Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, March 11, 1915, Image 1
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Volume 19 CHBRAW, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S. C.. MARChT, 1915 Number
K.U KJLUX KLAN
(Paper prepared for Hr Harts
ville Chapter U. D. C. by Mrs H
Llde Law, and published in the Harts
_ Yllle Messenger.)
W tbe War between the St&tos terml
W nated In the Spring of 1865. Tw<
I months afeer Lee's surrender there
was' not a Confederate Soldier undei
arms through, the South. The surrenfc
?der was ualrecsal and In a way slwcaufcl
< there was rfo desire to continue tht
r straggle. Complete submission WW
I gbreo to the true atrtfcntPty 6t flK
fthtl'ced States. Notwithstanding this.
Kf' J '; vIm won frWh^v vji * jh
.?? ms. u<n urw firinuu SOU OlDOJ
KVi r'* prominent leaders ot the Confederacy
* and prominent citizens were arrested
or forced to becotiie exile.
Tfoe condition <*t thfe South was
*K"plorahle. The track of desolation
and devastation, without parallel in
history -especially, extended over five
, miles xelde from the Tennessee line,
ttJOWgh Georgia to Savannah, through
South Carolina into North Carolina,
- and the greatest deeolatation through
'Virginia. Four million slaves sudden
iy emancipated with no realization
of their resj>oiiHlbillt.v. Many of them
conceived the idea- that freedom meant
cessation from labor, so they left the
fields, crowded to the Cities expecting
the Government to support them.
To the general awfal confusion was
added a flood of adventures from the
North, called Carpet Baggers, -who
were not soldiers, hut only camp followers
of the Northern army. Men imbued
- , with the passion of the lowest type.
These men hated everything Souththe
lovrest of the low and hated even
V uie ue^roes. xi ih impossible to
portray in language how these Scalawagq
wen, detested and dlsplsed. The!
Irish era tor and patriot, Emmett, once!
declared "The meanest of all mean';
f things is an anti-Irish Irshman". If
'he had lived during the Reconstruction,;
he would have said "That the meanest
of all mean things, was an anti-South^erner
Southerner." These dangerous
leaders were the organizers of the
fearful Black League, the negroes
being used simply as means to an end.
The Black and Tan Government
composed of Carpet Baggers, Scalawags,
and brutal negroes, now held full
sway. In this demoralized state,
private property lwus seized in the
name of. the United States Government
Tills was the situation, the
South, overpowered, exhausted,
prostrated, but not degraded.
Hojie remained in the hearts of the
noble heroes who were willing to give
their lives and to bleed afresh for
their loved ones. This condition of
affairs brought into existence the KuKlux
.Klan, and this organization
provided the solution of the dark
1 proniem.
The Ku Klux Klan had its birth in
the town of Pulaski, Tenn., during the
winter of 1865 and 1866. There were
six charter members, all honorableConfederate
sojdiers. The word Ku Klux
was really coined by them, being in a
way formed from the Greek word Ku
Kloa, meaning a circle. They added
~ . $9hai,\ thus making the name at once
unlquW) mysterious and fascinating.
The K^an was also termed the Invisible
EVnpire. The Klan spread rapidly
and in a year had reached Bucb
larged nnpibers. it was found necessary
to have some experienced leader,
so General Nsthan Bedford Forres1, y
distinguished Cavalry leader of the
Confederacy, was selected. He took
the solemn oath in No. 10 of the Maxwrvl
1 MmiRo Maahvlllo T?nn I? ?? ?
-V, . 1?... . ...V, ? Villi., lit lilf
fall of '66 and was made Grand Wiz
ard of the Invisible Empire. Gen. Geo.
W. (Jordan, of Tennessee, prepared
the rituals and oath of the Klan, which
are as follows:
} CONSTITUTION.
This is an Institution of .Chivalry,
Humanity, Mercy and Patriotism, embodying
in conduct noble in sentiment,
generous in manhood, and patfiotic in
purpose. Its peculiar objects being
1st: to protect the weak, the innocent
and defenceless from indignities,
wrongs and outrages of the lawless
I violent, and the brutal; to relieve the
r
suffering and unfortunate, es^bdlatly
v the widows and orphans bf Confederate
soldiers. "2nd: t& protect and de.
fend the Constitution of the United
States ahd all law* passed in conformity
thereto and protect the States
and the people thereof from all invasions
from any source whatever. 3rd:
. to aid and assist in the execution of all J
> Constitutional IttWH nud tb |>fbtect thci
? people frcm unlawful seizure and from
? trials* ns^pt by their peere. In Cbh
'fortuity to he laws of the land.
