The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-01
K. K. K.
The History of the Famous Klan.
a View from the Standpoint of a
Southern Writer.
fhe Causes That Brought the Order
Into Existence.
fhe Work 1t Accomplished in a
Stormy Epoch.
rhe Numerical Proportions 1t At
tanned in the South.
rhe Weird Ritual and It's Mysterl-
GUS Operations.
Che First Account That Has Ever Been
WrittenAThe Truth Set Down
Without Prejudice-Some
Errors Corrected.
rhe Weird Ritual and It's Mysterl-
Gus Operations.

Mr.. saumarez de Haviland has written
or the London Geatlemda's Magazine
history Of the origin and development OF
he Kuklux Klan. His revelations are
rom the southern standpoint. While de-
lending, he lays bare the secrets OF the !
bnce dreaded organization with the utmost
freedom. Much that he tells has not
hitherto been published.
The birthplace Of the khan was, accord
ng to Mr. IIavilland, Pulaski, the capital
bi Giles one Of the southern tier OF coun-
les in Middle Tennessee. Previous to the
war its citizens possessed wealth and cult
ire-they retained the second, the first
was lost in the general wreck. Pulaski
was then town Of some 5000 inhabitants;
b male college and female seminary re-
peived liberal patronage, and it is, and was,
town Of churches.
During the entire period Of the klan's
organized existence Pulaski continued TO
4 be It's central seat Of authority, and some
| a is highest officers resided there.
here in the cultured and religious town
IL Pulaski the name kuklux first fell from
human lips There began a moyemet
which in a short time spread as far north
as Virginia, and ~ far south as Florida,
and which for a period convulscd the
country and attracted the attention OF the
civilized world. Proclamations we're full
minated against the khan by the President
and Governors OF States, and hostile
statutes were enacted both by State and
national Legislatures, and TO the election
Of President Cleveland there were localities
where the utteranco Of its name awakened
awe and fear
1t Is necessary 10 clear understanding
| Of the movement to observe that the his
| tory Of the khan is marked by two distinct
and well-deGned periods.
The frst period covers the time Of its or
ganimtion in May, 1856, to the summer Of
1867. The second from the summer Of
1867 TO lis disarmament in the early part
Of the year 1869. Its early part contains
but little OF interest, except rs illustrating
| the weird and irresistible power Of the
unknown over the minds Of men Of all
classes and conditions Of life and illustrates
how men, by circumstances and conditions
in part OF their own creation, may be car.
ried away and driiied along in course
against which reason and judgment pro-
test.
THE ORIGIN.
When the lads in gray" had returned
20 their homes there was nothing rs be-
fore mentioned, but q drcary and idle re.
action from the stirring scenes they had
been actors in. One evening in May, 1865,
few OF these young men met in the office
Of one OF the most prominent members
OF the Pulaski bar. In the course Of
conversation one Of the number said:
"Boys, let us get no club or society OF
some description" The suggestion was
discussed with enthusiasm, and a tenn
u \ organization was effected by the
~ IN Of a chairman and secretary. Two
"a ittcos were appointed, one 10 select
n name, the other "a prepare a set OF rules
for the government OF the society and
ritual for the initiation Of new members.
Before the arrival OF the appointed time
for the next meeting one OF the most
prominent citizens OF Pulaski went on
business trip 10 Columbus, Miss, taking
Il his family with him. Before leaving lac
rT,yNed leading spirit Of the new society,
a late Young Confederate leader, 20 take
charge OF mis- house during his absence,
and the place Of meeting was changed
from the law Office 10 this residence. The
owner Of Il ouiived the kuklux Khan,
and died ignorant Of the fact that his
house was the place where the organization
was fully effected.
THE NAME
Az the next meeting the committee re-
ported they had found the task OF select
ING A name difficult, and had not come 10
decision. They mentioned several they
had been considering. In this number
was the name "Ku Kioi, from the Greek
"Kuklos," q band or circle. On the men.
ton OF this name some one cried out, call
Il "Kuklux." Nearly all present were
Tcnncsscans, with only ono or two from
further south. On the name being pro-
nounced, Georgia man remarked: "Ku.
klux, that sounds like 'Coclctz, our old
society, called the Lost Clan Of Coletz. "
The Cocletz Indians were clan, not a
tribe, that had existed some 200 years
previously. On being admitted into the
lar larger and powerful tribes OF the
Uchees. Cocetz, their chief had fallen In
love with the Uchce chiefs daughter The
daughter reciprocaied bis affection, but
the old chief was obduraie and perempto'
rily forbade the union. The lovers at
tempted 10 elopc, but were discovered,
and Cocletz sentenced 10 be burnt
alive. lie was tied 10 the stake
and the pine nots were alread!
kindled, when his mistress, who had IS
J caped her guards, few with few faithful
adherenis Of his clan ~ his rescue. Bound
ing forward, she cut the thongs which
bound him TO the stake; while his follow
en poured yolley Of arrows on the sur
prised Uchces. In the confusion the loy
ers escaped, and Cocletz became a mighty
piratical chief; like lshmael, his hand VA
against every man, and at widely yaryinl
distances he and his band appeared will
Ere and sword. Throughout the southern