New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-24
TIE PRESIDENT AND THE KC-fLUX Law


Few know that the suppression OF the great
Dcbs instruction by the President WAS ""e "
law which, when 1t was passed. WIS Ut
nounced with extreme bitterness ana res'S'e"
TO the utcrmost by the entire Democratic P"rN
I'm Congress A law enacted for the protec''on
of negroes against Ku-Klux outrages ana cr'li''S
WAS the act by which President CleVelahd was
enabled 10 protect white citizens III 'heir rish''
and TO restore peace to western H'a'eS' III.
"Act 10 Enforce the Fourteenth Amendment
approved by President Grant April ~, 1911, en-
braces the following provisions, when co'iio
not have been more pertinent or compete IL 'i'c
measure had been expressly drawn 10 III ''c
railway outbreak:
In all cases where instruction. domestic violence
unlawful combinations or conspiracles IN any o'a'e
shall 80 obstruct or hinder the execute" VI .''
laws thereof and OF the United States as 70 oe
prive any portion or class OF the people Vi sa'u
state OF any OF the rights. privileges or imHu'ies
or protection named In the Constitution ana secureu
by this act and the constituted authorities Oh sa''
State shall either unable to protect or shaii iro,
any cause fail In or refuse protection Oh t"e peop
In such rights such facts shall be deemed de''a'
By such State OF the eqdal protection Oh 'he 'a"'
70 which they are entitled under the Constitution
Of the United States and in all such cases or
whenever any such Instruction. violence uhid"iu'
combination or conspiracy shaA Oppose % w
struct the laws OF the United states or 'he u"'
execution thereof or impede or obstruct the que
course of Justice under the same 1t shall be lawiui
for the President. and II shall be MS duty 10 ahe
such measures. by the employment OF the m''''a'
or the land or naval forces OF the lnited states VI
OF either or by other means. as h. may deem
necessary FOR the suppression OF such lhsu''e''O'
domestic violence or combinations
When thc President sought for authority 10
MI, down the instruction which Governor Alt
geld and Mayor Hopkins were encouraging so
far * they could he found II In this act OF
ISL and in n previous act Of July ~. lNol'
also PASSED by Republicans. The earlier meas
urc WAS resisted by Democratic leaders. such IA
Vallandiglam and Burnett. but was passed
and Abraham Lincoln signed It. The act or
1871 WIS denounced by Democrats as unconsu-
tuiional and subvcrsivc ~ liberty ana every
Democrat voting nj all voted against H. MI
Holman moved 10 strike ont the section quoted
=, os to leave the President without any ali-
thority 10 enforce the laws or protect citizens
in their rights. :nl the lightweight votes for
his motion were all east by Democrats. In III"
Senate the Democrats also unanimously opposed
the bill bui IL passed. was signed by President
Grant and has now been employed In Il great
uublic emergency by President Cleveland
Looking back at the situation in ISL 1t seems
almost Incredible that the Infamous ku-kluX
consplroc,es were NJ any time excused or shield
I'll by any political party. They were IN fact
armed conspraccs To assassinate political oppo-
ncnts and Ia deprive a million voters OF the
right of suffrage. No crime could be more das-
,orlly no offence against the Constitution OF
thn United States more fragrant than those
which the act of 1871 was designed To rcprcsS
But the entire Democratic party resisted 10 tho
last extent Of lis power every endoavor 10 pro-
vide the people protection against such crimes
II was only too plain that III" resistance WAS
because the assassination and instruction were
engaged in supprcSsing Republican votes. Would
It not be said. II Republicans conspircd In Ike
manner 10 tcrrorZr or asSassinatc Democratic
voters in any State and were suffered by state
or city authorities 10 do SO with impunity for
years. that the party had become too Infamous
for any decent citizen 10 uphold II:
II was not with Il partisan purpose that the
law Of 1871 was cnlced. save ~ II Is always
for the good Of any party 10 uphold me Coisu
tuition and protect the rights Of the people
Even ~ that time there were mntiiudes Of Re
nublIcnns who were anxious To withdraw from
all attempts 10 defend the negroes in their
rights believing that the resulting prejudice
against The party cost II far more than 1t could
gain. Many felt that South made solid by
Democratic crimes would he a lasting and IRE
sislible aid To the Republican cause. But the
protection Of rights guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition could not be- refused and thus II came
10 pass that through Republican fidelity n Dem
ocratlc President In 1894 had the power 10 pro-
tcct the country against desperate AMI dam
gcrors resurrection.