The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-08
Letter from Washington.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 9th, 1871.
STARTLING INTRLLIGENCE.-THE NEW REBEL
LION AT THE SoUrH.-VEws OF A LEADING
SOUTHERN UNIONIST.
Yesterday it was my fortune to bold long
and interesting conversation with ore of The
most prominent Southern Republicans out of
Congress-a gentleman known as such to the
whole country. I am not at liberty to men
ton his name or indicate bis personality by
direct reference to the high official station he
has held since the war He is a native of the
South, and OF the State from which he is virtu-
ally an exile--being under Ku Kiux threats OF
assassination. But what he said Is worth tel.
ing, promising that in some respects, parbass
all, he 10 the man best able to Judge OF the ex.
tent of these rebe combinations-at least of
all prominent in Union ranks.
But to the point. In response to questions
this gentleman gives it as his deliberate iudc-
ment that the Ku Klux Khan is an organiza-
ton deliberately intended to accomplish the
restoration of the old State Sovereignty policy
10 power to the end that it may undo the work
OF reconstruction, stopping short only of rein
Saving, In name at least, those freed by it.
Understand the object of the new Rebellion
ior such 1t Isis the restoration of the States
to the position they held before the war, with
perhaps the sole exception of denying the ultra
doctrine of secession then claimed Saws the
able man whose views am summarizing. the
last war turned on and terminated in thu do.
struction of slavery. But Appomattox did
not settle the political philosophy by which
more than by slavery, tie rebel leaders were
able to incite, sustain and justify treason to the
consciences of their followers. That has been
in process of settlement ever since, in that still
more potential reconstruction struggle which
bears in its arms the decisive verdict, of wheth
er we are or not, Nation, wise and inst enough
W equahke and universalze both rights and
protection.
AhE OLD POLICY RENEWED.
Aoooraing TO my friend we are to have az
O'' -ons anu moody struggle before that il GET
too' "ere IL not Tor that race. hatred ord Tho
pitlerness tnat Is porn out OF epfranch;.or,.
TINS could n't De, but the leaders IN. -.
anu malignant chleftans who believe ~
ate sovereIgntles, because there thew car ~.
have skllliully tanned every blupder on
side and encouraged every passion m IL
side. They hope, as in 1860, so to terrorivs .p.
South, as to make it q practical INIT .
more. The task is more severe than then and
the means, though in substance the same have
of necessity to be harsher .and more systemat.
10. Then it was the cry of abolition and the
agents were Knights of the Golden Circle;
now it is l.adical Capitalization and the
Lost Cause, while the agent is the afro
c'ous hu Klux. Buchanan left the Unionists |
Unprotected, the mails to be robbed and i'm
$500; and travellers to be outraged and even
a'sassinated The minority were awed into sub
in.a. ou' the majority are being fast dragooned
,nso sne same condition If we leave them nm.
projected the result will be the s.ms Tha
tsrro, oUne, and the systematic oppression and
- h.r. en's'lng are not understood At al, "T.
- AAro said my friend, for good bona.t ~.