The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1920-12-17
North CarOIinian Gives a True
Story OF the Origin and
Work OF the Band.
ORGANIZATION NECESSITY
Capt. LaughinghOuse Tells or
Terrible Conditions Which
Confronted the South and de-
manded Concerted Action On
Part or the People.

tBy j. ]. Laughinghouse. in the
Raleigh News and Observer
Seeing and realizing that nearly
all OF the members OF that great and
once glorious organization compos-
ed OF the best and bravest type OF
ex-Confederate soldier and COM
monty known as the "Ku Klux
Klan" or Invisible Empire" have
bad. or worse, than in other sec
l feel that the time has come when
the true story OF the origin OF the
"Ku klux Klan" and the reasons
whicn necessitated its coming into
existence should be made known in
a truthful and unbiased way The
writer OF this article had the hon
or of belonging to the Klan and do
ing his bit in the great work OF re-
organization which was accomplish
ed in North Carolina. and particu-
larly in the counties of Pitt and
Beaufort where conditions were as
bad. or worse. than in other sec
tions OF the state and is now the
only surviving member OF the Klan
in Pitt and Beaufort counties
Niuci has hc.n written iii regard
TO the ku Klux Klan by the north
ern press. II has been held up to
the student OF history as a band of
| aim and desire was Ia spread ter
ror and disorganize society gener-
ally during the five years next sue
ceeding the close OF the Civil War.
ihls. of course. is untrue. The
Ku kluX klan" was organized for
the purpose OF forcing that most
| INSCRIPTIONS band of thieves
composed or carpet-hcGgers from
/ the North and scalawags. the ma
! tive product. tn release their grin
! upon the throats of a helpless and
! innocent people worn out by four
years of constant warfare against
odds of five to one
shortly after the termination q,
/ the Civli War. what is known az the
| ''N' 10 ll'
of the United States was require
| as condition of the rc-eurry oI
the southern States into the Union
| that these states ratify the amend
ment. Everyone rs, OF course. IA
| miiiar with the purposes OF Sh.
| l4th amendment The PresidenI
| or the United States. realizing TN,
! oitter resentment OF the southern
states concerning this amendment
! Favored the admission into the Tn
ion without compelling them
against the wishes of their bes-
| people to ratify this amendment
! nut IN" congress of the United
! states. which was largely republi.
can, and especially those members
| or congress who we're most bitte,
| In their unrrghteous denunciation
| or the south. failed to favor the
1 presidents views and insisted tina,
| me southern states ratify. Upon
the refusal OF the southern states n
| rat!fv. The states of North Carroll
ma, South Carolina. Mississippi
Georgia. Alabama. Louisiana. FIor
lda. Texas and Arkansas were di-
vided into FIVE great military dis
fricts and over each district was
placed an army officer with armed
forces to enforce any arbitrary rule
ne mirht SEQ Ht to make. II was
after this had been done that there
poured into th.a stricken area great
hordes OF carpet baggers who posed
IA friends OF negroes. and these
men. now that the negroes were
enfranchfsed. had little trouble in
securing offices under the state and
national government. II might b,
we'll To state in this connection that
the negroes were not to be blamed
They were organized nv these car
pet-baggers and scaiawacs into
Union> Leagues" and were led to
believe that all the lands of their
former masters were to be divided
into forty acre tracts and that each
nran, woman and child tneefoes, OF
course). would receive forty acres
OF hand andsa mule without cost.
4 =