; CREEI).
? "the order of Klu Klux Klan,
i 'reverentU lly acknowledge the Majesi
'ty and Supremacy of the Divine Be,
Hug, and recognize the goodness and
providence of same. We recognize
our relation to the United States Gov[
emmpnt the Qimrdmo/." ?? f,??"
??. wn.y ?MV wu|f* MIUUVJ V/L Vliu VUllOlI"
tution. the Constitutional laws thereof
and the union of States thereunder.
Most solemn of all, was the oath,
always given under the most awe Inspiring
circumstances possible. Thus,
I, before the greut immaculate God of
heaven and earth, do take and subscribe/to
the following sacred, binding
'oath and obligation. I promise and
swear that 1 wilt uphold and defend
the Constitution of the United States,
as it was handed down by our forefathers
in Its 'original purity. I promise
and swear that I will reject and
oppose the principle of the Radical
party in all its forms and forever
maintain and contend that intelligent
men shall govern the country. I propitae
and pledge my?elf to assist accori
ding to my pecuniary circumstances ,
i alt. brothers in distress. Females,
widows, and their households shall
ever be especially in my Care and protection.
I prbmfse and swear that I
'will obey all instructions given by my
fthlaf ahik hKiu.M V
i* death; death, death, at the hands of '
my brethren. '.
BANNER.
The Banner or Ensign of the K. K. K. 1
wan a tTingle In Nhai?e, five feet long
anil three wide at staff. The material
was yellow with red Inverted scalloped 1
bonier. On this banner was painted
a black flying dragon and the following
uiotto in Latin: "What always, what
every where, what by all is held to be
true."
The Invisible Empire extended from
Virginia to Texas, covering fourteen
States. The Empire was sulMlivliled
Into Realms. Realms into Dominions,
Dominions Into "Provinces, and Provinces
Into Deans. Each department
had Its head officer, their duties being
definitely designated, except those of
the Grand Wizard, whose control was
siiprenuh. The following Is the list
of officers and their departments In
assisted by his ten Genii; the Grand
Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hydra.
the Grand (Jiant of the Province
the f?rand (Rant of the Province and
his four Goblins; the Grand Cyclops.of
tlio I>en and his two Night Hawks. A
( rand Turk, Grand Monk
Grand Exchequer, Grand Scrib,
Grand Sentinel were officers of
the local Dens. The Genii, Hydras,
Furies, Goblins, and Night
(Hawks i.were staff officers and the
private members were called Ghouls.
The Dens of places of rendezvous were
generally in dark dismal places, caves,
etc. Their appearance was always
sudden, ns if they rose from the earth,
disappearance"was quite as mysterious.
These mysterious maneuvers were always
Ix-rn in the brain of the Ku Klux,
nun me veiru, uneiiriniy ana gnosuy
always i a edom hinted.
The costumes were Intended to work
ujKin the 8U|)erKtitlouH fears of the
negroes. No siieclal instructions were
given us to the color or the makeup of
these costumes. However, the roties
were nearly always white with a cross
if fiery red, a mask, and high conical
hat. The horses were also covered
with a sheet. These costumes
were all made l?y the women of
the South, those noble women who
luring the war made clothing, etc..
' "Hunting no sncrltlce too greut to aid
their protectors. A note to a Mother,
SUtiM* fir Kwpotlmnrf ulirnvu h?UK
a prompt reply. There Ix'inR 110
sjieclnl uniform adopted, accounts for
the different colors used. Of course,
lieiicath this disguised, the men were
heavily armed. A favorite device was
to wear false heads and arms. In this
Instance, tide r<be was pulled over
their own heads and the false head
placed on top with some device to hold
It They often Mad up to k Chufch fa
or meeting house of some description, e
where negroes were assembled, sUCm- e
Ingly for water A Ku Klux wpUld say, *
Here, Sambo, hold my hUfed while I b
drink. On handing the negro the sktlll, u
the 8ui>erHtltloUs creature with a *
scream of fright would tilke to the fi
woods. When h ffclse hand wds used, y
the Ku Klux would offer to shake a
hands, leaving the false one In the tl
hands of the negro as a souvenir.
You will ask, why all this mystery^ u
We all know the supersititlon of the a
negro and also of the uneducated white, n
The negroes were n.ade to oelieve k
their old masters had risen from their a
graves In this ghostly garb and under 0
the conviction that If they did wrong. 0
spirits from the other world would a
vi^'u mem, nonce tne negroes became I jj
much suUlued.
