The New York herald., 1878-03-01
First Chapter Of a History Of "Raconslruc-
hcn" in South Carolina
THE "KU-KLUX" MYTH.
A Cabal of Tyrants Manufacturing
"Outragcs."
THE POLICY OF PROVOCATiON.

State Will he told at icngh and II is more than prooa-
BILE that the real truth Will bo hidden in tho attempt 10
gloss and tue faults OF some OF those who
occupied prominent positions IN the State govern
ment and TO throw on the shoulders OF others the
soe respons bty all the evils which they only
shared. THIS 10 very great extent has been
dono already. For several years past | have been
singled out as who, above all others, is de-
serving Of the reprobatou which always attends on
the prostitution OF worthy cause 10 the attainment
of the most igno0io ends. Conscious, as am, that
prove the lastly OF the charge ot my having been
the principal in the many schemes OF plunder which
exhausted the revenues of the State, and knowing
tor wat the responsibility for each illegal
act should properly bs made 10 rest propose
myself TO become toe historian OF reconstruction III
South Carolina, anu in so dong assume and ac-
knowledge the responsibility Tor all iauts and errors
winch have committed in that State, and 10 hold all
others TO equal responsibility Tor those OF which
they have been guilty. All must suller together In
the opinion OF tho world. Justice must be done TO
those cizens OF South Carolina who robbed ana
plundered Of their substance under the gusc OF re-
publican State governments and from whose hand
can an acknowledgment more properly come oil the
Injuries spdicted uion them than from him who hav-
Ing been born and reared in thcir midst, ioolshly
and weakly loaned himself the perpetraton OF in-
1uries upon them rom which. for years and years,
they cannot rccovcrf
In the history wnlch propose to contribute to
your columns | will begin with the session of the
Constitutional Convention in 1868. and end with the
accession 10 power OF Governor Hampton. Bu before
doing so--and simply as an incident OF reconstruc-
toni send you tho incosed pages, which treat Of
the days OF Kp Kuxism, and which reveal, 10 very
small extent, some the meaus 10 which resort was
bad 10 lear nd among those who refused
10 become political supporters OF tho republican State
government
THE PERSECUTION
For many long years some OF the bravest and the
best OF both the young ana old men oil South Carolina
hnguished IN Unie ed States prisons under convHtion
for the crime OF Ku hluxsm. During the cruel days
Enle they were underg their trials tor their al
lc ed offence The greater pa oil cur Slate-com-
prsing all the of the whole upper country
mourning. Young boys just growing
up men in the prime oil manhood and old
men toltering on the verge OF the grave
were ruthIessy aud without the least warning borne
from their homes aud families ami hurried TO DIS
Ia their trial. without the least prepa
ration, boiore republican judges and Jurles composed
almost wholly OF colored men organized specially to
copvct If by chance there happened TO be on those
Juries any white men II was always found that they
were the most rabid ana partisan republican poll
ticians, who had placed there Tor the express
In their work Of and revenge. To such extent
this practice OF packing the jures carried that
on two or three memorable occasions when
Judge Bryan, OF Charleston. an honest man and an
impartial jurist presided, he animadverted in manly
terms on the gross and papabe injustice which had
leen practised by the subordinate officers OF the
court in many cases leading republican politicians
found TO have been rmpanelled who were noted
for their influence over their fellows, and who 1t was
we'll known entertained tho conviction that
white men, charged with crime or injustice
towarl negroes. had rights which they
Ube negroes) were bound to respect While this
reign OF terror was dominating our State casting It's
baneful shadow many pure and noble HE 1t was
found TO be utterly useless or legal resistance TO
te made. The most intelligent and cultivated OF our
people-men learned IN the law and conversant with
all the rules of practice established by 1t for the pro-
tecton OF accused persons-in vain appealed to the
testimony which was given IN the courts by our most
respectable and reliable citizens Hosts of men
vcted without the least legal proof OF guilt and we're
hurried far away from their families to undergo SEN
tences oil Imprisonment which were wholly un-
deserved. Our people had redress against the
Wholesale crusade which was thus made against their
pcrsonal rights. If man dared TO lift his voice in
oppo itoh 10 he cruelty which pract.sed forth
with IL argcd that he speaking for political
effect, ana II the suffering families OF those who were
convicted veutured to forward Washington petitions
ol remonstrance, or prayers Tor mercy they were
met at the White House by some envenomed repub.
lican placeuiap who took care TO close the
OF the authorities TO the representations which
sought DO made. Meanwhile the republican
press OF tho country ventilated. with telling effect
the terrible tales OF cruelty aud beasIness which
were practtsed by the socaed s'Ku Kux gangsn OF
South Cirolna, and IN a short time had impres
the pubic with horror and detcstation of the
winch were charged that even democratic organs
ceased the performance of Their duty in striving TO
bring light the real facts the case as they cx
tstoJ.
PHANTOM AND MYTH.
But not forever does injustice have It's sway.
The mills OF the goes grinds ovly;
But they grind exceeding small
Aud at last poInt has been reached when the
story OF ths law abid craraolcr OF our people and
the wrongs and injuries wrought upon them can 10
told ana proved
To those IN south Carolina, who had to en- lure so
much while they were shut of from the sympathy
aud rity OF their fellow democrats ia other States IL
WAS well known that Ku Kluxsm with all its accom-
panying tarrors charged, Tor the most
part phantom aud u myth. They knew that
in a majority OF the cases which we're hurried before
the courts heir citizens gutlcss OF lhe crimes
with winch they were charged, but aas they lacked
The means OF mprcssng their knowledge on The pco
pie u other communities. Almost every avenue OF
political communication bud been closed by the
caution and care necessary DO practised
by them Ia their every public movement
Their oaily Ilves--oven their most intimate fam
lily relaiions--~ere subject 20 the constant
espionage OF a State government which regarded
and treated them as enemies. No sanctuary
sacred against the intrusion OF spies agents
and ~ the commonest concerns Of practical, every
day business they had been taught TO feel that they
we're under tue hourly supervision OF who
sought to enrap them. Nothing Icft to them but
30 submit peacefully and unressngly TO the powers
that wereto bend their Decks 10 the yoke OF tyranny
wncn gaIed their pride anu manpcss trusting that
in Gods time the Gay OF dcliverance would
come, the dark curtain OF oppression when shut
them from the view Of the o the world would
ha unliied Id Iha end durance Monld