The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-10-06
WHAT THE kUkLUX DID.

WARM SPRINGS, n. c., September %
Sitting on the broad piazza of the hote
here, away from the promenaders, lis
tened last night to passionate, earnes
Justification Of kukluxism in Louisian
and other Southern States. The stor,
of wrong and outrages, the violation
ruthless and rough, of all that men hol(
most dear and sacred, as it came pouring
in burning words from the lips of one o
New Orleans most eloquent divines, wa
in striking contrast to the perfect peac
that wrapped the valley in deep silence
The moon was shining with brilhanc,
seen only in Southern climes, and tn
clearly defined mountains were patched
with alternate light and shadow as th,
clouds drifted by. The conversation hac
drfted on Southern topics, and as th'
preacher, whose faith is firm belief il
the fatherhood of God and the brother
hood of man, warmed with his subiec
his physical ills for the time we're for
gotten, and the mentality that has stirred
many congregation with its fire burned
and glowed like molten iron. "Wa!
kukluxism justiiable?" he said, in answer
to a question. Eyes, sir, and if the doc
trine that s'the end justifes the means
was ever correct, it WIS during the reigr
of terrorism in the Southern States wheI
Sukluxism was rampant. Remember
sir, that at the close of the war and dur
ing the Reconstruction period the white
men in the South were dsarmed, and il
was penal ofense for them to have fire
arms In their homes. The negroes, how
ever, were armed; our streets and high
ways were pat-olled by negr, soldiery
who were but q set of barbarians anc
savages, worse than are the savages to-
day in the interior of Africa. It got sc
that q white woman dare not cross the
threshold of her house lest she be as
saulted by one Of these brutes, while
white meu had to abandon the roads tc
the negroes ard make their across the
field as best they might. To appeal tc
the law was useless, for the judges were
carpet -baggers and sustainedthe negroes
at was this state of affairs, when We
saw our civilization, and all the rights
and privileges OF society being swept
away, and our dear ones exposed to 9
fate worse than death, that gave birth tc
kukluxism. Self-preservation is a fun.
mental law, and recognizing that naught
but heroic measures would quel thl
growing evil, the white men quietly or
ganized, and in armed bodies began the
redress of the wrongs from which they
were suffering. Do not imagine that the
kuklux were recuited from the criminal
classes. Such I know IS the prevalent
Northern idea, but it is absolutely false
The members of the K. Z. K. were gen
tlemen of f2e education, struggling
manfully to retain and sustain their man
hood, and give to their children as q
heritage of the war a higher civilization
than perhaps they themselves had en-
joyed. In many instances that was the
only legacy they had to give, for all else
had been swept away in the storm o'
shot and shell that had for four year;
been sweeping over the land"
GLOW did the bands work."
s.NegToes, like sheep, require q lead,
ear, and the bands quietly noted the
leaders and where they lived. At nights
they visited their cabins, and called the
men out. The most brutal We're either
shot or hung; others thoroughly whipped
and ordered to leave the country. Il
this way reign of terror was created
among the negroes, and the white meI
gained control. Why, sir, even the
Federal troops that were sent down tt
suppress kukluxism refused in many In
stances to interfere, and in some case!
actually aided. They knew that it wa:
not condition of crime and anarchy
but a necessity born of negro insolencs
and intolerance. "
"What about the Ford-Mu1phy mur
der in New Orleans?"
s:New OrleaEs is and has been since
the days of Yarmouth cursed by ring
rule. The spectacle of a Judge adjourn
ing his court and deliberately going ou
and shooting man to death as ont
would wild beast was simply disgrace
full, and is blot on the fair fame Of th'
Queen City that will not soon be effaced
The ring did all in its power to save tn
murderers, and perhaps would have sue
ceeded had it not been for the efforts O
the Rev. r. A. Holland, of Trinit,
Church. He not only published lette
after letter in the Picayune, demanding
their punishment, but also publicly ant
from his pulpit demanded their e1ecu
ton. His life was frequently threatened
by members Of the ring, but he perse
vered and won. Had those men beel
pardoned they would have been lynchet
within twenty-four hours. So determined
were the members of Trinity parish, th
wealthiest in New Orleans, to rid th
city of the scourge, that 100 of then
organized secretly for the purpose o
lynching the murderers. Among tn
members of this band were numbered
some of the most respected citizens 0
New Orleans, and their counsel was thel
pastor. In many respects the Rev. K
\. Holland is remarkable man. He !
q Kentuckian by birth, and although O
small physique, is all pluck, and doe
not hesitate to raise his voice in denun
ciation of wrong-doing and in favor OF
higher civilization. From his pulpit b
fought the fraud in the exposition man
asement, and alone was the means Q
stopping the bull tig ghting on the expos
ton grounds. You may know now de
voted he is to principle when 1 tell 20
the men he fought in the e1positio
were among the wealthiest members c
his church. He is strongly intellectual
and has most pronounced views, Thic
he never hesitates to express.
), "A cooper in Exeter, Canada, built
large tank in the shop and then had
tear down the whole front of the shc
before he could get it out.