New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-21
MR.. ELLIOTT on TIE KU-KLUX oUTRAGES

To the EdtfOr or Jhe IrtOUhe'
SIR: In your issue of yesterday, You were
pleased TO bring under review my brief remarks made
I'm the House Of Representatives last Tuesday, the bill
TO relieve certain classes of persons of their political
disabilities introduced by Mr. Beck Of Kentucky. The
editorial which refer contains many errors of fact
end reasoning and as feel assured that you intended
to be Just in your criticism respectfully request the
privilege Of your columns for response.
did not assert that the KuKlux disturbers OF the
south are the very class of whom Is proposed 10
relieve of their political disabilities" My views upon this
popt are embodied in the following extract from the
speech to which you refer, appears, unamended
bv me. in The Congressional Globe of the 18th inst:
e gentleman nom Illinois in lis argument pleased to ak This
fffsnced aud prohibited holding oice the who commit
IN it cn va. hat thew are no. Boz permit me to fiy
gntua hA, L"e men are y,,ue m e'' I Si b ar
mes their eg example by Their denunoluons of Sohgs BY
this Government have enograRd ad ana aur I'M men Sno
social influence & Ig mon 1i M , 9 s, u IeVpg un
ee utrlge order insure Democratic Triumph IN the South IN
In proof that was warranted expressing the opinion
that the armed bands who murder unoIending citizens
because of their political opinions in the Southern States
derive more aid and comfort from the sOcaed " re
suectabe portion of the section in which they act
submit the following letter which appeared in The Co
l,pbia o. c. Daily Union on last Tuesday the very day
on which that opinion was uttered.
IT, the Editor ofTle Daily Uaioa:
Information as Just Teen e1 here that two members I Ua
bv names their houses Yesterday morning. before day.
By UNI k ,raad and Thomas jSsou Lad bis @ shattered There
d no so S are men o Of aSea AMI & IN s county,"
@g TO he Of nly occurrence and at have 80 dsgnced
ueounI This toOk place about miles Hess Of this
Permit me to add upon this point. that your own adj
mission in the editorial above referred 10, fully iusthes
the opinion that has made me obnoxious 10 your harsh
criticism for you state: THE KuKux Oen sons or
u,Dbsvs Oh, Cousins Of those who excluded from Of
flee by their part the Rebellion" Surely then il was
not very violent presumption that these gentlemen
should sympathize with their kindred and give them
moral and If need he, material support
You state further in speaking OF the KuKlux: "They
see those whom they most respect and honor prescribed
for acts which they righteous and patriotic, and
they are mpelled thereby 10 revenge themselves on
those whom they regard abettors ana upholders OF
this Injustice" must say, Mr.. Editor that this Ian
uage would better beft the lips Of advocate endeav
oring to make the appear the better cause in
defense OF these masked murderers before petit jury
| than the pages Of THE NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE. Your arr
gument proves much and therefore proves nothing
If 10 continue the political disabilities imposed by the
XVIII Amendment upon certain classes In the South Is
to ember thousands, and thus nhame the spirit which
keeps that organization 1.-THE Ku Klux) alive, active
and formidable then the adoption of that amendment
which TIE TRIBUNE advocated so earnestly itself a
grave mistake Those who dvOcated the evacuation Of
! Fort Sumter by the Union forces and subsequently
urged our Government TO recognize the independence of
the socaled Confederate States. in the interest OF
| peace" fortified their opinions by similar train oil
| reasoning Doubtless this IL the true huInanlta
rian mode Of dealing with this matter. Doubt
less Congress should conform It's legislation
| TO tho tender sensibilties OF those who mnrdof
American citizens for their "OpinOn's sake" yet IL
vona seem 10 be decent and proper that the Govern
mani sbould WITHHOLD ~ soi OF gIAos and AmnnsU "