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The Ku Klux Klan was a
secret order founded at Pulaski, Tenn., in 1866, and was the outgrowth of
a local secret society originally formed for purposes of amusement only.
The effect of its grotesque and mysterious ceremonies upon the
superstitious and ignorant negroes was soon detected and the order spread
over the entire South, the membership being placed at over 500,000. Its
officers were as follows: A Grand Cyclops or president; a Grand Magus or
Vice-president; a Grand Turk or marshal; a Grand Exchequer or treasurer,
and two lictors. There were the outer and inner guards of the "Den," as
the place of meeting was designated. Each member was required to provide
himself with the following outfit: A white mask for the face, with
orifices for the eyes and nose; a tall, fantastic cardboard hat, so
constructed as to increase the wearer's apparent height; a gown or robe of
sufficient length to cover the entire person. Each member also carried a
small whistle, with which, by means of a code of signals agreed on, they
held communication with one another. In April, 1867, the Grand Cyclops of
the Pulaski den called for a convention of delegates from the dens, which
met at Nashville, Tenn., in the early summer of 1867. Under the plan of
reorganization adopted by the convention the grand officers were: The
Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire and his ten Genii; the Grand Dragon
of the Realm and his eight Hydras; the Grand Titian of the Dominion and
his six Furies; the Grand Cyclops of the den and his two Nighthawks; a
Grand Monk; a Grand Exchequer; a Grand Lictor; a Grand Scribe; a Grand
Turk; a Grand Sentinel. The Genii, Hydras, Furies, Goblins and Nighthawks
were staff officers.
This Nashville convention
made a positive and emphatic declaration of the principles of the order in
the following terms: "We recognize our relations to the United States
government; the supremacy of the constitution; the constitutional laws
thereof, and the union of the states thereunder."
The convention also defined
and set forth the peculiar objects of the order as follows: (1) To protect
the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from the indignities, wrongs,
and outrages of the lawless, the violent and the brutal; to relieve the
injured and the oppressed; to succor the suffering, and especially the
widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers. (2) To protect and defend the
constitution of the United States and all laws passed in conformity
thereto, and to protect the states and people from all invasions from any
source whatever. (3) To aid and assist in the execution of all
constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and
from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.
The Klan exerted a vast,
terrifying and wholesome power, but its influence was never at any time
dependent on or proportioned to its membership. The organization was
disbanded in March, 1869. |
