THE KU KLUX KLAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19388, 24 July 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KU KLUX KLAN.

ACTIVITIES IN AMERICA. CASE FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC'S' DEFENCE; JEW'S STRONG INDICTMENT. Unusual interest is taken in the United States in the Ivu Klux Klan and <its mysterious activities, says the San Francisco correspondent of the Herald. It is the intention of the Committee of this • Senate now investigating the heavy political expenditure of money to probe deeply into the Klan's affairs, in the endeavour to ascertain its relationship to the success or the defeat of aspirahts for office. On June 16, Mr. Hague, Mayor of Jersey City, refused permission for the Realm of New Jersey Ku Klux Klan to hold a parade and demonstration, with from 10,000 to 30,000 persons taking part. He i said rioting and lawlessness had " invariably attended such gatherings." In both Indiana and Maine it is alleged the recent primary elections were dominated by the Ku Klux Klan, and the organisation's opposition to the World Court is deemed to have had a good deal to do with the defeat of United States senators running for re-election who voted for the Court. Mr Kendrick, Mayor of Philadelphia, on June 22, 1026, denied the Klan permission to parade or use the Sesqui-Centen-nial Exposition Auditorium for its meetings at the proposed conclave next September, even though dates that month had been allotted to the Klan on the official programme. The last issue of the North American Review gives 42 pages to four opponents of the Ku Klux Klan. First comes the Rev. Martin J. Scott, S.J., author ot several noteworthy books on Christian fundamentals; he 'is now connected with St. Francis Xavier's College, New York. He is followed by the Rev. Dr. Silverman, L.H.1)., a distinguished Hebrewscholar, who was for 38 years Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, New York City. FathOT Scott's Arguments. Father Scott takes as his subject " Catholics and the Ku Klux Klan." He * says there has risen in the United States an organisation to govern the Govern- ~ , ment, and that doubtless some of its ' mombers are convinced they are serving a noble cause, inasmuch, as the Ku Klux«,js Klan believes certain elements of the „ >s . population are detrimental to the try's welfare, thus necessitating unified action against them- The Klan, iu its ardour to uphold the Constitution, via- . lates the constitutional rights of others., t Father Scott admits that il Cut holies do' not amalgamate with the rest of the people, and that if they are really not ; American because of allegiance to a foreign power, the Pope of Rome, then the Government should take action with regard to them. The truth of the charges is vigorously denied by Father Scott. He says: "The more the Catholic Church,is understood, the more she stands forth as the upholder .of truth and patriotism., .The- ; Catholic Church fears ignorance only.. - The more light thrown on her, the bettor >., but it must be the white light of truth,not the coloured light of fancy cr mis-.. • representation," Then lie proceeds .-to.. " set the Ku Klux Klan right," instead^

of assailing the organisation. Carthollcs as Good "Mixers." sui ■>;•> - Roman Catholics are sfated to be t'h<r. „ best "mixers" in the country, except, . that they are not .found' in; great numbers in certain, exclusive social clubs,' o'r.',. in leading financial circles. .Catholicg..;u;.. i the United States, says Father!J3cott,. are only just emerging .from limitations. Until the last lew years, the country w#? s?<iPj#estaot. There is no other element of the population that' hiis such esteem .of educatio)v,.as' the Catliolfej.-. Hence; Catholic sohppls,. academies and colleges aro. cpijspicuoyi. •. everywhere. Now Catholic men are; in •, all the learned, professions, and becoming cuHufed. Prejudice and bigotry. ( die hard, but, is'a rule,'a Catholic. gets the. recognition to which his ality and culture and other qu'alifiQatiOp.s; . entitle him. t_• : . Foreigners who are Catholics- may ape / slow to accommodate themselves toAflier-; ican ways and institutions, it but this is'not because they are Catholics, ; . ■but- because, they are strangers inUngu-'' age, customs arid traditions.The, niaYked ' feature of Catholics iii America. U> ; thorough Americanization. Catholics 'ari not opposed to public'schools .because tbey are public, but because thoy are lacking . in what Catholics hold to be essential to education. If .parents wish to send their children to a.sdWol..where^only:the mind arid body are the concern of the school, well and good. But Catholics believe in tho religions development of the young. • Hence she maintains parochial • schools. Catholic education fosters patriotism.';' Jew's the Klan. .... . V'. Dr. Joseph ;Silverman wrote under-the heading " The Ku Klux KlaP, a ■ Para-.-: • sdox".'" He, .argues that »the Klan's secrecy.,' and " its 'nefarious practices," are pPr >.{# posed to " government of, for and by jtfje : :people."' • Freely-elected representative, to if devise laws, possessing a from ,■ the people, aiid. duly authorised to exccute such "laws/ enable the legallytorgan-';' ised will of the Innd to function. Prior movements of a similar character to the . Itu Klttx Klan were mainly • aimed at . • Catholics. The birth 'of. tho original Klan in 1866 was' ostensibly to up- r _ hpld i the Constitution,. but the. real purpose' was to hamper the. freed slave, to nullify his emancipation, deprive him of suffrage, and to weaken him arid his supporters by intimidation aind violence. There was enforced dismemberment of the Klan in 1869. Now the ferocious head had reappeared, said Dr. Silverman, with mysterious conclaves, nocturnal raids, fiery crosses, and, boycott, slander and murder. IS these ways the unwary were frightened, the; superstitious terrorised, aria a, guerilla warfare waged against the Constitution and Government in all itsforms. The frenzy of the, Civil War does not prevail at this time. Consequently there appears to be no justification for the reconstruction of such barharo.n» machinery as the Ku Klux Klan, especially when the negro is making• gopd in the industrial, educational, cultural, re- ■> iigious and political life of the people. Charges Aganst the Klan. Tho Klan's policy against immigration,, ■ the writer continued,, was not coupled with a national, political or economical policy, but was part of the Klan's general scheme for placing this country under the control of white Protestants. This was resented, because the best interests of the nation were not associated with such restrictive measures. The desire to place the Government in the power of the , Protestant Church was evidenced by tho religious crusade against Jews and Catholics, and against the Constitution. The programme savoured of the Spanish Inquisition and the Massacre of the Innocents. They spoke of the " Dark Ages," but the Klin's ways were dark in this so-called enlightened age. The writer adds: Evil-minded men have joined the Klan, who use the secret order • to carry on their own vicious schemes. Hence the corruption and disruption in Klan groups. The intolerant, selfish and disgruntled elements of this country are appealed to, and this does not make for genuine Americanism or for religious ideals. The Ku Kluxers are really outlaws. They set a bad example to the vicious in the community. They have no righ to attempt to destroy the inalienable rights of Catholics, Jews and aliens. They are increasing the crime wave, blaspheming God, bringing religion into disrepute, casting a stigma upoii the country, and advertising to the world.thafc America is not safe for democracy. Righteous and liberal-minded Amernans . must act, to the end tnat the Kk' *{•?_ . Klan voluntarily disband, or that take summary action, done ja 1869." . :.