The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05

.oo0
 of the eternal fitness of things however r,.da them discard the white robes or the rea1 klan and don flaming red that mas always been the badge or ploousheo' oi anarchy and of disorder
 No wonder that their evil deeds inspir- ed a temporary reign of terror or u.ei they were wiped out of existence. 'or time the story of their crimes were attached to the real Ku Klux Klan but as times has passed even the people ol the north have learned to distinguish be- tween the real and the bogus klans. inc order of dissolution of the Ku kluX Kan as issued by General Forrest was In every way characteristic of the man. hen the white race had redeemed six southern states from negro rule In 1870, the grand wizard knew that his mission was ac- compished and issued at once ms orasl to disband. The execution of this order by John w. Morton. ex secretary of state of tennessee, the cyclops of the Nash vile body, also of the staff of the grand wizard. is typical of what occurred throughout the south.
 Thirty five pickeT men, mounted, armed and in full Ku Klux Klan regalia for both horses and men, were selected TOT the ceremony, and ordered to bodily pa rade through the streets of Nashville The capitol was in charge of 3OoO recon- struction militia and 200 metropolitan po- lice who had sworn to take every l>u Klan Klansman' dead or alive who dared to show himself abroad On the nights arpointed, the squadron of 35 white and scarlet horsemen moved out of the woods and bore down upon the city. The streets were soon crowded with people watching the strange procession of ghostlilSe fig- ,res. On the principal streets the police blew their whistles and darted here and there in great excitement, but made no move to stop the daredevil paraders. On they rod up the hill and passed the capi- tol building, round which the camp fires ,f a thousand soldiers burned brightly, and not hand was lifted against them. They turned south into High street and ladies began to wave their handkerchiefs from windows and men to shout and cheer from the sidewalks. The scalawas police received these shouts with sup pressed oaths. At last they began to sum mon citizens to aid in the arrest of the clansmen. On reaching Broad street young Morton, who rode at the head of the squadron, observed line of police drawn across the street with the evident intention of attempting to stop or arrest the riders. Turning to Mart N. Brown, ,r raliant ciansman who rode by his side, Morton said What shall we do, Mart?"
 Turn into Vine street" he quickly an- swered, pass around them." -
 "No-ride straight through without change of gait. was Mortons order
 And they did. The astonished police, 1umbfounded at the insolence of the raid CTS, opened their lines and the horsenlen rode slowly through without word.
 They passed a large frame building used as a carpet bag militia armory. It was full of negroes. Morton halted his line of white figures, drew them up at dress pA- -ade, rode up to the door and knocked. The negroes rushed to the doors and win dows, and when they saw in the bright moonlight the grim figures. they forgot the police and the 3eO0 soldiers guarding Nashville They made unanimous break for the rear and went out through every opening without knowledge of any oh- struction Many of them wore windf.o sa ash home for collars.
 The clansmen silently wheeled again in- 10 double column, and rode toward their old rendezvous. They had overthrown the carpet bag negro regime and re- stored civilization. Their last act was '' warning. A handful of their men boldly slapped the face of the hostile authorities refore the new administration entered ,pon it's work. and dared them to lift hand again. f ,.sA
 Outside the city they entered the sh'd- ows of the forest. Down it's dim nisles 1t by threads of roonbenr1s. the f'o~-e- ,,en slowly wound their way to their ap' pointed place. For the last tt'-e tN' chaplain led in prayer. the men disroaee 1rew from each horse his white mantle opened a grave and solemn turned :heir