The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-02-03
IEsTABLIsHED IN
MARCH. tsaT.

most contemplate, when compared with
the wickedness and enormitics which
distinguished the government OF that
State while in the hands Of the Democra'
cy before the war.
REPORT oF JOINT COMMITTEE.
The report made by the joint commit.
tee Of the two Houses Of Congress on
Southern outrages. appointed in 1871.
through Hon. John Scott. then Senator
from Pennsylvania, presents the history
and operations Of the Ku Klux organiza-
tion in Mississippi. South Carolina. Geor.
gia, Tennessee, and Florida, In n picture
50 fearful and revolving that the reader
turns from IL with sickness Of the heart
lt is a tale OF a hundred brutal murders
Of deeds without name. Of inhumani-
ties and expressions upon the innocent.
defenseless, and ignorant, that will chal-
lenge the annals OF crime In any age or
/ country
when we read this dreadful record we
reflect that the vengeance Of God can
not sleep forever The statesman who
says be is so absorbed in the study Of po.
litical economy that he has no time TO
attend to these great issues Of life and
death and is weary Of these tales Of hor-
ror and suffering makes the same an.
swer Cain made 10 the Lord when he
was asked Where Is thy brotherf and
Cain answered. Il know not Am ]
my brothers keeper And the Lord
said. What hast thou done7 The voice
Of thy brothers blood crioth unto me
from the ground
To punish such crimes the Enforce
ment act was passed in 1874. which Of
course could not apply to offenses alrca-
| dy committed. but under 10 $50 persons
were indicted in the United States Cir
cult Courts in Mississippi. OF those 2i3
were tried and found guilty, and the
cases against 3S2 persons are still pend.
ing In North Carolina, 1,S49 were In.
dicted. OF these. Sis were tried and
/ found guilty. and cases are still pending
/ against 7f2, in South Carolina .ls6
were indicted; in Florida -. in Alabama
536 in Georgia. 235; in Tennessee -.
and in Kentucky 30 in all, 4.s6j.
The passage OF the enforcement act
and the prosecutions under IL had the
effect TO break up Ku-Klux organization
throughout the South, and gave compar-
ative peace and security in several Of the
| Southern States for two or three years.
/ The suspension Of the writ Of habcas cor.
/ pus by the President, in - counties in
/
and many Of the most desperate men In
that and other States Immediately ran
away, some Of whom have but recently
returned. The white-liners Of that State.
yielding TO the only principles they rec
/ ognizc. force and fear, suspended their
operations. and have only recovered
their courage since the revolution In
Mississippi which they are now declar.
ing u is their purpose 10 repeat aud
make the basis Of their canvass In 1870
Social prescriptions and punishments
were never more powerful and rclent
less than before the era Of reconatruc.
ton, and the years Immediately succeed
ing and u is an unanswcrablo fact that
these outrages and horrors have not
been inflicted upon the thieves and rob
bers, for they generally had Democratic
partners, but upon the innocent, the do
ienselts'. the ignorant
ALLEGED MsoovERxNExr no EXCUSE roH
srRDER.
But IL the misgoyernment and eorrup.
ton had been all that has been repre-
sented, what justification or excuse would
that constitute for the violeHce and mur.
der that have been committed7 None what.
ever. IL they be admitted 10 constitute a
justification. or even substantial excuse
that admission would be fatal TO the ex.
istence OF republican government Mis-
government and corruption have not
been confined to the Southern States
since the war The darkest page in the
financial history Of any State in the Un.
ion is 10 be found In tho reputation by
the State Of Mississippi Of her public
debt many years ago. az a time when no
Republican or Abolitionist could get his
foot in that State without danger OF be.
ing hung upon the next tree. IL cast a
deep shadow upon American integrity
throughout the world. and IL, to-day, a.
vivid in the memories OF men as II IL had
occurred but yesterday. No similar in
stance can be found In our history Of
equal decentralization and degradation Of
the public conscience Of a State. There
has been foul misgovernment in North.
ern States under Democratic adminislra-
ton. and we have witnessed in the city
Of New York. that stronghold Of the
Democratic party. a depth Of corruption
and fraud comprehending many millions
Of dollars first dragged 10 light by Re
publican agencies, and the chief criminal
has recently been permitted 10 escape In
open day by the connivance Of Democra-
tic officials. But these enormous public
robberies. which had been believed to
exist for years before final exposure.
were never dreamed Of ~ an excuse for
violence and murder.
But IL seems never 10 have occurred 10
those who attempt 10 Justify these
wrongs upon the score Of Republican
misgovernment in the South, that the
prescriptions and violence that have
been practiced there are In themselves
n 80 II a.
orders in government Where men ara
persecuted. not for their crimes, but for
their opinions, and are made outcasts
from society. and the common enjoy.
ments Of life. they have but little induce
ments to be honest. and the temptation
TO fraud and corruption are increased
tenfold. II Is the lesson Of history in
every age. that where men are treated a.
villains and vagabonds and subjected 10
wicked oppression from society because
Of their race, religious or political opin-
ions, they are sometimes thereby made
villains and vngabonds
so FAIrH ~ viErrE THAT coxNyrs AT ,xrR.
DER.
have no faith in that virtue which
assails with fury, fraud and corruption,
but eonnives at murder. outrage aud
oppression. Those who make daily out.
cry about frauds, larocnies and defalea-
tions but turn a deaf ear 10 the cries Of
murdered men. TO the shrieks Of victims
upon woom are inflicted internal outrag.
es. 20 the complaint Of those who are
driven from their homes. and made out
casts from society, for no other crime
than their race or political opinions. are
pharisees aud hypocritos Of the bascst
Z a. L. - -.
crimes. and deserve the execration Of all
men, but they are inferior In enormity
/ TO the crime OF murder The taking Of
/ human life. save in selfdefcnse. Is the
/ wickedost deed under heaven, aud
| r..nr nraI IIn rrllr.larDr a rnI rlnI