The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-02-01

A Globe reporter was sent out by
the Globe Publishing Company to
learn something of Tom Dixon's
Clansman,. or better known as Rev.
Thomas Dixon, mob instigator. Ne
gro murderer, infammatory race per-
secutor, or any other name that the
English language contains to describe
a man that has brought the most in
fammatory agitation that has ever
visited our peaceful community since
the days that the murderous Ku Klux
Klan drenched the fair Southland
with innocent Negroes blood. This
reporter, although taxpayer and a
citizen, who was born and reared in
the South, and has lived in Nashville
more than decade, paid his taxes,
0beyed the laws and has tried to live
peaceable, Christian citizen, was
denied admission to this murderous
inhammatory exhibition for reasons
unknown to him. Hence he can only
judge the effects Of this play by the
reports and editorials of the daily pa
pers whose editors were admitted pos
sibly on complimentary tickets. Your
reporter encloses herewith two clip
pings, marked No. 1 and No. 2 respec-
lively. No. 1 is from the Nashville
American, which seems to thrive upon
the spirit of race hatred of the op-
pressed Negro. No. 2 is from the
Nashville Banner These will give
some idea of the effects of this agita-
T, tion on the minds of those who have
seen the play.
(From The Nashville Afnerican)
Seldom has a Nashville audience
been so deeply moved by dramatic
production as that which witnessed
"The Clansman" at the Vendome The
ater on Wednesday night. The house
was crowded almost to its capacity,
and during the performance a state
of suppressed excitement generally
prevailed, but it is not meant to i'm
ply that the audience was undemon-
strative, but merely that what was
/. expressed was almost infnitesimal in
comparison with what was felt.
Wisely, it is believed, did the manage
ment exclude negroes from the play.
house, for so powerfully was the spir-
it of the reconstruction period re-
vived that it is probable they would
have been in imminent danger of
being forcibly expelled, if, indeed,
more drastic measures had not been
resorted to.
The now famous creation of Thorn
as Dixon, Jr., was magnificently
staged, and the behavior of the audi
ence was eloquent testimony to the
effective work Of the cast. Not from
the gallery alone emanated Kisses and
excited eXclamations; but in such a
manner also did occupants of boxes
and orchestra seats give vent to the
emotions of disgust and anger
aroused by the presumption and vii
lainy of the negro characters of the
portrayal. Although the performance
was not without it's defects, one was
blinded to them by the appealing
force of the ensemble, and indeed II
would be extremely difficult, If not
impossible for any man or woman i'm
bued with Southern sentiments to
= criticise dispassionately. So powerful
are the passions which it inspires
that one tends 20 forget that it is but
stage affair and this is the greatest
compliment that can be paid it.
1t is not necessary here to syuocsi7e
the story of "The Clansman' rs II
may be taken for sranted that the
public is familiar with it. 1t is ar
irrefutable argument against the pos
sibility Of social and political equality
between the negro and the Caucasian