The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-01-16
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The kn klux trials have ended ia
wretchcd fizzle. They were designed to
make political capital for the selfish
Presidential candidate who ordered
them, We say "Prssidential candidate"
for it WAS in that capacity and not in the
character Of President, that GIANT set
this piece Of chicanery in mn;ion Ii
was expected hy this artitice to rsyive the
emhers x passion against the Sosth, and
draw &c pi,i,lic attention from ua alesira
be scruiay Of the administrations.
IN this it miserably failed The
thundcrs of TRUMBULLs resolutions have
aroused the whole country, while
GRANTS little fetch lived its djsgraceful
litc,and died its disgraceful death almost
unuotjced
Bot vile as it was, it desires final
glance, If for no other reason, because
OF its pOrtentous birth
The Ku kiux law was the offspring Of
an extra session of Congress, called by
GRANT for the express purpose of bring
ing it into being 1t WAS kept carefully in
allegiance until the elections of Ohio and
Pennsylvania were heard from, when the
first proclamation under It was issued.
calling upon the obnoxious assemblages
to disperse. Before it was possible for
those to whom it was addressed to see
this proclamation, another Was issued.
under pretense that the first was disc.
beyed, declaring martial law and sus-
pending the writ of ba5cas corpus I'M
medistely GRANTS poor tool AKERMAN
was among the victims, with his soldiers,
seiziug and imprisoning by wholesale
When the jaiIs would hold no more
the trials commenced Such trials were
never before seen in a civilized country.
Negro grand juries, negro witnesses and
negro petit iuries convicted o: acquitted
at the merest hap hazard.
It is alleged, aud many circumstances
confirm it, that the secret service money
was used to bribe witnesses, and even to
bribe poor wrecks of creatures to plead
! guilty, in order that some sort of show
might be made in excuse for having
tralBpIed down the Constitution and laws
to inaugurate the proceedings.
One well authenticated instance, in a
trial for slspping an impudent negro.w
sufficiently exemplify the whole.
A white man was charged with striking
n negro, and the negro swore to the
truth Of the charge. Thereupon four
other negroes swore point blank that at
the time Of the alleged offense, the white
man was working with them in distant
field. The white man was acquitted, and
turning TO tina Judge, asked if he was
free. The Judge told him he was
whereupou he said, "Judge, for five dol
lars / can have you convicted of mar
der. ! dii slap that darkay, and these
-others bave sworn ne off. For the same
money | can get a dozen of them to
swear they saw you cut mans throat y
Such a.e sse tools with which GRANT
expected to "iire the Northern heart" "
and direct against the people of the he,
gro-ridden South the indignation which
was threatening his own pal .administra-
ton.
1t failed as it deserved to, and the re-
suit is that good deal of public disgust
with the selfish and unscrupulous GRANT
has been sllarpened into public scorn.
The great issne of the next campaign
is maze mp, sa5 no caicanery or srtilice
Eof political schemsss caa change it
Thousands of the people are, like CARL
SCHURz, '.in dead earnest" and have
firmly determined not to be diverted 3y
military glory, or any other side Issue,
but will insist that their candidate shall
possess character for unsnlIiea, ire
proachabie, STERLING INTEGRITY. -4r>