Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-02
THE KU KLUX KHAN

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. ECENT Jews articles in The
N Tribune indicate that active
efforts are being made in this state
to organize the Ku Klux Khan,
which achieved so much undesir'
able notoriety in California re-
Gently. The Tribune has heretofore
in these columns announced its op'
position to all secret political as
sociations, and to this organization
in particular, because it seems to
be based on religious and racial
intolerance. We don't like to
speak on this subject because its
discussion generally erves to in
crease and fornent such intoler.
ance, but we deem it our duty at
this time to say a few words of
sober warning, hoping that it will
not be necessary to refer to the
subject again. 1t seems to US that
any right thinking man; any good
patriotic citizen, who reads the
daily dispatches from Ireland must
be fully impressed with the danger
to good government that comes
from religious intolerance. In that
unhappy land there is practical an
archy and civil wal between Ulster
and the south of Ireland, and out
RACES perpetrated daily that are as
bad as anything charged during
the world war against the Germans.
Both sides appear guilty. We will
not attempt to apportion the blame
between them for savage acts claim
ed to be done in reprisal. There
is nothing more demoralizing to
good government than an outbreak
of religious fanaticism and intol-
erance. 1t seems to come in waves,
or cycles, in this country. We have
had an anti Masonic political party
in this country, a know nothing
party, an A. P. A. party. and vari-
Gus outbreaks of anti-C Catholic or
anti Jewish or anti-foreign senti-
rnent. They always pass by in
time, because the intelligent, patri-
otto American citizen kills these
spurious American movements when
he wakes up to their evil effect.
But at that they leave some poison
behind in the body polite. So far
as the Ku Klux Khan is based on
religious intolerance it should meet
the condemnation Of all good cit
liens.
So far as it is based on racial an
tagonism it deserves the same fate.
for this is only M degree removed
from religious intolerance in its
evil effect on the community.
The foreigner who comes to this
country under the sanction of our
laws and our treaty engagements
and covenants, ONE with the ma
tional honor pledged to his good
treatment. We are Of those who
think we have been too liberal and
generous in inviting foreigners to
come to the United States and
share our liberty under pledge of
equal treatment. We favor more
stringent immigration laws, and
strictly limiting the numbers who
are received in the future, besides
a closer scrutiny into their char
acter and qualifications as future
citizens of the republic. But those
who have come here already have
come at our invitation and under a
solemn treaty pledge that they will
be treated as we'll as our own citi-
zens are treated, while they remain
here and respect our laws. To do
otherwise is to tarnish the national
honor of our republic. No patriotic
American ought t % want that done
or permit it to be done.
For these reasons we do not ap-
prove of the Ku Klux Khan, and
we hope and believe that intelli-
gent and patriotic Americans in this
state will give it a cold reception.