It must not lie understood that this (\
I ?'sMe iiand that took their lives into u
their own hands, Were ever unkind v
or cruel to an innocent negro. Far ,j
from it; many instances could be e.
related where they protected the Just tl
right of the faithful ones. Mercy wits a
always uppermost in the heart of a
true K. K. ' 1(
The Klan's watch words were, the (j
cunning of the fox, the bravery of the (j
lion. The sign to distinguish a broth- %
'er was thus: (described by the read- el
er.) jSj
There was at all times pen^fct co- 0)
operation l>etween the Klanr? n\was |]
often necessary to secure the auais- a
tance of a brother Klan an,* a menrofir p,
of the Klan was sent. This was cbh- ci
hldered an honor as only those of un- n<
questionable bravery v4we Bel?ct6d. ti
As soon as the neighboring Klan was
located, the message wa*"tiSllvered, ?
the Grand Cyclops blew t-1" whistle, ft
their sign of command. In a few j|
minutes every horse and rrfan was dis- X
guised, and at the second, sou^d of K
% mission of etern duly! a deed of 1
Justice !h about to be performed and h
woe to the guilty wretch that falls r
under the condemnation >f the Klan. 1:
The sworn secrecy and Mndlng oath 1
iuoiid a uumai n. ui ueieiljie OB strung 11
eis Gibraltar. I t
In February 1869, G^n. Forrest, t
Grande Wizard of the Invisible Em t
piro lsbued a proclamation to his t
subjectr, to disband and -this strange 1
and mysterious order, having acctuii- ij
plisbed its great mission in relieving lj
the South of Carpet-bag rule, passed c |
out of existence forever. They 1i
Deposit you;
The 'Bank i
Cherav
9
STR0N6ER THAN ALL OTHER B
4(Jy compoun
/O *n saving
marched silontly through Nashville '
though it was crowded with the mi- ?
litia and police, who-te orders were to '
tuke them dead or alive, but who wore I
overawed by the brave, mysterious
band as not to make the slightest '
movement of arrest, but ollor/ed them *
to silently march up Capitol liill, then t
down and out of the city into the ^
forest to the meeting place, where the 1
chaplain led in prayer for the treat '
time. The men disrobed, drew from 4
their horses the disguise and solemn- (
ly buricn the regalia, sprinkling them
with the ashes of the burned ritual.
This weird ceremony ended the inoBt
remarkable revolution in many le- i
spectH. in hiBtory. The Ku Klux klan l
was born in mystery, lived in mystery, 1
and mystery will over shroud its grave. ^
and The Invisible Kuiplre vanished in a 1
night and has been seen no more by 1
mortal man, <
Too long have we of the Soytfc
malned silent and perhaps our
I? . I
im been construed as an aeknowl-J
dgement of shame Of being oouneetd
with the K. K. K. and Its history,
rhGlfeaS, It should be ouf proudest
oast that It was organised and kept
p by Our bravest men. (Gladstone
writes, "NO greatdr calamity can belli
a people than to break utterly
rlth her past and If we forget our
nceatorH, we ourselves are unworhy
to be remembered.
Many of the secrets were locked
il> in the breasts of the Ku Klux
nil nover given to the world. The Ku
'lUX Warn 111 CM tn nffcnilora ,n
eeping with their mode of carrying 0111
ffnlrs, mysterious and terrifying,
ften by a figure dangling from a tree
r some such gruesome emblem with
warning to a negro or Scalawag, to
k-tvare. ,
The Ku Klux were opposed to shedIng
of blood and violence was never
?ed except in extreme cases. Many
iolent deeds were put upon the shouleTx
of the Klau of which they were
ntlrely innocent. They did only
lielr stern duty. and silently stole
way. :
The Invisible Army gave back to
-S beloved land much that she lost
urlng four years of bloody carnival of
et?th. Restored In a measure the
randeur and majesty that was the
nvy of all the world in days gone by.
'o nobler or grander men ever gathered
a the earth than those assembled In
le meeting places of the Klau. No
umane hearts were ever moved with
tK>- <mpulses. The love of law and
rder, the nfotecflon of virtue of the
obtest womah^ooii in all annals of
nu| moved those men to action.
the- word of another who knew
fc.ijmll the - ?
tfyyr; -V ? T ry~ nu u^iu ui iuu
|mM Klan."Tt the younger genertyn
know ^ Jtroe history of the
SL^S?* \nd i * did *? Inucl1 *or
her darkest days.
