The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-01

Pulaski khan could not be conveniently
carried out in the country, various moditi-
cations and changes lever growing in stern
ness were made. But the strictest in
functions were laid in regard to secrecy,
mystery, and, at FIRST the character OF the
men admitted. The growth in the rural
districts was more rapid than il had been
in the town. Applications for permission
to establish 'dens" multiplied rapidly, and
the newspaper press bristlod with notices
in the " infected regions " of "the fantastic
gentry"
During the fall and winter OF 1866 the
growth OF the khan was rapid. II was
spread over wide extent OF territory.
Sometimes by sudden leap II appeared in
localities far distant from any existing
''dens." A stranger from West Tennessee,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia,
or Texas, visiting in neighborhood whore
the order prevailed, would he initiated,
and ON his departure carry with him per-
mission TO establish den at home, and
by u sort OF tacit agreement the Pulaski
khan was regarded rs the source Of power
and authority, and the gIand cyclops OF
this den" was virtually the ruler OF the
order.
Such was the formation OF the Kuklux
klan in the first period Of its history from
June, 1866, TO April, 1867. Yet all this
time II was gradually in very natural
way taking ON new features not at first re-
motely contemplated 10y the originators OF
the ordcr-features which finally trans.
formed the kuklux Khan into band OF
Regulators"
THE MYSTERY.
The impression made by the khan on the
public was one cause which contributed to
It's transformation into band OF "Regula-
tors. =" When the meetings first began to
be held in the diapidated house on the hill
passcrs 10y were frequent. Most Of them
passed the grim and ghostly sentinel ON
the roadside in silence, but always with
quickened step. Occasionally one would
stop and ask "Who are your In awfully
sepulchral tones, the invariable answer
was, "a spirit from the other world. | was
killed at Chickamauga.
Such an answer especially If given TO u
superstitlous negro was extremely tcrriiy-
ing, and, il in addition he heard the noises
issuing from the den" lac had the ioun-
dation for most awe-inspirng story; and
in fact the common belief later among the
negroes of the south was that the kuklux
Khan was composed OF the spirits Of dead
Confederate soldiers, who could not rest in
their graves, but had returned 10 protect
their living kindred. From the country
came similar stories, and the feeling with
which the KukluX Khan came TO bc re-
garded was one Of awe and terror. In
short time the lictor Of the Pulaski "dcn'
reported that travel along the road ON
which he had his post had almost entirely
stopped. In the country II was noticed
that the nocturnal perambulation Of the
turbulent colorcd population diminished
or entirely ceased wherever the kukluN
appeared. In many WAYS there was a no.
ticeable improvement in the habits OF a
large class who had hitherto been causing
great annoyance. In this way the khan
gradually realized that the most powerful
devices ever constructed for controlling
the ignorant aud suporstitious were IN their
hands. Even the most cultured were not
able wholly TO resist the weird and peculiar
feeling which pcrvadcd every community
where the kuklux appeared. Each week
some new incident occurred TO illustrate
the amazing power Of the unknown over
the minds OF the whole community.
A REORGANIZATION.
The new revolution that had begun went
on. The khan increased in numbers and
in power, an impcrum in impcrio, until
It's DEGREES were far more potent and it,
powers more dreaded than the visible COM
mOnwealths which II either dominated or
tcrrorizcd. Until the beginning Of the
year 1867 the movements OF the klnn had,
in the main, been characterized 10y pru-
doncc and discretion, but lattcrly attempts
had been made to correct evils by positive
means which menaces had not been suili.
cient 10 remove. The danger which the
more prudent and thoughtful had apprc-
hendcd as possible was now a reality. Had
II been possible 10 do 10, some OF the more
timid Of the leaders would have been in
favor OF disbanding. This could not well
be done because, at that time, the tie that
bound them was too shadOwy 10 be cut or
united. They had evoked "a spirit from
the Vastly deep" II would not down ut
their bidding. And. besides. the khan
was more aud more needed. The only
course which seemed TO promise any satig-
factory solution OF the difficulty was this.
To recognize the khan on plan cores
ponding To its size and present purposes,
10 bind the isolated "dens' together 10
secure unity Of purpose and concert Oi ac-
ton, and 20 distribute the authority among
prudent men nj local ccntcrs, aud exact
from them a close supervision Of those UNI
der their charge.
4 NATIONAL CONVENTION.
With these objects in view, the grand
cyclops OF the Pulaski den sent out n re-
quest to all the dcns scattered over the
south 10 appoint delegates 10 meet In con-
ycntion nc Nashville, Tenn, In the early
summer Of 1867. At the time appointed
this convention was held. Delegates were
present from the Carolinas, Alabama,
Georgia, Louisiana and other southern
States. A plan Of reorganization pre-.
yiously prepared was submitted tO the
convention aud adopted, and the delegates
returned 10 their various States ~ secretly
~ they had come. At this convention the
/ territory covered by the khan was dcsg.
mated ~ the Invisible Empire This
was subdiyided into "rcalms" coterminous
with the boundaries Of States. The
realms" were divided into "dominiOns,
corresponding 90 congressional districts,
the "1ominions" into provinces" co.
| terminous with the counties, and the
provinces" into "dcns."
! To each OF these departments officers
were assigned. One 'chicf commander
for each "roalm," several division com.
mandcrs," camp commander for each
province, and officers for the Subdivisions
down 10 "chcis Of ten"
Colonel men, faithful body slaves
throughout the late war, etc, were admit
ted under certain conditions, but the yot
ing had 10 bc unanimous, one black ball IL
fifty Ia CAMP causing the question " b'
| carried into the "ncNt moon"