The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-12-06
A KU KLUx "REMINISCENCES.
THE 8RAEToMs WENTgo CANADA

They Were Charged With Being Ku
Klux Leadcrs-One of Them Was
Kidnapped and England Demand
ed His Return.
The recent trial at YOrkvile of John
S. and Paul. r.. Bratt IN on the charge
OF murder, recalls an affair that devel-
Oped international Importance in
which two brothers, the father and
uncle OF these young men, were involv-
twenty nine years ego.
doubtless the diplomats Of those
times would have to refer to the re-
cords to refresh their memories about
very thrilling incident between the
United States and Great Britain, the
iseue Of which was watched by the
people Of this "prostrate State with
tho keenest interest.
England demanded the return to his
temporary home In Canada Of South
Carolinian who, fleeing the State, had
sought an asylum under the British
hag had been kidnapped and brought
back to face a stern United States
Judge.
1t was no time tor false pride an Of
fense had been committed by over
Jealous United States officers, and this
government frankly acknowledged
that fact by quickly complying with
the British demands.
DR.. j. Rufus Bratton and John S.
Bratton were gentlemen of large
estates in York County, where their
family had lived tor generations.
They were grandsons of Colonel Will
liam Bratton, who was u distinguished
Whig leader in the Revolutionary war.
At the outbreak Of the civil war; both
brothers entered the army. DR.. Brat
ton went into the medical department
and won distinction as an army sur
g.1 geon1: At the close OF hostilities the
brothers returned to their homes in
York County and attempted to restore
their fortunes.
about the ku klux organization OF that
time, but most Of them have been
pictured from fancy. Because it gave
a certain irresponsible and naturally
lawless class an opportunity to indulge
personal grudges and vindicttveness
while falsely representing themselves
to be Ku-Klux, the organization gained
most of the disrepute attached to It's
name.
1t is difficult, even at this time, to
obtain from one known to have been q
member of that organization a definite
statement of their actions. "It may
be impossible for those in other parts
OF the country, who had not to face the
condition we did to realize the neces-
slty for such an organization by the
better element OF the whites" remark.
ed an ex-member Of the "klap" @ few
days ago. I'VE were at the mercy, -"
he continued, 'of former slaves and a
hostile government. Tho neproes
were irresponsible and knowing wa
were powerless to resent openly over
bearing insolence they indulged their
now opportunities. A powerful secret
organization In which it was proposed
to have only mon OF responsibility and
reliability as members became q
necessity. 1t was success and whom
1t ceased to be necessary it ceased to
exist. The purpose was not to murd or
or burn, but to terrorize the negroes In
general and either subdue into quiet.
ness their leaders, who were urging
them to excesses, or force them to
leave. OF course, In some cases ex-
treme measures became necessary for
self-protection. And in the end the
Ku.Klux prevented many bloody en-.
counters and possibly massacres that
would have followed had not some
leaders Of the negroes been checked.
The superstitions OF the negroes
made the methods Of the Ku-Klux
especially effective and 1t is now laugh
able to think OF the simple plans re-
sorted to. A string of horsemen rid.
ing through the country by highways
: and byways, at night, dressed in white