Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-06
THH KU-KLUx.

THH KU-KLUx.
The Ku-Klux question has become
very serious. Before the war citi-
zen Of the United States who believed
in the Declaration Of Independence,
and said so, was outlawed, harried,
and liable to be murdered in half the
country. 1t was safer for free
tOngued American, who held to the
rightful equality OF all men, to travel
In Central Africa than in South
Carolina under the flag Of the United
States. Now that the war is ended,
no conspicuous Union man, and no
cOlOred citizen who takes an active
and positive position in sympathy
with the Union, Is safe from assault
or murder In large part Of the old
Slave States. Ifhe complains, he is
told that the local courts are open to
him. II he replies that the mob
holds the courts, and that he has the
same protection that the Abolitionist
in the interior of Mississippi had
against the slave assassins fifteen
years ago, he is told that he has the
ballot, and he must right himself at
the polls. If he replies that the
mob, which is supreme, prevents his
voting, he Is told that that is his
misfortune, but that the United
States authority can only interfere in
State upon the requisition of the
governor. IF he says that the gov
ernor is the Ku.Klux, he is told that
It Is pity; but that the principle of
the government requires that every
State must protect its citizens. And
he is asked, in turn, If the United
States should interfere at its pleasure
in every State by mere 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---and it would not.
But how would it be elsewhere and
hereafter?
The question is undeniably very
grave and difficult one. The States
rights answer, however, Is very short
and simple. The Southern States, it
says, from an unnatural fostering Of
slavery and the inevitable conse-
quences of war, have lapsed into
quasi -barbarism, 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 a common Union,
and adherents Of a great party which
contests its government. In view Of
that fact the practical question i'm
mediately is, whether that situation
of things could be changed by legis-
lation. And If It could, if the pro-
lection of these whom the Ku-Klux
keeps from the polls by terror would
prevent the national government
falling into the handsof the ku-KIux
party, ought they not to be protected
and the government saved:
Granting, as every sensible man
must, that the process of reconstruc-
ton has been altogether too swift,
and that the States in rebellion
should, under the peculiar circum-
stances, have been much longer
directly held by the national author
ity, shall nothing be done to avoid
the iii effects of the haste, even to
the control Of the government by its
open enemies? For every man
knows what spirit would animate q
Democratic national administration.
Every body remembers that the last
Democratic Convention was swayed
by rebel chiefs rejoicing in their
rebellion, and that great portion of
the party see with satisfaction now
the very barbarism of which we
speak. flour political system really
be one which s0rbids the governm ent
To protect its own citizens when
voting for its officers, and which
requires the country tn look on
passively while mohs controlling
various State authorities harry those
voters, It will certainly b. necessary
tn reconsider some VI our raptures
over the infinite superiority Vi tlas
-Am...,an to Ill other possible sys.