END OF THE "KU KLUX KLAN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17393, 2 March 1922, Page 5

END OF THE "KU KLUX KLAN.

ITS OBICHN AND ITS METHODS. Some months ago ft score of American newspapers opened a simultaneous attack upon the "Ku .Klux Klan,"an organisation whoso professed motives were highly commendable, bat whose methods were detestable (writes a correspondent to the London "Observer 1 /). The membera of this "secret" society, shielded against recognition by their loug white robes, masks, and corneal caps, took it upon themselves to deal with persons whose conduct or opinions gave offenoo to the "Knights" of the "Klan." Their methods were neither just nor gentle; the beating and tarring and feathering of men and women incurring their displeasure appears to have been a quite common incident, and much graver charges have been made against the "Klan." -Cowardly attacks upon American citizens by "Klansmen" as a punishment for real or imaginary offences became so frequent, and the perniciotis influence of the society began to extend so rapidly, that the New York "World" made an investigation into its operations, and the result of thiß enquiry was published in New York and a number oi other large cities in a series of syndicated articles. At first the officials at' the head of the Klan" professed to _be jgreatly j pleased at the wide publicity given to their "patriotic" movement, and boasted that, so far from the exposure damaging the cause, new members were being enrolled at the rate of five thou- | sand a day. There waß talk of "*e j "Imperial Wizard"—a former minister j of religion, and head of the.i'Klan"— ■ bringing action for a million dollars S damages against the New York ! "World" for libel, but the latest—and i best—news is to the effect that a petition has been filed in the Superior Court ! at Atlanta requesting the appointment i of receivers to take charge of the affairs of the "Knights" of the "Ku Klux Klan." It is perhaps premature to regard this latest development as indicating the complete collapse of the "Klan," but it may be hoped that the proceea- | ings at Atlanta at least mark the beginning of an early end. No American | citizen who is not fanatically prejudiced | against every man and woman whose [ skin is of a darker shade than his own, i or whose religious opinions differ-from I his, can excuse-the shameful outrages perpetrated by the \yhite-robed ! "Knights" in the name of patriotism, j The "Klan" is fanatically anti-negro, anti-Oriental, anti-Jewish, and anti- | Roman Catholic, and deludes itself j into the belief • that because of this it is intensely pro-American. Patriotism based upon ferocious hatred of all persons incapable of changing their complexions or their ancestry is quite out of date—or should be, nor is it patriotic toi regard another citizen as an implacable enemy. because of a difference in religious observances, i The original "Ku Klux Klan" was j established in 1867, after the Civil War, and its ferocious methods of culI tivating 100 per cent. Americanism—- ) negroes befng usually the victims of ; its murderous work—led to an Act of : Congress being passed, in 1871, which j suppressed the "Klan." _ Its revival I during the last five years is a symptom • of the unsettlement resultinc from, the .war; in normal times it is incredible I that half a million American citizens j could become associated with such a I scheme. ____________