Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1871-11-16
The 9saufurt gepublifan.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER, l6, 1871.
Official Paper Of the State and County
Largest Circulation in the County.

Whatever may be the extent OF ku-
Kluxism, whether more or less-for no
one can reasonably doubt it's existence; or
whatever may be saiu Of the wisdam, or
lack of wisdom, Of the course of The Pres
ident in regard to it, or of Congress IN
passing the Ku klux law, we have now to
deal with practical results. The Presi-
dent, under the law, has declared martial
raw. He is clothed With discretion as to
its necessity, and it is but fair to assume,
under the circumstances, that he has
knowledge of evidence unknown to us.
Neither can we be safely guided by the
statements OF repr, sentative party papers
on either side. Indeed it is very difficult
to get at the truth concerning the matter
BY the ordinary methods. But this much
we do know, that in North Carolina, sew
eral have been convicted ofthe crime, some
confessing it, that in South Carolina, the
President, a man of patient, considerate
mind, feels he has sufficient evidence to
warrant the taking that last and danger
Gus remedy, the declaration Of martial
law, that arrests are being made by the
sword in large numbers, and that promi
nent citizens are leaving the State to avoid
arrest. And here it is fair to assume
that the President would arrest no man
by the sword in time Of peace, unless he
felt there existed the strongest evidence
against him; and, further, no man is
going to leave his family and home, just
from far of arrest aud trial, unless he
knows himself to be guilty, for two rea-
sons one, on the principle ''the wicked
flee when no man pursueth, but the right
eous is as bold as lion;" the other, fight
from the officers of the law carries with it
the assumption of guilt, with all men, and
honest-minded men will allow no such as
persion on their character.
Now that Ku-kluxism manifestly ex-
lists, and the President is endeavoring to
put down the same by the sword, it is well
to inquire what will be the end thereof.
This disease may, in general way be said
to grow in the same soil with Tammany
thieving. They both arise from demor
allied and ignorant condition of the body
polite. To prevent the manifestation
will not cure the disease. Neither can it
exist in a community imbued with general
information and moral development. Ku-
k!uxism is not one form Of resistance to
tyranny. 1t is founded in wrong and in
justice. 1t is wrong and unjust from be
ginning to end. If it was resistance to
tyranny, it would take the form of the
San Francisco Vigilance Committee. Its
action would be taken in broad daylight.
It would 60 boldly about a solcmn duty,
1t would prove by public trial. 1t would
punish before all eyes. lis immediate
purpose accomplished it would deliver back
it's assumed power to the regularly consti-
Iuted authorities and sink out O. sight un-
I'll q new occasion shou' call it to life. It
is simply the banding together of coward
ly murderous assassins, who take their
victims as all assassins do, by stealth and
ia the dark, and without warning; and it
exists simply because it finds sufficient
sympathy with it, among the people to
sustain it, or so low moral sense as not
to be really awakened to lis enormity.
The infamous rule of the thieves at Co.
lumbia, may give a colorado occasion for.
it, but no real cause.
Therefore let no one suppose that the
spirit of Ku-klux marauding, or the posi-
bi'ty of its existence are going to be de-
stroYed by simple repression, however Sc
we're.
The trouble is in society itself. The
Democrats are to blame for it; the Repub-