The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-15
THE K. K. K. IN YORK. /.
An INTERESTING RESUME OF THE
SITUATION.
THE Objects Of enc Klan-Co-eperation
among Citizens-No Further Trouble
Apprehended-Ca plain Christopher
and his Troubles-A Letter from Re-
sponsibIe Citizens.
rFRoN QUE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
xnnrrrrnr March IL


sponsiblc Citizens.
[FRoN QUE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
YoRKyLLE, March II.
The mail has doubtless conveyed to you
succinct and truthful account of the recent
troubles by which we have been beset-both
here and in Chester. 1t is with qualification
that we announce peace, and once more slom-
ber quietly in our beds without fear OF the
torch of the incendiary, or the demoniacal
outbursts of fanatical freedmen. There has
been Stime, however, when every white man
felt that the protection Of his home and
the safety of his family depended on his
own strong arm. There have accordingly
been exhibitions of the corrective ele-
mem and good foundation for the
statement that the citizens Of the up-country
were thoroughly prepared for self-defence.
That, as mass, we are members OF the Ku-
Klux-Klan Is false; yet We cannot shut our
eyes to the fact that this organization has con-
duced to our peace, afforded us protection, and
solved the problem Of our future quiet. While
not attempting to defend the operations OF any
secret band which seeks to correct prevailing
public evils and to regulate those who are
guilty of malpractice and misdemeanor, you
will find that wherever in this county the or
panization is known to exist, there peace
reigns, labor is uninterrupted, the colored and
the white man enjoy equal protection. and
both races live in perfect accord.
The cause ofour troubles is not q sudden
one. 1t wears the.age Of sionths-a period Of
time in TACT that may be traced to the organi-
zatlon of the militia. That organization has
been viewed on all sides as a political machine.
Arms in the hands of negroes provoked impu-
dence, and impuGence resulted in bloodshed.
White leaders and black used their power as
lever to lift themselves into office. Be-
lieving, perhaps, in some manifest destiny,
they taught the Ignorant negro that ne must
assert his supremacy by force o. arms, and BY
the reduction of homesteads 10 ashes, and
other acts of. violence. Incendiary speeches
were made by Rose, the county treasurer. by
one 6f the colored county commissioners,
and by others, until at-last the people began to
awake to the impending evil. Then "warnings"
followed. Mysterious men at midnight array
ed in Disguise, waited OIL, individuals who had
made themselves obnoxious, and notified them
tosfeaEe the locality. Some they punished.
1t may have been unlawful, but so stands the
fact. With these warnings" the mass OF citi-
zens had nothing to do. The county treasurer
stood in the public streets and advised the
negroes to burn and destroy as long as they
were thus annoyed.
For.this, and on other grave charges, hewas
called upon By the Klan. They found him ab-
sent, but in his absence they destroyed moth
ing connected with his Office. They even
dlsregarded his own revolver lying near the
SAFE He made great outcfy In the Radical
papers, talked about the robbery of thousand
dollars, and OF the outrages perpetrated on sfs
property. Af1ldavlts were subsequently taken
from Intelligent members OF the community,
including some of his own party, and forward
ed to Governor Scott, denying the assertions
he made. and showing that ne was false in
almost every particular. The Ku-hlu1 desired
to deal with him personally-not with the
property of the State. By the way, it may be
here remarked that in no instance can it be
proved that one of this mysterious organiza-
tion has been guilty of an act of spoliation or
wanton destruction. They claim to act strictly
in accordance with the principles OF human
Justice, although the exhibition of that
justice may not be sanctioned by the
slow and uncertain process Of the law.
Rose took refuge In tine camp Of the United
States Infantry. -HeTemalned there Two days.
Finally on Friday night last he was escorted to
Chester, detachment Of twenty-five soldiers
keeplng him company on the march. he was
advised to 60 to his isVirtuous parent, who keeps
house in Columbia
Then came. the troubles in Chester-the
outgrowth of precisely the same influences as
those which have prevailed in York. The
Mount Carmel company OF negroes. boastful OF
their prowess, vain of their weapons, and saw
age-llke In their use, sought to take possession
Of the public road, to put out pickets, declare
small war on the community, and molest and
shoot down citizens. They were demolished
Out OF eighty-lve who constituted the COM
pany, sixteen were IN jail until day OF two
ago, and the balance are among the killed,
wounded and missing. The arms are again in
the possession Of the State authorities. No
body knews who did it; no body asks; butthe
people breathe ireer because it is done. The
example has been effective. The colored men
who have been deceived and misled see the
error of their ways. Work has been resumed
by them, and we anticipate no further dill.
Guilty. fit should occur, such is the under
standing among the citizens OF this and sur
rounding counties, that at the first
sign of an outbreak, five hundred mea will be
in arms in less than two hours. They are not
Ku-Klux. Whatever they have to do they
will do without disguise. Meanwhile, 1t Is
presumable that the Ku-Klux will preserve
their organization. They have applied the
lance, drawn blood, and the body polite seems
heaAhier in consequence. We have heard OF
their midnight visits and warnings. A ''warn-
ing" Is an intimation to behave better or
travel, and in every instance, it is said, the
parties have had ample time to reform or
leave. The devil In this instance, therefore,
is not as black as he has been painted.
We have troops here, but the entente cordiate
between them and the citizens is perfect
Trua Cantain thrjstonher of the 18th United