The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09
Unparalleled Villainy ! !
Revelations Of Ex-Governor Moses
History Of Reconstruction" in South Carolina
THE "KU-KLUKv MYTH!
A 0abal Of Tyrants Manufacturing 0utrages
THE POLICY OF PROPAGATION F.!


THE POLICY OF PROvoCATIoN /!
To THE EDIroR or THK NEW YoRK HER1LD:-
AT some early day no doubt the history OF recon
structi0n In south Carolina win BE- written. The
story OF the WRONGS and injuries inflicted that
happy State will Be told az length. and Il Is more
than probable that the real truth VIII be hidden In
the attempts % CLOS over and excuse the faults Of
some Of those who occupied prominent positions in
the State government and % throw on the shoulders
OF others te sole responsibility for all The evils in
tent has been done already For several years past
have been singled out as the man who. above all
other = deserving OF me reProDation when Always
attainment Of the most lgn0ble ends Conscious, as
am, that can prove the falsity OF the charge OF
my having been the principal in the many schemes
OF plumber which exhausted the revenues OF the
Stale. aud knowing where and for what the respon-
sibility for each illegal act should properly be made
% rest propose myself 70 become the historian OF
reconstruction in south Carolna and In doing o.
assume and acknowledge the responsibility for all
faults and errors which have committed In that
State and 20 hold all others 70 equal responsible
fly for those of which they have been guilty. All
Justice must be done 10 those citizens OF south Car
oliuA who were r0bhed and plundercd Of their sub
stance under the gnse OF republican state govern
ment; and from whose hand can an acknowledge
ment more properly come of the injuries inflicted
upon them than from him who. having been bonn
loaned himself 70 the preparation OF injuries upon
them nom which, for years and years, they cannot
recover.
In the history which / propose to contribute to
your columns viii begin with the session of the
Constitutional Convention in ls6s and end with tho
fore doing so-and simply as an incident OF recon
structonI send you the enclosed pages which treat
Of the days OF Ku kluxism. and which reveal, 10 q
very small extent some Of the means 10 which resori
was had 10 create fear and terror among those who
refused 10 become political supporters OF the rcpub
For many long years some of the bravest and the
best OF both the young.aud old men OF South Caro-
lima langushed in United States prisons under con
rrfnf he ert frf
cruel days while they undergoing their trials
for their alleged oence the greater part OF our state
comprising all the counties Of the whole upper
country-was In mourning. Young boys just grow
ing up, men in the prime of manhood and old men
tottering the verge Of the grave were ruthlesly
and without the least warning borne from their
homes and families and hurried 10 n distant town
TO stand their trial. without the least preparation,
before republican judges and juries composed al
most wholly Of colored men organized specially 10
convict. II by chance there happened TO be on
those juries any white men IL always found that
they were the most rabid and partisan republican
politicians who had been placed there for the ex-
press purpose Of keeping the eaored men up TO the
mark In their work Of hate and revenge. To such
an extent was this practice Of packing the juFies
carried that on two or three memorable occasions,
when Judge BFyan, o. charleston, an honest man
and an impartial iurist. presided, he animadyerted
in manly terms or the gross and papable injustice
which had been practced By the subordinate officers
Of the court In many cases leading republican pol
iicans were found % have been empaneIled who
were noted for their influence over their fellows and
mar viii IL men CHARGED Win crime or inj9see to-
N.-~~ -
wards Negroes had no rights which they (the ne
groesl were bound 20 respect While this reign OF
shadow over many pure and noble life, Il was
found TO be utterly useless for any legal resistance
10 be made. The most intelligent and cultivated of
our people-men learned IN the law and conSeTsant
with ali the rules of practice established by IL for
the protection Of accused persons-n vain appealed
20 the testimony hich was given in the courts by
our most respectable and reliable citizens. Hosts OF
men convicted without the least legal proof of
guilt and were hurried far away from their families
wholly undeseryed. Our people had redress
against the wholesale crusade which was thus made
against their personal rights. II man dared % lift
his voice in opposition 70 the cruelty which was
DFacticed, forthwith IL was charged that he was
speaking for political effect and 1.-THE suffering fam
lies Of those who were convicted ventured 70 for
ward 70 Washington petitions OF remonstranee. or
prayers for mercy. they were met 81 the White House
took care 10 close the ear OF the authorities TO the
representations which were sought 70 be made.
Meanwhile ne republican pres Of me country ven
and beaStlineM which were practiced by the So
called -Ku Klux gangs Of South Carolina and in a
short time had Impressed the public with horror
and aefcstation OF the crimes which were charged
that even democratic organs ceased the performance
OF their duty In striving 10 bring to light the real
facts Of the ease as they existed But not forever
does injustice have its way
rAs MN, # The saas griaa sls-y;
bas thsy grind exceaaiEE amaii
And at last the point has been reached when the
story Of the law abiding character Of our people ant
told and proved.
