The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-24
Grei,iisa State Juurmt.
THE Ku-KLux DISTURBANCES.

present moment there are extended dis
tricts in the South where life, liberty and
property are insecure. A reign of terror
exists that prevents the injured from
seeking the peaceful remedies of the law.
Ministerial officers are afraid or reluctant
to enforce order.
It is certain, also, that these disturb
ances are in great measure of political
character, and grow cut of the determina-
tion Of one party to coerce the other into
submission by fear of personal harm. To
secure this end, hundreds of men have
been killed, MANNED, whipped, and others
compelled by lear to leave their homes.
Houses and barns have been burned, cat
tie butchered, vexatious suits trumped up
in the courts, to worry aud drive away the
class whose opinions and practice did not
please these murderous and ruffianly clans
1t is further undeniably true, that in the
vast majority Of cases, the victims of these
outrages have been quiet, unarmed people,
guilty of no crime before the law. Their
offence has been simply the assertion Of
their right to vote, hold Office, express
their opinions freely, and enjoy the privi-
leges secured to them by the laws of the
land. 1t SO happens, also, that they are
generally Republicans in sentiment, and
their prosecutors vote with the Democratic
party.
The circumstances under which these
outrages are committed, prove beyond a
doubt the existence of extensive and form
idable organizations. Its name or the ma
chinery by which it acts are of small con-
sequence. We are confronted by the evil
dence of its monstrous character, and of the
increasing extent and boldness of it's crimes.
Sadder than all else, and more vicious in
its influence, is the fact that large ma
iority of the Democratic press attempt to
hide the facts, or to misrepresent and gloss
over the condition of things 10 the dis
turbed districts. The same is true of the
leading representatives of that party all
over the country. The recent debates in
Congress show, on the part Of the great
majority of Democratic members, secret
understanding to screen the perpetrators
of these crimes from justice. There are
some noble exceptions. No man in Con-
gress dare deny the facts, but attempts are
made to lay the blame upon the Republi-
cans.
Senator Bayard, of Delaware, the
staunch defender of the South, 10 recent
speech in the Senate, alluding to North
Carolina, says "Here are the facts. Fif-
ty or sixty unarmed men were taken with
out writ, without color of law of any
kind, dragged from their homes. kept by
these ruffians in their camps, tortured and
threatened with death. Not only were
these helpless prisoners to be murdered,
but the women and children of the town
were to be put to fire and sword, If at
tempts were made at rescue"
This is from the speech Of prominent
Democratic Senator as reported in the
Congressional Globe Of yesterday. s
So far as the existence of the wide
spread disorder and anarchy is concerned,
there can be no two opinions. The causes
which have led to it, the political character
of the sufferers and their prosecutors. are
questions which are only secondary at this
time. The duty of all honorable and
patriotic men TO unite in denouneiDg the
cowardy perpetrators and bringing them
to Justice, is clear. Equally clear is the
duty OF the government to extend protec-
tion to its citizens, however humble and
obscure. The fact that well-known MUIR
derers go UNPUBLISHED in the South, that
courts and officers of the law are power
less or reckless of their duties, imposes
upon the National government an i'm
perative duty. When the State fails to
protect its citizens, through lack of power,
or lack of will, we must open the way for
an appeal to the higher authority OF the
nation.
We have long been satisfied, without
.nv reference to these local difficulties,
that the courts of the United States should
he opened to every suitor. We should
make the way easy to every man to es-
cape the cruelty and injustice OF local
nreiudce. The rights Of the citizen will
never be safe till he can appeal against bis
county or his State TO the nation easily
and cheaply. 1t is not safe to wait for
the Governor to call for assistance. The
nation must undertake the protection oil
all its citizens; and this should be reached
by legislation as broad as the land. 1t is
healthy counterpoise to local violence
and prejudice everywhere. We would ex-
tend it alike to North Carolina and to Mas
sachusetts
We are glad to see the message OF the
President calling attention to the need Of
LEGISLATION in this matter. Power may
safely be entrusted to him who has always
welded it so magnanimously. The South
will not forget the generous terms which
Grant gave it at Appomattox, at the head