Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-08
" ORC ES t E R g.
SATURDAY, APRIL 8. 1s.I,
The Kukiux Conspiracy.

The debate in congress on the bill to suppress
kuklux conspiraeies, has already been very use
ful. II has brought democratic opposers Of
such legislation to admit fully that these con-
spiracies exist, and that they are even more rev.
olutionary and malignant in purpose than has
been charged; and 1t has led republicans to a
more careful consideration of what may be done,
constitutionslly, by the national government to
suppress them.
For reasons which they do not explain to
themselves, the ruling men ofthe democratic party
occupy 3 position relative to the kukluS klan,
which makes them feel bit by every blow direct'
cd against 1t, and dishonored by every disclosure
Of kuklux vinaiuy. They are tied TO this posi-
non by prejudiees and passions, and by false
calculations OF partiEan interest, which do not
allow them to reason calmly on the subject.
Therefore. at one moment, they deny everything,
treat all the facts as mendacious inventions, and
insist that the kRklux conspiracy has no exist
ence save in The wicked fancy of republicans;
and, at the next moment, they admit every
thing, apologize for the kukluX, uphold their
proceedings, aud maintain that the only remedy
for their reasonable scoundrelism is to undo the
whole work of reconstruction, break down the
governments in the reconstructed states, and de-
liver up those states to the unrestricted sway of
the bloody 'klan" and its abettors. This adj
mission is forced from the democratic leaders
only when they are subjected to a pressure of
facts and arguments which can not be resisted.
The debate in congress, and the undeniable facts
which it has brought more fully to public at
tentiou, have constrained some of the democrat
ic leaders TO turn from dishonest denials of the
truth, and, with more or less frankness, under
take formal defence of the aims of kukuxism.
We see this in such democratic speeches as that
of Frank Blair, in MemmiDger's letter, and in
such talk as that of the New York World which
asserts that the government of South Carolina
can not stand before the revolutionary agitation
against it.
1t is no longer possible to deny, without a
consciousness of lying that there is in most of
the southern states an organized "klan" of revo-
lutionary conspirators who aim to destroy the
reconstructed state governments and put in their
place a malignant despotism of the men who
mourn, swear, and murder for the "lost cause"
More than anything else, these men desire to
substitute for the freedom and equal rights of
reconstruction, such social and political con-
dition as will give them some equivalent for the
lost institution of slavery. The colored men
must be disfranchised, reduced to a condition of
serfdom, and made to live and work only for the
wealth, dignity, and glory of "great planters"
This is the real aim of the "kuklux klan," and
it is, especially, the purpose of the more inhu-
entail "ex-confederates" who give the "klan'
support. They believe that, in some way, the
proceedings Of this 'klan" will in the end make
it successful. The plan to "restore the old order
of things" by importing Chinese coolies has
been given up. They now adopt the scheme we
have indicated, and they hope the democratic
party will enable them to make it successful.
AT present, they use menaces, violence, mid
night maskings, and assassination, to suppress
the rights Of freedmen and of all others who
stand in their way; but this only begins the
work they have planned. In South Carolina,
they have already gone so far that their oracles
openly demand complete overturn of the re-
construction of that state, in order that the COL
ored men may be disfranchsed and the malig-
nant "ex-confederates" have all power.
Every one can see that this kuklux conspira-
cy is not a matter to which the national govern
ment can be Indifferent It assails the funda
mental rights of citizens and aims at revolution:
therefore it must be suppressed. But those who
have proposed measures against it, have not ale
ways observed carefully what can and what can
not be done under the national constitution.
Some of the bills introduced in congress have
assumed that the proceedings necessary to sup
press and punish kuklux assassins are nothing
more than is required by ordinary police service
in the states; and, on this assumption they have
either opposed all legislation on the subject or
proposed measures which were plainly uncon-
stitutional. Ordinary police service in the states
can not be rightfully undertaken by the nation
al executive; but it is the duty OF the national
government to suppress revolutionary conspira-
ciesf against rights guaranteed by the constitu-
tion. Discussion has brought this matter more
into the light; and congress is likely to enact
law such as the occasion requires. If this law,
and those relating to the same matter, now on
the statute book can be thoroughly executed
kukluxism will discontinue its operations.
The San RorpaiuUo NHa.sauo 81 |