Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-28
DISSOLUTION OF KU.KLUxrsM.

However persistently northern
newspapers have misrepresented the
ku-klux organization, it vas In moth
ing better or worse, In its worst as
poets, than loyal leagues. In fact
the latter gave-origin to the first and
the excess OF alleged criminality in
The one consisted solely In the fact
that ku-klUx were whites.
The New York san says that
s'the results Of the South Car
oIina ku-klux trials have shown
that the organizations concerned
In the preparation Of the bar
barous Outrsges which yer proved to
have taken place In that State were
simply bands OF regulators, local in
character, and, unlike the negro 10y
al leagues, without political signi6-
canoe. 1t Is also evident that the lax
and paTtIzan administration of the
laws under a corrupt carpet-bag gov
eminent was in great measure the
melting cause for the intense animOs-
fty between the races which resulted
in robbery and incendisrism by the
blacks and brutal violence, terminal
ing at times in murder, by the lowest
class Of the white population"
Kukluxism, begotten by Brown
lows savage reign, vas harmless as it
existed In Tennessee. Its purpose was
simply to WELD power by an appeal
to fear. GhOstly spparitions were a
protective tariff, levied in behalf Of
henroosts and the clOtheslines of
washerwOmen. But even these secret
associations were found to be danger
Gus and speedily disbsnded. Loyal
leagues, after Senter's election, were
slowly dissolved. Bands Of armed
blacks with drums and flies no longer
made nights hideOus In cities and vii
lagos, and knkluxism was no more.
II the evil we're great here and in
South Carolina, il wa the OfishOot Of
q greater calamity, and however MUIR
derous deeds that were done under its
ghostly banners they Were not blacker
than despotisms which gave them
origin, and which the robbed and OPP
pressed had no other means of com
batting. Secret political associa-
tions are never to be approved,
and when created become more
ruinous than evils they would
abste, II, however, there was ever
an age or country Ia which an apology
could be devised for the existence of
midnight csb.is, it was In these
States Sheu ruled by BroWnloWs,
BullOcks, Scots and Warmoths. Give
the South freedom, and the whole
South viii give the negro every right
Of citizenship, exercised as freely as in
Tennessee. Here, negroes, in a hope
less minority, make no complaints,
and here there is no ghost Of ku,klux-
ism. 1t Is moreover true that In the
next elections, whoever may be the
leaders Of parties, the negro vote will
be as wholly devoid OF unanimity as
that of the white race. The point at
which the true friends Of the negro In
the North should aim is the disinte-
grafton OF parties In the South to the
extent that they are defined by race
features. Intelligent negroes confess
this fact, and they win no more be
consolidated by the corrupt de-
vices of carpet-baggers. Summers
proposition In the senate, designed to
social equality is worse
than any sumptuary law Of the worst
despOtism. Injected Into legislation, !
II would defeat and postpone the puE-
pose OF its enactment, and, rs shown
the progressive fortunes and intel
OF negroes In Tennessee and
subsisting kindly relations of races
that government Is wisest and best
Ehish lsgislatss lsast. II
- @aaas1 Aaa