Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-04-14
Senator Bayard and the Kuklux. KIans.


The Democratic party has shown its
rcactionary proclivities chiefly in the
House of Representatives during the last
four months. BY common consent Dem.
ocratic Senators have sat with closed
mouths during the discussions affecting
the South and the interests of the late
Confederaey. But the strain was too
great to last, On Thursday, Mr. Bayard,
unable to curb his fiery temper, launched
out in defense of the Kuklux- -Klans, as.
saulting the Government for Its part in
bringing Southern assassins 10 Justice.
So far, Mr. Bayard might properly have
been regarded as indulging in political
clap.trap for the benefit of his Presidential
aspirations. But he did not stop at gen
eralities. He declared that "under the
Department of Justice fines had been
wrongfully wrung from people down
there tat the South), and he expected Mey
SeOuld be brought 10 Congress for payment. u
1t was not believed at the time that the
impudent assurance of Ben Hill and
Tucker in defending the late Confederacy
and assaulting the Nation, would ever find
a parallel on the floors of Congress. But
Mr.. Bayard goes a step further, and pro.
poses that the people of the whole cOun-
try shall betaxed to pay back to ballot box
suffers, robbers and assassins the fines
collected from them as the penalty OF
their otfenses against the lawsl This
proposition would be monstrous COM
ing from the lips of any but a rebel
sympathizer. From Mr.. Bayard il
merely shows that the South is still unre-
constructed, and that the Democratic
party is the champion of violence, intimi-
dation and assassination as means proper
TO be used in partisan warfare. Mr. Bay.
ard says that he expects these claims to be
brought before Congress for payment
We presume he knOlos that they will be
presented to Congress for payment. But
Will II not be q curious spectacle for the
American people-the Representatives Of
bands of midnight assassins, standing In
their places in the Senate and House, anC
demanding that the fines for their murder
Gus deeds be remitled, paid back TO theii
heirs and assigns? viii Senator BayarC
vote TO pay these claims? We expect III
will not because he actively sympathize
with men who assassinate negroes, o.
with men who delight TO rob negroes o
their right OF suffrage, but because it il
deemed necessity 10 the success of In,
Democratic party TO drive the negro from
the political arena. The presentation O
the claims of which Mr.. Bayard gives no
tice TO the Senate and the country is
logical sequence of Democratic practic,
and teaching. 1t is in perfect accord will
the proposition to amnesty jeff Davis il
face of that gentleman's repeated, bolC
speeches in defense of the late Confeder
acy. 1t Is in perfect accord with the dec
laration of Hill and Tucker, that the wa
settled nothing; that the Nation is a myth
tlat the Union is a rope of sand. Thl
proposition 10 remit these fines is
proposition 10 justify the crimes for which
they were imposed Mr.. Bayard pro
poses that Congress shall say to the claim
ants: 1--WE do not object TO your drivinI
negroes away from the polls; we do no
object TO your baRishing Northern mer
from your neighborhoods; we do not oh
ject TO your killing these offenders if the,
persist in voting and In remaining wher,
they are not wanted. Present your bills
gentlemen, and We will audit and pa,
them" Mr.. Boutwell, and Mr.. Mortoi
showed the Senate that Mr.. Bayard knew
nothing about the subject which he at
tempted 10 discuss, but il Is plain that IN
does know tllat the Kuklux Klans pro
pose TO make raid upon the Treasurl
for the money wronglully wrung from
them" by the Department of Justice
VIII the members of the Klan appea
before the Senate masked and under as
sumed names, and will senator BayarC
introduce and eulogize them by their tru
names, with an explanation as 10 why the,
used 10 wear masks and travel on darl
nights under assumed names? We ar
of the opinion, Senator Bayard, that yol
will live to regret that you ever CAV
notice that The Kuklux Klans propose Il
askCongress 10 make respectable gentle
men of them by removing the brand o
Their felOnies. - Infer-Icedn.