New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-13

few years ago, when the bloody spirit of
the Ku-Klux pervaded our State and
urged men on to cruel slaughter of their
fellow men. What was it but the demoniac
spirit of ku-kluxism that caused the fear
full disturbances and bloodshed of 1866
and 1868 in this city and State, and pre-
vented the State from casting its vote in
the last presidential election? These,
and many other events of like
character that transpired in Louis
lana, are still fresh in the minds of our
people. They are Ku-Klux stories that
Republicans have no desire to see en-
larged, and are only pleased to hear testi-
mony to the fact that the State govern
ment has been enabled in great degree,
to overcome the disposition of individ-
uals to perpetrate deeds of violence for
political purposes. Other States not as
far advanced in the work of reconstruc-
ton are less favorably situated at this
time. Many Of them are now the theatre
of just such scenes as were witnessed In
Louisiana few years ago. These acts
have been long continued, and are insti-
gated by hatred of the reconstruction
measures adopted by Congress, and the
amendments to the federal constitution
made to meet the altered condition of the
country, and secure equal civil and polit-
zeal rights to all citizens.
It is impossible that any should
khow and correctly judge of the
murders and acts of oppression
that are committed, unless they a& pres
eat or belong to the neighborhoods where
they tlanspire. 1t is in this way only
that we learn the motives and know the
bitter preiudices and grasping ambition
of men who would attain their ends by
unlawful means. The men who were en-
gagged in the bloody work OF the Ku-Klux
in North and South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, etc, do
not recognize the work of reconstruction
as binding; do not consider the amend
ments to the federal constitution as bind
ing; do not believe that all men should
possess equal civil and political rights;
nor do they believe in the supremacy of
the federal or national government over
the States. According to their notions,
this is all wrong, and they propose to
make it right by driving from the polls
all who think differently. In this way
the Ku-Klux feeling was to give
this State into the hands of the
Democracy, and then have it unite with
other Democratic States in electing a
Democratic President. This was the pro-
gramme in the last presidential election.
1t then failed, but the, same turbulent
spirits have again put on their masks and
buckled on their pistols for another at
tempt They are as much as ever opposed
to the results of the war. They do not
accept the situation, though their Demo-
cratic friends profess to do it. Policy
drives them to it, and the Ku-Klux intend
to drive the Southern States into the
Democratic fold by driving all from the
polls who would not vote the Democratic
ticket in 1872. In this way the Ku-Klux
propose to make a united South, and help
their Democratic friends elect a Demo-
cratic President. Congress has not over
estimated this spirit of violence and OPP
position to the government; nor do we
believe that General Sherman or his
quondam friend, the Bee, think so. There
is plenty of evidence produced before
Congress to satisfy the impartial of all
parties that most barbarous and dis
tressing state of affairs exists in many of
the States that were in rebellion; and
unless something was done to check it
it must continue to grow worse as the
time for holding presidential election
approached.