New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-09-17
CONTRIBUTED
RtlsHMHAokERs And faoiIficsi
A STORY fsIt0M nIkii<llAAn
M fiobest q. HuE2iDs.

A STORY TROh nthii<lAAAu
~ fiobess a. Hussias.
When the American Civil War
broke out along with division Of the
uAlan went . rupture Of the state 81
AeHh Carolina, The eastern half 81
the state became democratic, the
western half republican, In = medir
fed foFaa this division Of the state OBJ
ialns 10 this day. The western part
Of the state Is still one block OF re-
pahlieaAism IN an otherwise SOLID
south" Of democracy,
During lhe Civil War naturally the
animositiss between these two parts
OF the state became very pronounced,
After the var had been concluded Pc
liiieal differences still persisted as
iseri0us issues; and local factions, Or
seanized as Ku klux Klans. Gnerrillas
OF Bushwhaekers as they were locally
termed, aheunded, and perpetuated
the breach In a wide. onen form, To
be republican, 10 democrat. was a
disgraeei 10 be A democrat. 10 a re-
publican. was stigma OF shame,
A man OF very radical political con.
Vietians was oyeriaken and aeeosted
by a squad OF Bushwhaekers one day.
"Are you a democrat or q republic
cans" Unfortunately he frankly In
formed them that ha was republic
can,
As the group of Bush whaekers were
demaerats. they tried him on the
charge which he had confessed. found
him guilty and the grand wizard decid-
cd that a man who was mean enough
10 stoop so low as TO be a republican
should have Jogging. This was i'm.
mediatcly and vigorously administer
ed.
The poor man resumed his journey.
Soon he found himself again face 10
face with another knot of Bushwhack-
crs. Again the question was. Are
you a democrat or republican,"
Recalling his past but fresh exper-
fence. and hoping by changing his an
swer 20 avoid another fogglng. he
II am a democrat"
This time. however. the Bush
were republicans. The mas
ter of ceremonies proceeded TO pass
sentence upon his criminal. saying
that man who was so degraded and
low as to be democrat deserved
forty-nine lashes with a cat-o'-nine-
Aails. These were administered with
, strong hand.
In body OF pain and bordering on
physical exhaustion, the man OF our
story pursued his way feebly. Once
more he met body of Bushwhack-
,rs who Immediately put to him the
fatal question, Are you a democrat
Or a republican,"
Under violence already experienced
ind which menaced again, the man
" stable, honest convictions POLITICAL
Y, cowardly answered. Gentlemen,
am whatever you are!' He went on
lnwhipped. but a coward with
;uilty conscience.
This story of fact. Fiction finds
10 place in it, That such conditions
'ver obtained even temporarily in this
and of the brave and the free, is a
natter of shame. The Ku Klux Khan,
s originally organized. was sociopo-
itical in nature, and was an after
nath of the Civil War. 1t bitterly OPP
'osed the reconstruction measures of
he government, and its membership |
t that time were practically in every !
tate of the south. 1t was guilty of
iolence, murder and arson. In 1871
trong measures were taken to sup I
ress 1t, and it finally persisted. 6
In 1915 the Ku Klux Khan was born {
gain in Atlanta, Georgia, and in 1921 /,
, had a membership of 100000. 1t G
laims to be 100 per cent American, ]
hitch means by authentic interpre- c
alton, Native born, white, protestant a
merican. The World war naturally
ave it new birth and accelerated its d
rowth. But we plead that America '
! the ground of freedom. Under our o
ag We have the right to be what we /
ant politically and reigiously. We T
an be a democrat or republican !,
-ithout state inquisition; we can be 7
atholic or Protestant-we can be !,
nything or nothing. This liberty has !,
cen dearly bought and we cannot af- !,
ord to lose 1t. Let this country be :,
land Of political and religious con-
'oversy but not persecution.