National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-06
The North Carolina KukIu1.

The North Carolina KulsIur.
A correspondent of tho New York SIN
furnishes that journal with long inter-
Wow with Capt. b. Shotwell, of Raleigh,
n. C., which purports to give history of
the kuklux khan as it existed in Ten
ncssee and in tho Carolinas. Capt. Shot
well knows all about the kuklux, and if
80 disposed could write thoroughly ac-
curato sketch Of the rise, progress, and
decline Of the order which would have
real historic value. His talk OH tho
subject, however, after being filtered
through the brain of some young man
whose personal recollection scarcely goes
back to the kuklux period, becomes
feeble trash. lie is probably not to
blame for all tho absurdities which tho
callow interviewer puts into his mouth.
The attempt TO connect tho union
leagues withsany of the organizations,
real or imaginary, that wcro maintained,
or were supposed to have been maintained,
among tho union people in North Carolina
during the war is arrant nonsense. The
union leagues in the south were simply
political clubs, aud their object was to
voters up to sense of their rights and
duties as citizens. Without this aid and
encouragement the newly enfranchised
citizens could hardly have been induced
to brave tho angry resentment of the
white people, VINO thought then md who
still think, that ''the negro has no busi-
ness mcddling in politics"
Tho assertion that the negroes were
trained in tho leagues for committing
deeds of violence; that they were prom
ised forty acres and mule" and that
they were instructed to burn tho
property of those who offended them,
is equally absurd. Capt. Shotwell has
some personal familiarity with the ku-
klux trials, aud he knows perfectly we'll
that whom tho fullest opportunity was
Afforded for setting up these loose allega-
tions in eXtenuation of the horrible
crimes committed by the midnight
raiders no proof whatever could be pro-
duccd to sustain them. The defense in
court was generally an dHJi. while the
"best people" of the kuklux communi- =
ties explained that tho outrages were
committed by lawless young men whom
they could not control. Capt. Shotwcll
thoroughly understands the merits of
both delcnses.
The pretcnsc that the primary object of
the kultlux was to protect society aud
punish crime is on a par with tho othor
| explanations which tho interviewer at
tributes to Capt. Shotwell. There is so
much eXaggeration in what he says about
the ineilicioncy of the so.called carpet
bag" governments (which never existed
in North Carolina at alD that tho whole
may be said to bo false. A few cotton
houses were burned out of revenge, after
the raids and whippings began, but the
only wonder Is that there was 80 little
retaliation. "Can you wonder that tho
south, under such circumstances, turned
aside from the shams Of law to seek pro-
lection elsewhere % asks Capt. Shotwell.
As matter of fact the kuklux had no
concern about the law, except to break il
and escape punishment. Their object
was not the protection Of society, but tho
restoration Of what they called white su-
premacy." They wanted to bring tho col.
ored people back to the old servile habit,
and to ilOg them out of their new notions
about impartial suffrage and equal rights.
The object was mainly political, as Capt.
Shotwell very we'll knows. Tho white
men who were murdered in North Caro-
lima were natives of tho state, and up to
tho time they became republicans wero oil
good rcputc. The colOrcd men who were
tlogged were not tho bad niggers," but
the 'amart niggers"-those who were
known to bo leaders in the leagues, and
who wore suspected of having political
aspirations.
lfany one wants to know all about the
kuklux organization in North Carolina
he has only to turn TO Judge Tourgee's
celebrated novel, "a FOOLS Errand."
The names arc fictitious and some Of tn
characters arc oVerdrawn, but tho purpose
of the whole conspiracy is laid baro and it.
methods Of restoring white supremacy
are dolinoated with forco and truthful.
ness which sharply contrasts with the
loose, illogical, and untruthful statements
in the Shotwoll interview.