. \ir Southla id was so firm In her
lief, \ that she was constitutionally
ght; \o proud >f her heroes that she
as n\t fell the necessity of
idlcatiug her nets, but it behooves
s now to turn the search light of
ruth on her paiit in the war and let
le world know the true history. Some
ay when she eoines to her own and the
tie is all told, 110 brighter chain in
er history, no fairer page will ever bo
fad than that which tells of the
lustrlous and glorious organization
tiled the Ku Klux Klan. Its his
>ry is a* precious heritage. It indeed
r money in
if PlinvDur
r, S. C.
INKS IN COUNTY COMBINED
ded quarterly
5 department
>rmed a circle of protection around
ie homes cf the south, a great circle ol
glit illumined with deeds of love anil
tttyiotism.
U our diro extremity and darkest
lajdL the Ku Klux Klan, the great
Ment^ mysterious organization, ap
cured' ujx in the scene, and relieved tin
IreadfuF and humiliating distress.
The Kti\ Klux Klan has justly l>eei
piled th?* Solvation of the .South am
;s liWory fclftHjId Im? written in letteri
* light
I
i *
masters.
Washington, March 10.-?-New posl
asters in Ck>utli Carolina wore at
_ ? - --
f-uicu muuy a* follows: Allanl 1
illagg, at Lallrucc( Springs, a n?w ol
!e In Georgctowi^ county; Jacob I
mmerinan, at Bytrcel, Horry coun
; Lottie G. Meyots, at Pamlico, Flov
ce County. I
Give as your outers tor printing
??1?
COITBT HOIST ITEMS. *
All 1m quiet since Court adjourned.
Those convicted have entered upon
the uervlce of their sentences.
B
Sherllt Douglass and deputy sheriff ^6
Abbott are kept busy these days trailing
down violators of the law. Hi
" " ra
Magistrate Watson's court has been
busy several days quite recently. Mr. oc
Watson is becoming familiar with the n
duties of his office. m
Rev. Jaines Russell, who was at
one time iwstor of the Chesterfield w
group of Presbyterian churches, Is to
In town this*\veek and Is the guest of
Mr. C. C. Douglass. Mr. Russell's
great uumlter of friends In the' town
are glad to see him looking so well, m
He lectured last night in the Baptist i*
church on the "war In Europe," and a 0i
large number enjoyed his masterly it
address.
si
Even now the school children can
lift the veil and see "the good old id
summertime " and vacation days. st
Your correspondent has recently
made a trip through one or two of the tl
lower counties of the State, and the a
conditions, generally sj>eakiiig, are in
more favorable in Chesterfield coun- st
ty than in any couuty visited. In ev- sl
ery section, however, it seems that u
the cotton acreage will be materially tc
reduced and "something" to eat will tc
be given a prominent place on the tl
farm this year.
tl
The County Equilization Board will ai
meet on Tuesday, March 23rd.
, ?
There is no doubt that taxes are high,
but there la nothing to do but
I>ay up. It does seem that we are In
I taxed too heavily *nd in many case*! n
ment is costing a great deal, and every
year the Legislature creates new in
otiieeH. This year an extra appropri- u
at ion of |2,000.00 was allowed to fee a n
special attorney for Governor Manning.
We would like for some one to
define the duties of the attorney gen- i?l
eral of South Carolina. He should be at
the legal adviser of all the State offl- 'fc
cere. \T
In
I-aCoste Evans, the "Good Roads >j<
Pusher," was in town a few days ago, *k
and he is u hustler and you can count ki
011 him when he is needed to push for tu
good roads. tf
?v
Master Rufus Porter, the little son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. II. Porter, Is quite k:
sick this week. Hope for Master Ru- a:
fus u rapid recovery. n
h
Master Minor Hough, the little son -q
of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Hough, has .v
Ikh-ii quite sick this week. Hoi>e Mas- w
ter Miuor will soon l?e well again. v
IMonday,
March the first, Mrs. El- o
leu Kowell, the wife of Willie Sowell tl
of the Zoar section of Chesterfield *
Tounty. made the fatal mistake of tak- ii
inn a bichloride tablet for another g
tablet which had l>een prescribed for
her. In a little while the mistake
was discovered. Everything possible h
was done to overcome the power of n
the deadly drug but nothing could be e
donet After lingering for a week 'I
life slowly ebbing away, Mrs. Sow- v
ell died early Monday morning and t.
