Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-10-07

Ku Klux Kondemned.


Dispatches from Raleigh, n. C. give the re-
suit Of the Hu Klux trials recently held in that
place. Judge Bond pronounced the following
seutencrs:-R. A. Shotwell, six years impris-
oument, with hard labor and fine of SIS COO
Dcfiie.t. two years and $500; Evans, six years
and S5.0cO; Holland, two years and $500;
McInpIe, two years and $500, and five others
at about the same rates. These sentences were
preceded by a remarkable haraugue from
Judge Brooks, in the course Of which he said:
" The organization known as the " invisible
empire" attacked posterity by reasonable acts,
with a view to destroy government which
las never punished but protected them. Its
purposes as stated by a majority Of the wit
ueSscs was 20 put down the radical party, and
raise up the democratic or conservative party.
We regard as of terrible significance, the fact
that an of the leaders Of these bands are Of
one Of the great political parties Of the country
aud their acts are directed against those who
act and sympathizc with the other Of tho9e po-
lihcal parties"
The court and jury that tried these Ku Klux
were organized for that special purpose. The
Judges, officers of the court and jurors were
all "truly loil," or in other words, were all
Radicals What, buta verdict of guilty, could
be expected under such circumstances
The Washington Chronicle Of the 25th nit,
greatly rejoices over this summary punish
meut of the Ku Klux, calling it ''the first fruits
Of that necessary aud benefcent act, passed at
the last session Of Congress on the recommen-
datiou Of President Grant" 1t is also exult-
iugly stated, that in those trials the accused
offered no witnesses Why? Because they
well knew that it was useless to do so. Evil
deuce might have been piled upon evidence
the result would have been the same.
But the Judge was especially heavy on the
fact that the Invisible Empire" is a secret,
political organization, designed to destroy the
Radical party. Aye. there's the rub. This
immaculate judge well knows that were it de-
s,royed his occupation would be gone
Did he ever hear of a secret political organi-
cation called the Grand Army of the Republic?
Does he know what are some Of thepriucipal
objects Of that grand tribunal? 1t mag not
be quite so bad as the dreaded Ku Klux in
midnight raids and outrages, but he should
know that its secret agents are constantly busy
in ferretiug out employees Of the government
who are not intensely radical, or who dare to
express an opinion at variance with those Of
the Autocrat Of the White House. And when
found, their names are sent to Departments
and, regardless Of past services in the Union
army or navy, they are summarily dismissed
1t has been we'll said by the Baltimore San
that " these men have been convicted Of be-
longing to a secret organization called the In
visible Empire," whose oaths, ritual, grips and
passwords have been duly exposed, and which
is charged TO be responsible for the various
outrages whose preparation haSfred the Nor
;hern heart, aud caused Congress to pass the
Ku Klux act. And it is by no means uecessa-
~, according to the judicial construction Of the
act, that the parties on trial should themselves
have been personally or directly concerned in
the Preparation of any outrage"
If the organization to which they belong
that is, any members of the same, have been
guilty Of any "outrages that is evidence
enough to warrant their conviction under the
benefcent act, as the ChroHiclc calls il.
As heretofore stated, we are not the defend
ora If any socrot politicoI organization what
ever, much less of any whose dnbolical doings
are such as are said to be perpetrated under
the black banner Of the Invisible Empire"
But, in the name Of judicial decency and JUS
tile, let the members Of tie visible or invisible
empire have fair trial-let the jurorsbe hon
est men chosen without regard to their politi-
cal sentiments. Otherwise, we predict that
Radicalism in North Carolina next fall Will be
laid SO low that it will be emphatjcally part
Of the d" Invisible Empire So mote it be.