Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-04-07
A Case In Point.


THE Democratic papers, and hybrid
concerns that don't quite belong TO either
party, insist that the South could and
would exterminate the Ku-Klux If the ad-
ministration would keep its hands of, and
hand the matter over to the "true people
of the South" There Is, however, one
Southern State where the Democracy are
thoroughly in power-a State that has
never been in Republican hands, and has
never been nstructed-Kentucky. The
Governor Is q Democrat. The Legislature
IL Democratic. The sheriffs and officers
of the law are Democrats.
During the last two years, the Ku-Klux
have made hell of its domain. Negroes
have been murdered in every county,
Republicans have been assassinated and
driven out. No man has been punished
for partisan crime. The Legislature has
been in session all winter, and the loyal
press of the State has entreated II to pass
some law for the suppression of Democratic
outrages and the maintenance of order. IL
has done nothing, and adjourned. The
Louisville Courier Journalistic leading
Democratic paper of the South-says:
. But what shall we say Of its treatment Of the
dared not act. 1ts timidity served to encourage
violence which increased ie audacity. 0utlawry
went on uncnallengcd under Jus very elbow. IL
paid no attention to the North Benson affair,
which rang all over the country. IL did not so
much ae rebuke the raid upon Frankfort. Built was
quick TO revenge tself upon an anonymous cor
respondent of.a weak and uninnueniial newspaper
who had offended ita dignity
"In the matter Of the Ku-Klnx we see how its
on-actlon has embarrassed us at Washington.
Our Senators and Representatives are weaponless.
They can say nothing. The Legislature has put
the weapons in the hands OF the enemy. When
Mr.. Sherman taunts us with having done nothing,
and bases his argument in favor OF Federal inter-
ference on the fact that we have done nothing, we
are dumb. The idle gabbe that the Ku- Klux are
all Radicals in disguise Is even weaker than the
silly platitude that there Is such thing as the
Ku-Klux at ALL If the Ku-Klux are Radicals, the
more reason to put them down. IL there is no
such ORDER there Is ouawry which calls for extra
ordinary appliances. These appliances our Gov
ernor recommended. The press urged them. But
the Legislature stood with cigar in Its mouth
and champagne glass In Its hand, and would do
nothing.
"Who will contradict thisf We state only
facts, and regretfully. The Legislature Is dead.
1t can heed us no longer. 1t doesn't care what we
say. II has had It's day. But we remain and have
with sound Democratic measures. We entreated
1t to give us arguments with which we might go to
the people But II refused. II tossed us the bag
to hold, and we find 1t filled only with empty wine
| bottles and cigar stumps."
After this who will declare that Con
gress ought not to act for the preservation
| of peace and the enforcement of law in q
| State that has virtually voted itself into
the hands of the Democratic assassins and
insured them of immunity? Shall human
| life be sacrificed, and large section of the
country be given over TO anarchy at the
behoof of mere guerrillas? Has the Fed
eral Government no duty in the protection
of inoffensive travellers p Chicago Post.