The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09
Comments Of the Press.

PHILADELPHIA TfaeS Ind-During the first term Of
President Grant and even later the alleged ourages
perpetrEted upon the negroes OF certain Southern
States, notably of South Carolina, by armed white
men, in spirit Of hatred Of the Union and hostility
10 the reconstruction acts constituted the mao part
Of the stock In trade of the Republican party in the
North. Ii was represented that the rebels had re-
tired from the field OF open war only 10 resort TO
sasSination means of Kidding themselves of their
enemies and putting the Democratic party on It's
ieet oath-bound organizations under the name o.
hn klux, were SAID 70 pervade every neighborhood.
formed for no other object than 10 keep The negroes
and their white allies falsely called Republicans, in
Slavery was indeed abolished by law, but we were
led To believe that the foundations of system
Of human bondage were being laid. Masked mid
night riders were supposed 70 be galloping through
the country, killing scnurging negroes, Kidding
humble homes with bullets. burning school houses
and sparing not even the women and children of
the families OF those who dared declare themselves
Republicans. The stories Of outrages then told 10y
pen and pencil and described upon the stump in one
campaign after another still lnger in the memory
IL seemed 10 the humane North that the devi! him
self was abroad in the South working for Democratic
supremacy and IN view of the horrors OF kti klux-
ism no punishment was considered too severe for
the treacherous South. Unde9 these feelings many
measure OF legislation that disgraced the statute
book of q free country were cheerfuly indnrscd by
the people who went 10 the polls. They were deem
ed necessary for the protection Of the freedman and
the punishment of his oppresSOrs The policy OF
force was simply fighting the devil with fire. and
not until the fearful truth that they were being duped
dnwned upon the Republican masses was that poll
cy changed. Even now. however, many good peo-
pie do not fully know what ouirages were perpetrat
the real purposes of the invention Of the terri
BILE machinery OF reconstruction acts, conspiracy
laws and force bills and 70 what cruel hands their
execution was entrusted.
The curtain is lifed upon some of the most hOrri-
Bile acts in this bloody drama by one who played
leading part therein. Ex-Governor Moses. of South
Carolina, has begun, in the columns Of the New York
Herald, the story Of what he knows OF what happen
ed behind the scenes That Moses is a villain all the
world now knows, but villain only could know all
the secrets Of those dark days; and in telling them
he does not screen himself bnt honestly conieSses
thai in greed r urudpr ha lent 9TH
did, 20 the conspiracy which brought many of the
people of his native state TO ruin aud 10 death. He
declares in the outset that 70 those in south Carolina
who had 10 endure 50 much il was wen known thsf
Ku Kluxism, with all It's accompanying terrurs was
the greater part "A myth and phantom" Itwasa cum
ming and deyilish device of himself and his col
leagues To perpetuntc their power for the sake
Of plumber and TO keeppubie sentiment in the North
WheneTer umoF would ~ come e Tod PoR n
der whose bay0nets the thieves did their work were
TO be removed the State officers would get together
and consider what ought be done 10 prevent such
n catastrophe. Agents were dispatched To the iue-
ror for no other purpose than create troubles that
might be converted into reaclionary outbrea Ks.
Every negro in the Stale was armed as Il militaman
and hidden to assert his rights by violence while
was made crime for any white men 20 carry arms
except as priyates IN the companies composed Of
their former slaves and under officers who were de-
sgnedly selected from the most desperate classes in
the state To these officers instructions We're given
10 drill at midnight with ammunition on their per
sons and 20 discharge their pieces without any pro-
vocation with the express purpose of terrifying the
womeg aud children and aronsing white men 10 a
frenzy Of excitement. II unprotected females were
travelling through the country these black militia
men were directed 10 dog their steps
The plan involved the constant Inflammation of
the Democrats by such means, and even by incen-
diarism and worse, in the hope that they would be
aroused % the resistance that always preiext
for new severity. The state over-run by mar
shals ami eonstabes privy 10 this business and well
paid for fostering race conflicts. Twenty-Five deS-
peTadOes were imported from New York and scat
tered through The country with instructions work
mp the outrage business and to do all in their pow
er 20 breed REVOLT II the whites organized and
armed in the most nOeusiYe way for the nrotAcion
Of their wives and children their property eyery
such organization was held 20 be a ku Klux con
spirncy and treated accordingly. Then courts that
were The creatures Of the Columbia ring stepped in
20 finish The work. Young men and old men the
braYest and best In South Carolina. Wcrc dragged -
trial. convicted by packed UTies sud sent % North
ern penitentiaries % anguish and die There was
no redress, The man that grumbled vas traitor
and must expect the fate Of those upon whom his
sympathy was expected. The United Stat army
stood in readiness 10 execute the will OF the thieves
and, under instructions from Washington did il with
mercileas rgor. II j. shown that one army officer
Major Merrill, Of the Seventh Cavalry, who is de-