To those in south Carolina. who had to endure 50
much while they were shut OF from the sympathy
and pity OF their fellow democrats in other states il
was well known that Ku Kluxism with all its &C.
nam phansom and myth Thev Knew lev that N
majority Of the cases which were hurried before tbs
courts their citizens were guiites ofthe crimes witt
which they were charged but alasi they lacked tbs
means Of impressing their knowledge on the peopl,
of other communities Almost every avenue Of DO
Iitical communication had been closed by the eau.
ef.fla n he UrncffeQd nv Them In
their every public movement Their daily lives
even their most intimate family relations-werC
subject to the constant espionage Of State govern
ment which regarded and treated them enemies
No sanctuary was sacred against the intrusion oil
practical everyday business they had been taught
to feel that they under the hourly supervision
of men who sought % entrap them. Nothing wal
LEFT to them but 20 submit peacefully and unresist
ingly to the powers that were-tO bend their necks
to the yoke Of tyranny which CALLED their pride and
manliness trusting that in Gods own time the day
of delverance would come. the dark curtain of opr
preston which shut them out from the view of the
rest Of the world would be uplifted and the endur
ance Of years would meet is deserved reward in the
Judgment Of an enlightened country to which the
truth would at last be revealed.
That time has come in the overthrow OF the last
refuge OF partisan radicalism in the South and in
the inauguration OF pure and honest government
In South Carolina-a government under which the
most thorough Investigations have been made into
the wrongs and cruelties of the past and which will
shortly publish to the world the true story OF the
inside workings of the successive republican adj
ministrations which cursed our State and people
and well nigh utterly destroyed their resources.
The downfall OF radicalisTn In south Carolina and
the disruption OF ChAmberlains government have
been followed by that which we expected. The co
hesive power Of public plumber, which banded To-
gether those Of US who held Office and who fattened
the substance OF the people. and which while i
lasted prompted US 10 be true in our fcalty anc
nifty broken the seal Of secrecy which 10 long kept
.our lips closed. Most Of us who were formerly lead
ling republicans have been summoned as witnesses
aeure the democratic legislative investigating com
0r4fff tee "a m han All hng hoo
holding its sessions in Columbia. There has beer
no lack OF willingness on the part Of any man sum
firm Il by such evidence he may have in his pos
session. None OF their friends are In power now
There Il nothing 20 protect them from punishment
for their own misdeeds except the making OF a fll
disclosure OF everything they know concerning pas
misg oVernment and there Is no one who wants L
pussne them vtfldicttvely provided they make such
disclosure. For this reason they are telling the
truth aud II is indeed terrible 20 listen TO- Until
known the full enormity Of the viliainlcs which
were prncticed upon US from 1868 up 10 the inaugu
ration Of Governor Hampton.
Prominent among the stories which have formed
the bulk Of this evidence that which portrays the
manner in which most OF the Ku Klux maids were
gotten up and the reasons which existed for this
charges OF rebellion and instruction against tho
government on the part Of democratic citizens to be
made. Much o. this testimony affecting this branch
OF the inquiry has become known, owing 10 the wit
neSses rehearsing TO listening groups the substance
of what they have said before the committee and Il
now turns out that whenever there a dearth II
the outrage" and bloody shirt business instruc
fiOns were always given by the State government in
power ut the time for some new excuses 20 be in
.dulged ia by their wards" for the purpose Of in
duencing The public mind, and 50 TO invoke and cal
forth such resistance as would 10 certain extent
justify them in repeating their wholesale charges
against those who refused to remain silent under
their wrongs.
In the ku-klux business the most desperate meas
nres used 70 be resofted 10 In order TO arouse an
active expression Of public indignation and in some
cases the devices b arouse the exhibition OF passion
were 20 ingenious and devilish as 10 bring about
among an outraged people some Outbursts here and
there OF retaliation. 10 was under SCOTS admins
his State officers who issued the Instructions which
were necessary TO give birth 10 public uprising
The republican General Assembly, under his recon-
incubation, enacted laws which authorized him e
purchase arms OF the most approved calibre and K
place them in the hands OF their negro supporters
nnder the name OF the militia" while Il was made
a crime for white man 20 own carry gun un
Jess ne was willing to Ike his place in the ranks
among those who had formerly been his slaves
These colored men had appointed over them as OH
eers by scott the most desperate characters Of thei
race. and % them instructions were given 10 drill
their men with arms In their hands az the hour OF
midnight, and in just such places surrounded bS
degree Of public attention. They were taught tc
march TO all their political meetings as bodies o.
armed men, with ammunition on their persons, and
10 discharge their firearms without the least provo
cation and AZ all hours of the day and night II an
protected females were travelling alone through the
county these black miiitamcn were ordered TO fire
their muskets for the purpose Of keeping fhem In
tngs OF the State officers held which all mat
tens OF detail were talked over and plans were laid
~ lDtae the democrats ia the Stale By the constant
tnhiction OF injuries which they hoped would incitg