Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-04
MIR. Reverdy johnson on the ku-
KluX.

|
1t might reasonably he supposed
that the learned lawyers employed to
defend the Ku Klux raiders would
have some apology to make for the
Infamous conduct of their clients.
If anybody is to excuse or palliate
such revoting villainy, it ought to be
the man who gets paid for the work,
and who is supposed to act, not in an
individual, hut a professional, capac-
ity. The Hon. Reverdy johnson,
however, has utterly refused to de-
fend Ku Kluxism. He made an elo-
quent speech on Monday last in be-
half of certain Robert Hayes Mitch
ell, who happened to be one of
party of raiders who committed
cold blooded murder; but ut the out
set he took occasion to denounce the
conspiracy that had made such
crimes possible, and to invoke the
vengeance of the law and of Heaven
on the guilty leaders. His appeal in
behalf OF Mitdhe,l was based on the
fact that he (Mitchell) did not know
or comprehend the purposes of the
conspiracy. and should not he made
to suffer for the crimes of the men
who seduced him into the coDspira
cy without explaining to him its
resi- purposes and objects. Mr.. John
son seemed to be anxious to tell his
countrymen that his miss ion to South
Caroiin was t, argue quesi ions of
rn if,1fi Law RI,
murdereres; and even Mr.. Stanber.
thought proper to put in the same
disclaimer In fact, the most elo
quent passage of EIr. Johnson's
speech is where lie deals out his in
dignant denunciation Of the Ku klux
outrages. which he regarded as
proved during the trial of Mitchell
After listening for five days to the
testimony which was addnced to
show the malignity and cruelty of the
conspiracy, when the great lawyer
rose to make the closing appeal in
behalf Of the accused, he was con-
strained to say this:
"Neither my distinguished friend
Mr.. Stanberry) nor myself are here
to defend, Or justify, OF palliate any
outrages that may have been perpe-
trated in your State by the associa
ton of Ku KluX / have listened
with horror to some of the testimony
which has been brought before you
The outraees proved have been
shocking to humanity they admit
neither of justification nor excuse;
they violate every obligation which
law and nature impose upon men
These men appear to have been alike
insensible to the obligations of hu
manity and religeon. The day will
come, however-if it has not already
arrived-when they will deeply Ia
ment it. Even if justice should not
| ovCrtahe them there is another tribu-
nal from which there is no escape.
1t is their own conscience that tri
hunal which sits in the breast of every
living man; that still, small voice that
tnriiis through the heart, and as il
speaks gives happiness or torture,
| the voice of conscience-the voice OF
God. and if it has not already spo
ken to them in tones which have
walked them up to the enormity o:
their conduct, l trust, in the mercy
of Heaven, that voice will speak be
fore they shall be called to the dread
| tribunal to account for the transac-
tions Of this world"
Such words as these, coming from
a gentleman so eminent as Mr.. John
son, and who at the time he uttered
them was standing in the relation of
counsel for the Ku Klux: ought TO put
to blash the Northern sympathizers
and Baltimore indignants. who from
day to day insist that these masked
raiders have committed no crime.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, chairman
of the civil service commission, in his
Harper's Weekly editorial speaking
of General Grant, says "He is PLAN
man; peculiarly man ofthe people
in the American sense simple in his
manners and habits and tastes. He
is not a scholar like John Quincy
Adams, nor courtier-like Martin
Van Buren, nor diplomatist like
Abraham Lincoln. He speaks to the
point and makes his opinions and
sympathies evident. His personal at
tachments are very strong, and his
fidelity to his friends so constant tha
he is slow to suspect evil. But sc
steady and malignant has been thu
misrepresentation of him and his adj
ministration IN thousand petty per
sonal Notwithstanding, driving, trav
cling, associates, property-tkat hi
real character and position are OBJ
.. scured co many good men in th
country by thick cloud Of SANDER.