The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-29
Military 0piuions Of Its Condition
and Prospects.
The Generalization Ct Southrn Socie!y-Tims
aud Patience Necessary for It's Cure
soursIDE PRESSURE" A MISTAKE
xfS Effect Of the Political 0straoism Of Educated
Rehe,s-Both Sides to Blame-The Status
Of United states Army Officers In
the soush-Now to Put
Down the Ku Klux.

RrTHERroRDToN, n. c., May %, 1871.
There Is probably no country In the world In which
It is harder obtain accurate ana reliable informa
ton whether to actual occurrences or even as to
the political sentiments OF the people than IN these
Southern States. am pretty sure that could get
more truth out OF an interview by pantomimic signs
with
ACARrB INDIAN
or King Thakombau or the Gaekwar OF Baroda than
out OF Southern carpe,-oagger or scallawag or q
Southern conservative or a Southern outand-out
dyed-n-the.wool unterrihed democrat Ask these
latter in turn about something which has come di-
recty under their eyes or is clearly within the COM
pass OF their experience and you will get diametri
Cally opposite testimony from them all. Each win
aty contradict the other two, and you will get TO
the end OF your investigation with very decided
belief that as the Apostle Paul has said in Holy
Scripture. "All men excepting yoursel are liars"
The explanation OF this Is very simple 1t is one
OF the saddest results OF the war that honesty and
truth nave been indefinitely ban,shed from Southern
poliucs. This broa1 and beautiful land has been
handed over 10 the poluting guardianship OF
rANDs OF GREEDY wRETcHEs,
who are loyal just worthless men are saints
and other worthless men are sinners for pccu-
mary consideration. A few OF the crimes of these
political birds OF prey have already been published
in the HERALD but an exhaustive chronicle OF their
frauds would be more voluminous than the Newgate
calendar, and would be quite as unwholesome read
ing. Northern man, even though he has lived
through q year at Washington and be therefore
hardened common forms OF corruption is startled
and disguised at the clamorous chorus OF accuse
ton that rings through the air as soon as he crosses
the line OF Mason and Dixon. Judges, who have
grown rich by buying for song the claims Of ruined
men and then pressing them through in their own
courts ahead OF others equally or more just; timer
ant savers OF souls, who have purchased lands at
lew cents an acre aud then sold them at almost as
many dollars TO the state for asylums and penten.
tiaries; railroad harpies VINO have plundered by
millions at stroke; legislators, bloated with brides;
these and such these are the staple elements OF
the
NEW oLIGAgCHY OF WEALTH
with which Congressional wisdom mas replaced
the beggared slave aristocracy OF the South.
Every attempt to oyerturn this baleful
cabal OF greed and oppression has been met
BY one form OF defence Forthwith, the accused
nave posed themselves In the attitude OF prosecuted
victims OF disloyalty, and in tragic accents have
pointed at the treason-sained record of their &C.
cusers. This defence has 30 FAR not only been sue
cessful but has, generally resulted in clothing the
wrong-doers with added power for i'll. Never was
there more bitter example OF the proverb that
'giye dog bad name, and you might as well
hang him." Remembering all this, do not wonder
the South are now trying to rebut the lies OF their
oppressors with
coUNTERLIKs.
Take, for instance. this last Ku Klux agitation.
That there is Ku Klux Khan, and that IL has done
no DOUBT That the motive Tor any Of such hi out.
RACES Is wholly political rs however very doubtful;
grossly exaggerated is certain. With few excep-
lions, every On1ce-hoding republican tells me that
.se sas is suffering 1cW
democrats equivocate and bubble aud say 'they
don't know fhere are any ku Klux;' "tney never
saw any;' and they then go on TO demonstrate what
Is perfectly true that every outrage IN this State SO
far investigate has had
They are afraid TO tell what they know IL the
truth; that icw-a very few-of the outra9es have
tive for even these has been personal aud social.
They know that such an admission though coupled
@ and tsT e Of any nsnOn
TO again rebel, can be made at Washington terri.
BILE weapon against them.
II Is necessary, TO show Its value. few days ago,
while at Raleigh, went cut TO Camp Pettigrew TO
wiule, the current Of talk naturally upon the
condition Of the State. One OF these gentlemen 10
. moderate republican: another is radical; third
is Union democrat. They have been long sta
toned in the state they have seen much OF the peo
pie and their views are exactly those that would be
formed by any Northern gentlemen OF the same po-
litical stripe, woo had no aim but 10 arrive az the
simple truth. Their opinious are, necessarily, there.
fore, entitled 10 great weight. This Is the SUD
stance Of
THE CONVERSATION
CORES poNDENT-Do you think II Is safe 10 90
through these so-calied ku Klux counties?
REPuBIIeAN-As safe as 1t is to go through any
what iawless. ! don't believe there is any part Of
The state where the mere fact OF your coming from
the North would mark you out as specially appro-
PIRATE subject Tor assassination. There Is one dan.
gerous pIace-liobeson eoGnty-where for six years
been numbering and roD6ns ellers Whether
wnlle or black, conservative, democrat or republi-
can. The rest OF the State, SO lar as have heard.
Is quiet.
CoRREsroSDENT-Up to the average OF security,
that Af
REPUBLIcAS--It is more than that. There is not
much crime OF q sort that you need fear. would
not fear riding through the entire stale alone. do
no, believe should be mourning any very great
danger.
CoRREsPoSDEST-what do you think Of these Ku
Klux ouiragesf
REPUBLicAs-I only know what j nave heard.
There are great many outrages reported, and al
lowing good deal for exageeration. have no
doubt that most OF item are founded on fact. There
isa
GREAT DEAL or LAwLEsssEss
OF certain kind.
CORES PoYDESr- or certain kindf
REPuBLIcAN-Yes, and on all sides. The negroes
steal aud the poor whites STEAL aud now and then
there murder or rape or something oil that kind,
such as that dreadful case In the West the other day.
where some negroes shamefully outraged ana muir.
done 10 not highway robbery with violence: most OF
ills pering al night from henroosts and barns. On
inc o'her side there Is, fancy, good deal OF lynch
CORES PoEpEST-But these Ku Klux. how is 1t
what
REruBLIcAN-wel, confess don't exactly know
how 10 place t1en. But FIRST OF all realize fhe ter
Tibe condition OF the country-mpoyerished almost
ruined materially, and inhabited by ignorant
coored people, who az the best are but
poor citizens, By 'rrining whltesn as they are |
called, who have lost all sefrespect, and amount
70 about as little as demoralized negroes,
and by white gentlemen, whom the war not
only beRgared IN wealth, but also In hope ana
energy. Even with the best local government pos.
sibleand would not like TO say the present STATE
government is the best possible In all fespecstnat
would be O very
TROUBLESOME AND EMBARRASSING COMMUNITY
10 govern.
CoRREsPoNDENr-But isn't the country rapidly
getting richer aud recovering from the effects VI the
war;
REPUBLICAN, Not rapidly-perhaps not at all. A
part OF the people OF this state, aud no doubt OF
Tue entire south WELL have got so poor that they
have lost all VERY cOunIrlea have