THE KU KLUX KLAN IN AMERICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17027, 28 April 1923, Page 4

THE KU KLUX KLAN IN AMERICA.

REVIVAL EXPLAINED. ANOTHER BACKWASH OF THE WAR. (Kaon Ota Co*lussr<rerD*NT.) VANCOUVER. March 24. So much has appeared iu news dispatches concerning the Ku K-lux Rian.. «LS purpose and activities, that to some people the organisation personifies the heroism of medieval crusaders tor pis Lice and truth while others arc ( equally emphatic in their assertions i hat i his hooded baud with its wei d leaders known as Wizards, Cyclop, Keaglea and Goblins is nothing s or of: an American Mafia During the past twelve months no less than two dozens churches, hospitals, schools and other institutions belonging to the Roman Catholic people ot Canada have been destroyed by nre, the value of which is estimated at about ten million dollars, idome o these fires were undoubtedly due to faulty electrical wiring or the use ot candles and oil lamps in services, ni in the greater number of instances the cause of confiagration was incendiary. . . The Ku Klux Klan first came into being during the re-construction period immediately following the American Civil War. At that time the rebel confederate white men were disiranchised and placed unde severe political disabilities, while on the other hand a adult male negroes were allowed tu citizenship. This newly-acquired freedom literallv “went to the heads ot some of these negroes, especially the vounger ones who became obstreperous and impudent. Robbery and murder followed during the re-eon-struetion period, and some of these crimes wore laid to the newly-freed negroes. Unscrupulous Northern white politicians, dubbed “ Carpetbaggers” from the fact that they carried . all their worldly goods in a carpet bag. flocked to the south and gained political preferment bv capitalising the ignorance and prejudices or the thousands of newly-onfranchised negroes. . It was at this time that, in certain districts in the soutn, that various groups of young white men gathered together and arrayed themselves as ghosts, witches and necromancers, rode on horeo-back over fcße countryside striking fear and terror in the hearts of the simple negro folk. The plan worked successfully , and the idea gradually spread. It was not, however, until an equally unscrupulous group of southern politicians saw the possibilities of an organised teror against the negro voters to foist and maintain themselves in political power. that the Ku Klux Klan was organised. The organisation itself was short-lived. It was soon out-lawed by the Federal Government, and gradually passed out of existence as conditions in the southern states became normal again. The revival of the Ku Klux Klau during the past few years can easily be explained. When the United States entered the war, thousands of negroes enlisted or were drafted into the American army, some of whom went overseas, showed bravery under fire and were recognised for their signal acts of heroism. During the war the colourline was secondary for the moment. Thousands of American negroes were fighting in France while others of their race were earning war-time wages at home. Now picture the return of the lauded and feted negro soldier to the south. Will he he content to accept his old position iu a state of semi-indumrinl and agricultural feudalism—will he complacently alloiy white men to disfranchise him by meane of obsolete state restrictions? He was told he fought for democracy. Quite naturally he will demand his share of this somewhat nebulous quantity. He fought for it in France he now wants to live under it in Alabama. Texas, Georgia , or in whatever Southern State he happens to make his home. It is true that the intelligent section of the southern employing class as a whole is not adverse to extending to the . negro improved industrial conditions ; they might even grant him the coveted franchise privileges for this class, more than any other, realises that the negro is part and parcel of the south, and is indispensable to its industrial life. The negro is oppoosed by his white competitors. a large class of white workers. who formerly were small farmers or tenant land workers. With the development of industrial conditions in the south these two classes have come into competition. The negro dubbs his white competitor as ‘‘poor white trash,” the latter retaliates with race warfare. To the ignorant the process of law and legislati -n is always distasteful because of its complietions and eumbersomeness*—the direct action of terror is more to their liking. Add to this ignorant class a group of professional organisers and politicians seeking good billets, and you have the basis of the Ku Klux Klan in America to-day. It is another backwash of the war.