The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-01
TRAITOR" seen
BY FULL HOUSE
plxoK's SEQUEL TO The CLANS
MAN MAKES BIG HIT WITH CO
LUM5lA AUDIENCE.
PRESENTED BY STRONG CAST
graphic Picture Of The Dark Days
Of The south's Reconstrue-
ton Era.

Der OF which proDaDly "IIHoue eASSP
ton was favorably impressed Thomas
Dixon's great Southern drama of re-
construction days, The Traitor, was
presented Tuesday night at the Opera
House. People were here from prac-
tically every district in the county.
while there we're a few present from
adjoining counties.
The Traitor is a sequel to The
CIansman, which was seen here last
year. but in the opinion of many it
is a stronger play and is free from
those revolving features of The Clans
man. dealing with social equality and
racial intermarriage, which can not
hut be obnoxious to a Southern audi
, ence. AS to the caste there is little
doubt that the company here Tuesday
night was the stronger Of the two.
While teeming with deeply dramatic
scenes. scenes that cause the blood to
run riot and at times almost cause
the heart to stand still the play is
relieved by some of the purest, clean
est humor seen here in many day.
From rise of curtain to fall thereon
the audience lived again those des-
perate times that tried the souls OF
the white people of the old South and
from which they emerged crowned
with new honor and new glory.
That the audience might more fully
understand the trials of the old South
during those troublous times the fol-
lowing historical data was given on
the program:
In the fall Of 1867, the negroes OF
the South were allowed to vote on the
same day to enfranchise themselves
and disfranchise their former masters
Of the race whose genius had created
the American Republic. Social equal
ity was boldly proclaimed. The COM
mander Of the Carolinas issued from
Charleston a proclamation repeating
the laws of marriage and promised
bayonets to protect the blacks in IN
termarrying with the whites. The
negroes obtained control of the entire
machinery of government. In South
Carolina, negroes filed the offices OF
Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer
and Judges of the Supreme Court. The
Legislature was composed of ninety
four negroes and twenty-three white
men. The Speaker of the House was
a negro, the Clerk negro, the Chap
lain a negro, the door-keepr and pages
all negroes. The Governor, an ex-
convict, was a white scalawag, lower
than his black associates. Millions IN
taxes were voted and stolen. In col
lecting these taxes as many as 2OOO
homes were executed and sold by the
Sheriff in a single county A negro
militia of 10000 men paraded over
the state, and no white man was al
lowed to bear arms.
. The leader of Congress, a man OF
daring genius, was pressing meas
ure blouse Bill No. 29) to confiscate
the land of the South and give 1t to
the negroes. On the promise OF this
land. a secret oath-bound league was
formed. into which the negroes were
all gathered, taught, drilled ana
armed.
Out of these conditions grew the
XII Klux Khan. In 1870 the Khan over
turned the negro regime in six States
and Immediately dissolved it's organi-
cation. irresponsible youngsters and
ambitious politicians in some sections
reformed the local groups and COM
mitted many excuses. The men who
led the original Khan to its triumph
we're forced to aid in stamping out Its
imitators.
But the corruption and brutality
with which the Ku Klux trials were
conducted in the Federal Courts In
the Carolinas will ever remain blot
on the honor of the Nation. Presi-
dent Grants pardon Of all persons con-
victed by them was a just recognition
of the fact.
A strong love story runs through
The Traitor. Steve Hoyle, chief OF
the new Khan, is engaged to Stella
Butler, daughter of Judge Butler OF
the U. s. Circuit Court, carpet
Dagger redeemed by his love for his
daughter. Hoyle is treacherous and cor
rupt and In the end proves the traitor
of his Khan. John H. Graham, lawyer,
ex.chief OF the old Khan appears on
the scene, and Stella falls in love with
him, but not before she plots. with
steve for his downfall, being per-
-. A.. c.o.,o ehat Hrohaun IL the