The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-06-29
From Harper's weekly.l
The Ku-Klux and the Colored Voters
BY EUGENE LAWRENCE.

The Southern wing Of the Democracy
forms more than one-third, and possibly
very nearly one-half, its strength. In
the South, If any where it must win the
control OF the Union. Its battles with
Republicanism are to be fought over
again at Vicksburg and Mobile and Rich-
mond Without the solid support of
nearly all the Southern States no Demo
cratic candidate can have any rational
hope of reaching the Presidency, no
| Congress or Senate would ever exhibit a
Democratic preponderance. Repelled
by that papal and Irish Catholic element
OH which the Northern Democratic lead
ers chiefly rely for success. shocked at its
/ frauds, ignorance, barbarity, indignant
/ that n foreign priest and the European
enemies of the republic should presume
I to dictate the course of American poll
| tics, the people of the North and West
will in 1876 present an almost unbroken
array in opposition TO the candidate of
/ the Roman Catholic faction. Protes-
/ tantism is apparently resolved that no
/ priests and cardinals, no Pope nor Jesuit
shall rule among US in the guse of Til
/ den and Kelly. Even the Germans, who
have so often in New York Joined with
/ the ultramontanes to support the De
mocracy, seem at last about to separate
/ from the enemies of their native land
I 1t is doubtful if any honest Germans in
| 1876 can be mfsled so far as to vote for
/ the candidate of the Irish Catholic Dem
ocracy. They are slowly escaping from
/ the guidance of their untrustworthy pol
iticians. The clamors, the scandals, the
l ISLANDERS, of the papal press can not any
/ longer hide from them the imminent
danger to which an ultramontane and
/ Confederate cabinet at Washington
might expose freedom in both Europe
and America. 1t is only in New York
or Connecticut that the Roman Catholic
Democracy can hope for any success at
/ the North and even here they will prob
ably be met by general uprising of the
non-sectarian part of the people.
! But in the Southern States the Demo
cratic leaders seem to hold a rigid con-
\ troll They hope to bring over in a unit
\ ed body the whole OF the recently rebell-
ious section to the support of some re-
dictionary candidate. and by the help of
fraudulent vote in New York or Con-
/ necticut, to win a sufficient majority
/ They have reduced to subiection Arkan-
sas, Mississippi, and Florida. They even
\ hope to overawe and conquer South Car
olina. The tactics they have adopted
through all the South have proved sin
gularly successful Within ten years
from the suppression OF the rebellion the
rebels once more hold the political con-
troll of nearly all the vast territory that
was rescued from them at the fall OF
/ Richmond and by the arms Of Grant
They profess, il is true, Union principles.
I they obey for the present the laws Of the
nation and the revolution at New Or
leans was suppressed by few gun boats
I and tne presence Of Sheridan But their
real purpose is shown IN the way in
which they govern the timid majorities
of their own section, terriiy and oppress
white Republicans, torture, massacre, in
timidate, the colored voters, drive away
capital, emigration, and labor, and pre-
serve a kind OF isolation that reminds
one of the despotism of Dr. Francia
No one can live safely and at ease in
many districts of the South who is an
ardent advocate of Republican princi-
pies, who insists that all the people shall
be educated, end the right of suffrage be
secured to all Should he avow such
opinions, he is liable to be shot at from
lonely places, like Billings and Iyey in
Alabama, or assailed openly, like Twitch-
ell and King in Louisiana; he will be
driven from his farm by threats of whip
ping, and silenced by a rule of terror
In Ireland it has long been the custom
! Ol huc ndllNcs 10 SHOOT uONn Unpopular
landlords from behind hedges, or burn
them in their houses But over a large
part of Ireland state of siege extends,
and the people are forbidden to carry
arms. In Georgia, Alabama, and Missis-
sippi no protection apparently is extend
ed to the peaceful citizen. The armed
ruffians ride over the country, and in the
midst Of terrified community strike
down whom they please in open day.
The recent instance of Twitchell and
King shows the disturbed condition OF
} the Coushatta District Of Louisiana. The
massacre of two years ago is not enough,
and two conspicuous Republicans, while
? crossing a river in boat, were shot by
an unknown person, who escaped with
out difficulty. He fired his musket until
his ammunition was exhausted, and nc
I one interfered. He even shot twice at a
negro who kindly attempted to save one
: of his victims from drowning. He then
q rode away, probably to assure his Demo
r cratic associates of his success, and tC
e boast, with ribald laughter, of the slaugh
: ter OF an active and eminent Republican
y Such are the most effective Democrat,
Z. politicians at the South, and il ID Will
: this class of brutal, uncultivated nature
o in all parts of the Union that the peopl
!, will contend in all the elections of 1876
Ie Even in the Southern States it can no
be supposed that any more than a small
g. minority is employed in these deeds c