was burled Tuesday at Friendship c
Metliodist cruchh. her pastor, 'Itev. v
T. B. Owen conducted the services, i
Mr. and Mrs. Sowell were married less 1
than a year ugo. Before her marriage r
to Mr. Sowell,,Mrs. Sowell was a Miss i
' Mclioan, of Patrick. Mr. Sowell. is a t
ineinner or me won Known raniny or i
^ liuit name in this county. (
Davis Perkins, the young man who
tried to commit suicide a few days
ago by shooting himself with a pistol, *
is fast recovering. X
1
1 Court adjourned only a few days t
s ago, and the jail is already rapidly i
filling up again. Stealing and blind 1
tigering is the usual otlarge. i
L* Mr. A. J. Weathersbee, a proml
> neat inerohunt of Norway. W. C5., is
). visiting his daughter, Mrs. Doctor 1
Carduer. v i
>.
i- Some of the women's pages continue
'to publish instructions about putting '
up jams andj ellies, when, what the
tiousckecpttrs want is points on auction
ridge.?Gaffney I-edger.
iSOtCKtOtflOIOtOtCi^^
OBSERVATIONS
" 5
7 OUR MAN ABOUT TOWN.
tCKXOtOJOtCi^^
When a thing Is spiced up with
ttle dash of danger, Ifs oftentimes
ore Inviting and Interesting. Most
Iks like to take a sporting chance
icaslonally?that's why they play the
ices, buy cotton margins and get
arrlecL
'
With the approach of 8pring, x
ouldu't it be a great thing for our
wii if the majority of citizens would
?termine to do a little landscape gating
this year?
What if every home should remove
ly unsightly shrubbery that may have
?en i>ermitted to grow in their yards
along their boulevards and replace
with really attractive plants I
All of us could do this, and we feel
ire we should be glad for it after the
lssiug of a few months had shown
< the improved appearance of our /
reets and lawns.
The writer knows of towns where
ie citizens in certain blocks engage
gardener by the season, each resident
t several blocks contributing a small
lm toward his salary. In this way a
itilcient amount can be raised to pay
man for giving his entire attention
> the lawns and boulevards of that
ILstrict, and when this is done, all of
tern are neat and clean at all times. \ .
Two days work each month through
le summer will keep almoat any yard
nd adjoining boulevard In condition,
ur civic pride should force m to gilt
lem ibis much attention.
TV - MinuiM n# hnm ak.
m?ke could be taken, we know of aeve- .
il jiereiil?y*eipyW^|^h|.?(?. f< ^
We know of one bSibw1B5iW!IW'''P(w^
settlinn their little difficultiee, would *
? just as well to keep the eoCt pedal
i their voice chords.
r r
This old world of ours has queer peoe
in It They seem to get prejudiced
minst a fellow that has never harmed
lein but has really done them favors,
ow we know of a young man in our
>me tcwn who can never see us. He
?ver speaks to us. He thinks we must
i his enemy. The only thing that we
now of doing to him was that when
e was hard up and had not the money
> get a suit of clothes, we gave our
ord to the clothier that we would
h? it paid. Well the fellow evidently
new a good thing when he had it and
fter paying a few dollars on the suit
[included to let us finish th^ job for
im. We did. Well, that fellow has not
[token to us since. He must be of the
pinion that we are his enemy. Well,
re guess we are. It never helps a
oung fellow to i>ay his debts for him.
le does not seem to like it and then it
takes him loose his self respect. When
his is gone the fellow Is on the down
rude. He must regain his self respect
i some way if ever he gets on the uprade.
It always does one good to shake
taiids with a mau who has a heart
inder his coat It cheers, it enourages,
and has a vitalizing effect,
rhis is the genuine, the pure article,
i-hile occasionally we come In con
act with people whose hand shake is
old and clammy as a pickled tongue,
t hose sticky grasp conveys to you the
incanny suggestion of a grave yard,
fou are not quite sure when you
Irop his hand whether he is dead
>r alive, yet you are pleased when
he solemn ordeal Is ended. This is
lie counterfeit, the spurious and the
?aslly detected.
Mansion Ready for the Governor.
The legislative committee, which has
n charge the matter of repairs to the
Governor's Mansion, has completed its
ivork and is ready to turn the Mandon
over to the Governor. The committee
overhauled the inside of the
Mansion and did a considerable
amount of needed repairing.
8hip Building in America.
Washington, Maroh 10.?There were
55 sailing, steam and unrigged vessels,
of 8 624 gross tons built in the United
Arti) nfAHallv nnmhorod ilnrlnv
February, according to the department
of commerce.
Try The Cronicle for 6 months?
50 cents. '
. . bit fin ? uir' mmmn. J