The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-24
The Real ku kluX Khan.

Congress is busy devising plan for
depressing the alleged outrages in the
Southern States Of the celebrated Ku
Klux Khan. The object is praise
worthy one, but the efforts by which it
is sought to be attained are misdirecteG
The real Klu Kluxes who ought to be
put down by national legislation are
not the ruffians, real or imaginary,
whose exploits are made so much OF,
but the living flesh and blood sconnd-
rels in official station, who are doing
their best to impOverisl and destroy
the whole fabric of society in the
South.
Since the close of the ar every
Southern State has been cursed with a
swain of adventures from the North,
who, having failed to gain living at
home, by either honest or dishonest
labor, and having no reputation ex-
cept bad one to leave behind them,
have sought this new and nntried field
wherein to retrieve their fortunes.
Some had been hangers on in the wake
of our armies, bnt more prudently wait
ed till all the fighting was over. and
then descended on their prey. Taking
advantage of the acknowledgements Of
the native born citizens, or availinG
themselves Of Federal patronage, they
have foisted themselves into places of
power and profit, which they have
feartully abused, to their own advant-
age and the ruin of their helpless vic
tins.
From one end ofthe South to the
other there comes up the universal cry
against the corruption, the extrava-
gance and the general maladministra-
ton of these Adventures. They have
increased taxes ten tenfOld; they have
added enormously to The funded debt
of the States, counties, cities d
towns; they are squandcring the re-
sources of the country, and afford no
adequate protection for either proper
ty or life.
Tie State Government of Florida he
fore the war used to cost the people
about forty thousand dollars year: it
now costs nearly double that amount.
In South Carolina the State taxation
this year will be nearly three millions,
or about seven times as much as it used
to be nnder the old order of things,
while the total taxes will be ten times
as much. The debt of North Carolina
was lately increased at single session
of the Legislature by the sum of thirty
six millions. In Arkansas the annual
expenditure has been increased from
three hundred thousand dollars ia
nineteen hundred thousand, besides ad
ding eight millions for railroad purpO-
SEES to the permanent debt. In LOuiSi.
ana the State debt has been Increased
from thirteen to twenty-five millions
and tho local debt of New Orleans and
other towns has been swollen in the
same proportion.
These evils are palpable and unmis
taxable, and their baleful influence ii
wide-reacling and universal. VIVA
is an occasional deed of violence il
some country place, compared Will
this grinding oppression of the tax
gatheIer which brushes all classes ani
all kinds of industry to the earth7
If, therefore, Congress really wishes
t" tianquilize the South and restore or
der there let it restore to the people TIN
privilege of seli-government. Let thu
American doctrine of no taxation with
out represention be enforced, and lc
a stop be put to the tyrannical exac
tien Of i g carpet-bag fraternity
When this shall have been done, Their,
will be no need of legislation agains
Ku Klux Outrages. The Southern PEG
pie will themselves take care of tina
matter, and maintain peace and goot
order without the aid of the Unitet
States troops or money.-(N. Y. Sun
Republican.