The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-10-12
EHRINCHAUSIS
NO XII KLUCKER
Powerful Elizabeth City Advo.
cate Assails klan In Speech
at Wnton

lOTlIleT oOllCltOT OF lnc TlISl
Judicial District and one of the
strongest men of the Elizabeth
City bar has taken an open
stand against Ku Kluckery.
In a speech at Winton the other
day Mr.. Elringhaus took wallOp
at Kluckerism III his own choice
style. The occasion was the un-
yelling of a monument to World
War Veterans at Winton. Here is
what he said in part, as reported
by the Hertford County Herald
"There appears to he with us one
of those self styled 100 per cent or
CARNATIONS which prOclaims loud
ly its allegiance to our government
and its fundamental institutions,
but strikes, under cover of mask
and disguises, at the very vitals of
what we have been taught to regard
as fundamental. Though the Con-
StitntiOn. for which they profess
such ardent affection. explicitly pro-
hibits secret political societies.
those self-appOinted guardians of
Amcricanism are apparently engag.
cd in political campaigns through
ont the country, giving approval or
disapprOval to candidates and seek
Ing enrolment of Il certain class OF
officials with whom such violations
of the constitution might put them
in conflict. Declaring themselves
the friends and proponents of law
and order they are faced with an
almost revelation of cruel and some
times heinOus disorders committed
within territory where their
strength is supposedly great and un-
der the protection of the mask and
regalia they have adopted as their
own. When such an attack occurs
it will not do to say i'll answer 10
public dcMunciatiOns that AN i'm
poster asquerading under our
colors has done this evil Such an
explanation is itself either con-
fessiOn of an impOtcncy to render
the great degree of assistance to the
Officers of law and order which i'll
arrogance they claim to possess and
which they offer as an excuse for
the blindfold, or is an avowal OF
their sympathy with and conni-
vance at the acts which are COM
mittcd under the protection OF
their insignia. For if the OrSani-
Zation is incapable of exposing and
bringing to punishment those who
masquerade their lawlesSness under
cover of the hood and gown i'll the
stronghOlds of the Order, how can
they lay claim to such power in
other instances. And if they possess
the power to uncover the culprits
and fail to do so, they themselves
connivc at the offensc. Either they
are powerlcss to perform the service
10 law and order which they claim
or they are sympathetic towards its
violation.
please understand mo. / have
no quarrel with the Ku KluX klan.
For its illustrious protype 1 have
still the sentiments of respect and
regard which were instillcd into me
from earliest childhood. In its day
il saved a precious civilization and
TO IFS memory we owe an unqualifi-
cd respect. l find myself also i'll
complete accord with many of the
professed objects of the present day
claimants of its illustrious name
and fame. But the causes which
brought the original Klan in being
no longer exist. The honorable
principles for which they contend
can hest be promoted by an unmask-
cd and open espousal. and the char
actcr and manner of its present daE
opcration is so inimical to and sub
versive of not merely our political
institutions, but those principles OF
fair play which are ineXtricably
associated with the American ideal
that we are driven to protest. No
rcd-blooded American was ever
afraid to fight. but he fights fair,
he fights in the open, he strikes no
women, no matter how immoral, and
he docs not desire a mask to con-
ccal his identity. Secret assault
is not in his code of propricty. And
in covering such acts with Il cloak
of profcssed patriotism, they are
hiding behind the flag