused, tho
not found in every county, is an oath
bound Secret Organization, working
only at night, and its members always
in disguise, with officers, signs, signals,
passwords, grips, and all the necessa-
ry paraphernalia, with the pledged and
sworn purpose of putting dorm the
Republican and putting up the Demo
cratic party; known in different locali-
ties among the initiated by different
names, but everywhere recognized by
the general cognomen "KU-KLUx,"
2. That the organization came into
being a few months previous to the
last Presidential Election, during which
canvass it was in its most vigorous con
dition, but is a,v .Lve~ssl. ..Ii tie south
with more efficient discipline and effec-
tive direction than ever, reviving, in
preparation for the next Presidential
campaign, when, as they told one of
their victims in Tennessee q few weeks
since, "no id Radical voting is to
be allowed in any Southern State, by
black or white
3. That this Ku-Klux organization
is the premeditated and determined
scheme for carrying the South at the
next election of President, and so, by
securing the entire electoral vote of
that section, make sure the election of
the Democratic nominee.
4. That the officers and establishers
of these ''Dens'' (as they appropriate
ly call their separate bands) are the
leading and active Democratic politi-
clans of the South.
5. That the scheme has hearty good
will of a large section of the Democrat
ic party in all those States, and the
acquioscencc of nearly the entire par
ty.
6. That the direct and chief purpose
Of the organization, as sworn by all
the victims, rs the assertion uniformly
made to them by these midnight assas-
sins, and corroborated by the universal
testimony of the repentant and divulg-
ing members of the Order, is this: The
putting down of the Republican and
the putting up of the Democratic
party.
I. That while the Democratic and
Ku-Klux witnesses on their direct ex-
aminations usually deny the political
purpose of the Order, asserting that
the Ku-Klux are social necessity
growing out of the abolition of the old
Patrol; that they have to ride the
country to keep the niggers in their
place that under the influence of
Radical Legislation and Methodist
preaching the niggers are liable to be-
come saucy," and without an OCCASION
al Ku-Klux visit would "begin to think
themselves as good as white folks >
and that these frequent foggings, and
an occasional murder, are necessary to
maintain such state of morals among
the blacks as will permit the vice-ha-
ting whites to live in their neighbor-
hood; yet, on the cross-examination,
these witnesses also very generally, as
we'll as very reluctantly, confess that
the Intimidation Of Republican r0ters
is prominent and not to be regretted
result.
8. That TO secure this nurnose. the