Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-07-31
ARKANSAS.
The KuklRx Hoax Exposed by
a Northern Soldier
who Knows.
How Grants Henehmen Play the
DOdge--Ourages upon
the People.
The People of Arkansas Peaceful,
Law-AbidiRg and Industrious
under Difficulties.

As the reverse of the statement we
published yesterday, telegraphed from
Little Rock to the st. Louis Demo rat,
we present the following from an ex-
Union soldier, a resident of Woodruff
county, Arkansas. All who are not pos
sessed of hate and actuated by malice
toward the people of Arkansas, will re-
eognize the truthfulness Of this, which
does but simple justice to a down-trod-
den people:
A KUKLUX HOAX.
To the Editor Of the New York Tribune:
SIR-Pernlit a former resident of one
Of the Northern States TO present few
facts to Northern people in regard to the
condition of political affairs in this part
Of Arkansas. Quite recently there has
been a kuklux panic in this county, and
the result has been that at the very time
VIXEN labor was most needed in the cot
ton and corn fields, the negroes were
frightened from their work. For a few
weeks il seemed as if these important
crops would be lost. Good men
and old settlers were satisfied that
there was no occasion for such an
alarm, and so declared; but the
adherents of Grant and Hadley
lthe GovernOrl were equally loud in
their affirmatiOns Of the existence of ku-
llluX. To carry out their Infamous pro-
gramme, our Sheriff issued a prOclanla-
tion declaring that affairs were in such
a condition that the public peace was
threatened, and giving warming that
unless the lawless bands dispersed he
would call out the militia and exhaust
every means in his power to subdue
them. All this time he knew there was
NOT AN OUTLAW IN WOODRUFF COUNTY,
or any man that he or any of his deIu-
ties could not arrest single-handed. i
would send you one of these famous
" blood and thunder - pToclamatiOns, but
their scheme proving aboTtive, they
have taken good care TO destroy every
one Of them.
While the Sheriff was having this
proclamation printed and circulated,
other men anxious for trouble went to
Little Rock to solicit arms to be put in
the hands Of the cOlOred militia. While
this was going on, letter after letter
came in from different parts of the
comfy, relating the hOrrid dOings of the
llukluX. One Justice of the Peace. an
appOintee, came 10 the city and reported
that on the Sunday night previous a
negro meeting had been broken up by
the kukluX, and that he and three other
good and loyal citizens had been COM
peeled 10 leave their homes and sleep in
the woods. Rumor after rumOr of this
kind came in, until they became so
alarming that some twenty Of
OUR OLDEST AND BEST CITIZENS
called upon the Sheriff and rendered
their services to 90 with him TO the
reported infected district and ferret the
matter out, and if there were proofs of
the presence of kuklux i'm the neighbor-
hood, to hunt them down and bring
them to justice or kill them. This party
was made up of Democrats, eX-rebels
and Republicans. They spent two days
iH the search, during which time they
examined a number of persons, white
and black, but failed to find single
I1uklux OF the shadow of one. And now
let me tell YOU how and why this ku-
klux story was started. In Woodruff
county there are only two officers who
haAE EAENANA y AAAE lINAlANs Il AA0Nf AAANtN
Is the Circuit Judge, a former resident Of
Chicago. who Is holding his position by
OF the Governor; the Cir
cult Attorney, of Wisconsin, also an
app0intee of the Governor: County
Judge, salary i've hundred dollars per /
wear, of Indiana; City Justice of the /
Peace, a Pennsylvania; County AttOr- |
ney, Of Indiana; County Assessor and |
Registrar of voters, a former barber and |
porter
OF DOUBTFUL HONESTY;
ater 4 volunteer scout in the rebel |
army, and now an aspirant for Congress /
h0nOrs on the Grant-ClaytOn-H Hadley |
ticket. All these are appointees of the |
OF all the officers in tie |
county Of Woodruff, only twO-the |
County Clerk and the Sheriff-were |
elected by the votes of the people. I'm |
der this state of affairs, and a general /
system OF corruption and swindling, the |
people began 10 think and inquire, and |
The result was a general protest against |
such infaInies. These appOintees of a |
corrupt State. administration began TO |
see that power was to be taken from 1
Them by the votes of the people, and |
hey concocted these kuklBX stories. Ii /
,yas part Of one of their Union Leagues /
IN disguise that broke up the negro meet |
ng spoken Of above. Ii was the leader |
II that League that stood by or near the |
.OlOred preacher and gave the signal /
hat the kuklux were coming. 1t was /
hat same leader of the League who 1
.aune 10 the city and went before the APP /
lcinted Justice Of the Peace above re-
erred TO and made oath to the breaking
lp Of the
NEGRO MEETING,
md had the document transmitted Ia
.he Governor. At Deview . plan was
arranged by which part Of the Union |
League at that place and this has been
worn to- were to disguise themselves |
md take a certain positions another /
portion, in ignorance Of the presence OF
he disguised party, were TO pass along |
and be fired upon. One or two men
were TO be killed, even il of their Own
party, and the man who was designated |
10 do the killing can be named If neces-
sary. This was to be done in order to
furnish a pretext for calling out the mi
itia, TO force the election TO their own /
liking, OF declaring the state of af-
.airs existing here such as 10 pre-
vent the holding Of au election.
some months ago the Central Com
mittee Of this county had meeting.
That Committee Is made up of the Cir
.uit Judge, Circuit Attorney, Justice OF
the Peace, County Attorney, County
Judge, and one or two others-all in
place by appointment. In that meeting
he probable result of the approaching
election was canvassed, and it was
agreed that with a peaceable, quiet cleo
lion, the county would go against them. .
Il was resolved 20 secure the killing Of
some men, and il was agreed that
THE BEST MEN TO BE SACRIFICED
would be their own registrars of voters.
There were, ] am glad TO say, one or two
men in that meeting who voted nay.
These negative voters, and then men,
Bers of the Central Committee, have
since been "spOtted" 7" and removed.
This is the condition of affairs in
county, Arkansas; and what
Is true of Woodruff is true of every other
county in the State. travel a great
deal. and / know whereof affirm. As
10 this county, ] can and do send you
Ihe names of a number of good men, old |
citizens, who, if necessary, will make |
,afb 10 what / write. ] am a native of
the North. For over three years l car
ried a musket in the Union army, set
Ting down after the war TO peaceful pur-
suits. ] used To read - the doings Of the
iuklux in this and other states with hOr-
ror and amazement, taking It for grant
ed that the reports were all true. But /
have investigated them, and find that