The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-10-24

PoEr GAMBLE, Oct. 22. 1880.
EDITOR INTELLxoEycEg.


The Shermsn-H HAmpton correspon-
dencs and the subsequent challenge by
Hampton 20 Sherman 10 fight duel j,
highly significant IN the present impor
tant contest between the rival political
parties. each straining every nerve foI
supsemscy snd each working mos, de
terminedIy for success.
More particularly does the question
press itself home to every thinking
mind snd demand positive ans wer
which 10: Is the assertion made by
Secretary Sherm an true or false p "Do
Wade Hsmpton and all Others Of the
same political sripe owe their offss to
aud hold thsir Office by virtue - an
armed band Of marsuders known by
tue name of Ku Klux p Either the
statement on which these questioss rest
is true or false. Which 10 it. If the
ssnsitiveness Of Gen Hampton In the
matter be takes - criterion we would
b led 70 think that ths huttering bird
had certainly received fearful wound.
The organization of the order kpeyn
ss the Ku Kiux Khan did not exist in
the South prior TO the tall Of 1866,
when tbe first move was being made to
elect representatives to the Censtitu-
tionsl Convention 10 take measures To
frame q constitution aud make such
laws in pursuance TO the kecoostruc-
sion Acts OF Congress. which wss to be
the tirst step looking to admission
to the Union, from which such States
bad seeded. The frst representatives
eiected were In the main Republicans
10 the following year II Was dstar n,ln :
ed by the people Of the South to take
such measures - would have ten
dency at least 10 deter the Republi-
cans. or. ~ they we're dsnominated by
the Southern people. Radicals, from
voting against the wishes Of those op-
posed TO them, and calling themselves
Conservatives. Looking to the ac>
omplishmant Of this purpose the or
gsnisatron sbove referred TO wss form
ed, snd in the Incredibly short space of
time of less than two years the organ
izstion extended 10 every State taking
part in the reasonable work Of de-
stroying the Government. and bound
themselves by oAths the most terrible
and reasonable which could be imag-
insd 70 put dowa at Whatever. cost
the party known to be friendly aud
loyal to the Government, even to the
taking Of life. destroying Of property.
and traupling out every right and pre-
rogative Of citizenship or liberty.
That this organization numbered
among its members many. ii not most,
Of the representative men Of the South
and through oil grades Of society, has
become part Of history; and. further.
that this organization did not at the
frst intend fully to put all Its bloody
declarations into practice, is for
eign to the question now; or. that the
Gosernment might have sought and
put into operation . more wise policy
relative to the government OF the
Southern States and the treatment of
its people. is alike foreign to the Ques-
ticn under consideration. Suffice it to
cay the Ku Klux did their cowsrdly
work by sssassiuation and midnight
numbering only too well. It is part
Of the history of our country. and it
should cause every American citizen to
blush with shame that this part Of
American history is too true In . few
years, not more than three or four. by
tbs aid of this terrible organization
and its aiders end sbsttoss, nearly every
6ootherp EtAte was declared 10 be
largely Democratic, when it was
known. and is today. il all the votes
had been fairly cast and faithfully
counted. in . majority st least Of the
Southern States there would be on the
I'd Of November next Republican
majority for Law and order. How then
did Wade Hampton and his confreres
get elevated 10 office. aud by virtue Of
what do they hold that office today
Eithse directly or Indirectly by virtue
Of the Ku Klux Klan. and he knows it.
Hancock known IL, and when he accept.
cd the domination be know H. when
he pcuned thaa letter of Aecsplance he
knsw that he never did mere hypo-
critical oct than 10 pea those lines.
prstendine % be . TREAD TO the rights
Of citizsnship. and yet, II elected
would b elected by outraging these
verg rights. WhAs 10 the Democratic
party todays The body and soui is in
the South; The Ices Important oxtremi
ties IN the North. By what means does
the Democratic party .sxpsct 30 carry
the Solid Southy Let the hundreds Of
shoussnds Of smurdsred victims Of
Hampeons chief executive. the Ka
Klux. sasves. How did the South be-