The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-04-06
HE TKU.KLUX.
From Harpe's Weekly.

~>~ A>A~~ 1SSsASAA AAsS 0SSVAA0
very serious. Before the war citizen
OF the United States who believed in
the Declaration of Independence, and
said 50, was outlawed, harried, and
liable to be murdered in half the couu-
try. 1t was safer for . free-tongued
American, who held to the right.
fal equality Of all men, to travel in
Central Africa than in South Carolina
under the flag of the United States.
Now thatthe var is ended, no couspicu-
Gus Union man, aod no colored citizen
who takes an active and positive
position in sympathy with the Uu-
ion, is safe from assault or murder in
large part of the old slave States. If
he complains, he is told that the local
courts are open to him. If he replies
that the mob holds the courts, and
that he has the same protection that
the abolitionist in the interior of Mis-.
sissippi had against the slavery assassin .
fifteen years ago, be is told that he has
the ballot, and be must right himself
the polls. If be replies that the mob,
which is supreme, prevents his voting,
he is told that that is bis misfortune,
but that the United States authority
can only interfere IN State upon the
requisition Of the governor. If he says
that the governor is the Ku, KIux, he is
told that it is pity; but that the prin-
ciple Of the government requires that
every State must protect its citizens.
And he is asked, ia turn, if the United
States should interfere at its pleasure
in every State by nero resolution of
Congress, how would it be With him if
his friends should lose power, and the
friends of the Ku.Klux come in? To
which he would, of course, reply that it
would certainly be no worse for him
aod it would not. But how would it
be elsewhere and hereafter?
=. est On .s unde..ably a very
gray. and difficult one. The States
rights answer, however, is very short
and simple. The Southern States, it
says, from 40 unnatural fostering of
slavery and the inevitable consequences
of war, have lapsed into quasi-b.rbar-
ism, and they must work themselves
clear. They must learn by experience.
They must civilize themselves. This
answer would be more satisfactory if
the barbarians were not voters in com.
mon Union, and adherents of = great
party which contests its government. In
view OF that fact the practical question
Immediately is, whether that situation
Of things could be changed by legisla-
tion. And if it could, if the protection
Of those whom the Ku-Klux keeps
from tho polls BY terror would prevent
the national government falling into the
hands OF the Ku-Kiux party, ought
they not 70 be protected and the gov.
eminent saved? ID last ...'>
Granting, IS every sensible man must,
that the process Of reconstruction has
been altogether too swift, aud that tie
States in rebellion should, under. the
peculiar circumstances, have been much
longer directly, held BY the national
authority, shall nothing be done to
avoid the Ill effects Of the haste, even
to the control of the government by its
open enemies q For every man knows
What spirit would animate Democratic
national administration. Everybody
remembers that the last Democratic
convention was swayed BY rebel chiefs
rejoicing in their rebellion, and that :
great portion Of the party see with sat-
isfaction nov the very barbarian Of
which wespeak. Ifour political sys-
fem really be one which forbids the