Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-14
THE KU.KLUX ORGANIZATION
"OF INDIANA =
More Startling Revelations from
the Correspondent of the Indian
apOIis journal.


e0D0n ~ SEYNoUE. Ispr DecemSer ..
Throughout the entire stretch Of coun-
try bounded on the east and south by
the Ohio river, ON the west by the Wa
bash, and on the north by a line con-
Meeting those streams and crossing the
indianapolis and Jeffersonville railroad
at Columbus, is a klan which exhibits
all the characteristics Of the Ku-Klux.
Its lodges and members are numbered.
1t has stated meetings for drill and for
deliberation. 1t sets aside the courts
and ignores all law, except that which it
is unto itself. 1t hangs whosoever it
will without waiting for evidence OF
guilt. 1t wears masks, and performs its
OK erations after night. II hates ne
groes, and abolitionists, and the consti-
tutional amendment, even worse than
its Kentucky relatives. 1t takes for its
political creed the Virginia resolutions
Of 1898, and looks forward to the day
when those doctrines shall be trium-
phant. Its numerical force is greatest
in the border counties, and particularly
in those which give the largest Demo-
cratic majorities OF late it has con-
ceived the gigantic idea of pushing its
way noFthward and westward all over
Indiana and the Northwest. lA1 IhdA
The man who supposes that in this
part of Indiana hatred for the negro is
confined to the ranks Of the Democracy
has yet much to learn. The masses Of
these citizens are either Of Southern
birth and breeding, or directly descend
ed from Southern stock They have in
herited that prejudice against the black
race which neither reason nor political
changes can effect, and which will go
with them to their graves. They believe,
or at least profess to believe, that all ne
groes are dishonest and wholly incapa-
BILE Of moral ralimprovement or social eleva-
ton. OF this large class it is surpris-
ing to see how many call themselves Re-
publicans. In conversation with Re
publican of this place the other day that
gentleman remarked: "D--n the mig.
gers. They'll steal and rob. Two
things Ineger wanted. One is a mule;
the other nigger.n Talking to another
Republican, at Charlestown, some days
ago, he remarked, / never would trust
anything to nigger.sh If it be asked
why such men as these are identified
with the party of freedom, the answer
| is; Either because they want to be on
1.-THE winning side or;beeanse of their in
born hatred Of Democracy, Out of old
Whigism, through the filter of Know
Nothingism, many of them dropped into
Republicanism and have there remained
mainly on account of their unwilling
ness to go over TO party they have
been taught from childhood to despise
even more than they despise the African.
Now, it is not difficult to see that
where the party of progress contains so
many members, and of this hnd-mem-
bers whose views Of the colored race are
as unreasonable and uncharitable as
those of the meanest Democrats-the
moral condition Of that party will be
such that inroads ingeniously directed
along the line of the anti-negro feeling
may easily be made And so it has been
in Southern Indiana. Not a few hot
lblooded Republican youths have, under
the stimulus OF an extraordinary excite
ment, such as the one caused by the
Park tragedy, Joined the Ku-Klux. In
the mob which hung Taylor, Davis and
johnson, am told, there were several
men who have always heretofore voted
! the Republican ,tieketj and no one now
| denies that that mob was under the di-
rection of the unadulterated Ku.klux-
1t is questionable whether many Of those
Republicans will ever return to their al
legiance. Thus we see this diabolical
organization rearing its hideous form
here in Indiana, just as it has done
everywhere else-purely upon the basest
of 'prejudices, and drawing its compo
nent elements chiefly from the Demo
cratic party, but measurably from the
Republican party.
! 1t is hardly necessary to tell anybody
that these river districts are terribly
Democratic. The Second district, fol
example, is generally counted on for q
majority Of f6000a Nor is it scarcely
necessary to tell anybody Of the ease
with which the Democracy Of this re-
gion have, in times past, made the most
liberal draws on Kentucky, particularly
when the State ticket was in qlestion.
The history Of the Importation Of Ken
lucky voters is the history of Southern
Indiana Democracy. With n view to
counteracting in some degree the evils
of this importation, and with view to
the improvement of many of these un-
occupied hills and knobs, certain enter
prising and liberal RepubEcans-Re-
publicans worthy OF the name--con-
ceived the idea Of encouraging negro
immigration. Following out the con-
ception they went to work, and wherev-
er they could find an Industrious darky
in Klux-ridden Kentucky that want
ed q permanent home in Indiana, they
provided him with such a home. The
business was square, open, legitimate,
honorable and beneficial. While it re-
duced the imported majority, it pro
NOTED the improvement of the country.
1t succeeded. In due course of time II
was observed that the resident colored
population was greatly increasing This
could not be endured. To have the
Kentucky negroes coming over and
settling on the land which the coon
hunting Democracy were too lazy TO till
was an outrage unparalleled in the his
tory OF the latter, and they made high
resolve not to stand it.
Here you have the origin of the Indi-
ana Ku-Klux. Long before the murder
Of the Park family it was determined in
,, secret conclave to make the first great
crime that could be saddled upon the
| IL. -. A. ,...otnxrt ~ HE rapnnval