The Portland daily press., 1871-08-01
ku KIux Diah0Iisvp,
ITS DEMOCRATIC PATERNITY, ITS HELLIsH
;, FEATURES AND PARTY PURPOSE.

ITS DEMOCRATIC PATERNITY, ITS HELLIsH
FEATURES AND PARTY PURPOSE.
The Congressional Committee investigating
the Ku-Klux villainy-a subcommittee in
Washington, and another subcommittee in
South Carolina-have now been in daily ses
sion more than two months, and have haa
before them many scores OF witnesses from
all sections OF the late insurrectionary States
-men of both high and humble station
Presiding Elders, Preachers, ex-members of
the Federal Congress and ex members of the
Confederate Congress, ex-Generals of both
Armies, Governors and eX Governors, Judges,
Solicitors, Sheriffs, Revenue Officers. Officers
of the Army, Postmasters, School Teachers.
repentant and un-repentant members of Ku-
Klux Klans, and dozens of their manned and
suffering victims, black and white.
And what has this patient and thorough
investigation established-and established be.
yond all future cavi and question? These
atrocious facts:
1. That in all Insurrectionary States, and
generally dihused, though not found in eyery
county, is an oath-bound secret organization.
working only at night, and its members al.
ways III disguise, with officers, signs, signals.
pass words, grips, and all the necessary nara,
= ,phernalia, with the pledged and sworn mr.
pose OF putting down the Republican and
putting up the Democratic party; known in
dinerent localities among the initiated bv
Itpsreht names but everywhere recognized
by the general cognomen "Ku-Klux.v
2. That the organization came into he;no
Few months previous to the last Presiden.
tlal Election, during which canvass it was in
lts most vigorous condition, but is now
through all the South, with more efficient dis
clpline and effective direction than ever re-
wing, III preparation for the next Presjden-
uai campaign, when, as they told one of their
y e.iIs ~ tennessee few weeks since, "no
I'd Radical voting is to be allowed n anU
Southern State. by black Or white.n '
.. That this Ku Klux organization 10 tho
premedltated and determined scheme for car
rying tne south at the next election of Presi
dent, and SO, by securing the entire electoral
vote OF mat sectloni make sure the election of
the Democratic nominee.
=. lhat tne officers and establsbers of
nese Dens as they appropriately call their
separate bandS) are the leading and active
Democratic politicians of the South.
o. mat the scheme has the hearty good
WIN Oh a large section of the Democratic party
~ al, tnose States, and the aeoaiescenee of
nearly the entire prrty. VI
1nat the direct and chief purnosn of tho
organization, as sworn by all the yict;ms &c
tpe assertion uniformly made n tha,n hn
these inldnlgh t assassins and corrohors,a,, by
we UNIVERSAL Testimony of the repentant ana
ulvuigihg hienhors of the order, is this: The
Pet.lns WV Al of the Republican and the mt
'lrg up ii the Democratic patty.
T. That while the Democratic and Ku.
Klux witnesses on their direct examination
usually deny the political purpose of the Or
der, 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 I'm
der the influence of radical legislation and
Methodist preaching the nggers are liable to
become saucy," and without an occasional
~ hn-Aiux visit would "begin TO think them
Ewes as sooo as white folks :" and that these
HequehC nosSlnSs, and an occasional murder.
are necessary 10 maintain such a st.+a ri Nor
ais among the blacks as will ne,mit ~, W nv
hating whites to live in their nanlt .nI VIZ
yet, on the cross-examination tbese lin tnoou
also very generally, as well as verv rei,'a
ly, confess that the Intimidation of Pas'.I1
can UOters is prominent and not to bb he 10
GREETED result.
8. That to secure this purpose, the puttino
down OF the Republican and the putting mn
of the Democratic party, Intimidation is 1.-The
grand measnre--the intimidation of Republic
can voters, black and white, but especially
the humble and defenceless, by Midnioht
raids: by burning houses and stores and the
destruction OF crops, by whippings OF such ex-
IRENE cruelty as often to end in death; by
most indecent and painful manning by assass-
ination and murder in such cowardly manner