UNTIL the beginning of 1867 the movements of the Klan had been
characterized in the main by prudence and discretion,
but {Page 405} there were exceptions. In some cases there
had been a liberal construction of orders.
The limits which it had been agreed not to
pass had been overstepped.
Attempts had been made to correct by
positive means evils which menaces had not
been sufficient to remove. Rash, imprudent,
and bad men had gotten into the order. The
danger which the more prudent and thoughtful had
apprehended as possible was now a
reality. Had it been possible to do so, the
leaders would have been willing to disband
the Klan. That could not be done.
† They
had evoked a spirit from the “vasty deep;”
it would not down at their bidding. The
only course which seemed to promise a satisfactory solution
of the difficulty was this: to
reorganize the Klan on a plan corresponding
to its size and present purposes; to bind the
isolated “dens” together; to secure unity of
purpose and concert of action; to hedge the
members up by such limitations and regulations as
were best adapted to restrain them
within proper limits; to distribute the authority
among prudent men at local centers,
and exact from them a close supervision of those
under their charge. In this way it was hoped
the impending dangers would be effectually
guarded against.
With this object in view the Grand Cyclops
of the Pulaski “den” sent out a request to all
the “dens” of which he had knowledge to appoint delegates to meet in convention at
Nashville, Tenn., in the spring of 1867. At
the appointed time this convention was held.
Delegates were present from Tennessee, Alabama, and a number of other States. A plan
of reorganization, previously prepared, was
submitted to this convention and adopted.
After the transaction of some further business,
the convention adjourned, and the delegates
returned home without having attracted any
attention.
At this convention the territory covered by
the Klan was designated as “The Invisible
Empire.” This was subdivided into “realms,”
coterminous with the boundaries of States.
The “realms” were divided into “dominions,” corresponding to congressional
districts ; the dominions into “provinces,”
coterminous with counties; and the provinces into “dens.”
To each of these departments officers were
assigned. Except in the case of the supreme
officer, the duties of each were minutely specified. These officers were:
The Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire
and his ten Genii. The powers of this officer
were almost autocratic.
The Grand Dragon of the Realm and his
eight Hydras.
The Grand Titan of the Dominion and
his six Furies.
The Grand Giant of the Province and his
four Goblins.
The Grand Cyclops of the Den and his
two Night Hawks.
A Grand Monk.
A Grand Scribe.
A Grand Exchequer.
A Grand Turk.
A Grand Sentinel.
One of the most important things done by
this Nashville convention was to make a positive and emphatic statement of the principles of
the order. It was in the following terms:
“We recognize our relation to the United
States Government; the supremacy of the
Constitution; the constitutional laws thereof;
and the union of States thereunder.”
†
If these men were plotting treason, it puzzles one to know why they should make such
a statement as that in setting forth the principles of the order. This statement was not intended for
public circulation. It is now given
to the public for the first time. Every man
who was a Ku Klux really took an oath to
support the Constitution of the United States.
This Nashville convention also 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 thereof from all invasion 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. †
This outline of Klan legislation bears internal evidence of what we know from other
sources to be the truth. Those who were attempting to direct the movements of the Klan were now principally
concerned about devising such measures as would control the Klan itself and keep it within what they conceived
to be safe limits. The majority had up to this
time shown a fair appreciation of the responsibilities of their self-imposed task of preserving social order.
But excesses had been
committed, and it was foreseen and feared
that, if such things continued or increased,
the hostility of State and Federal governments
would be kindled against the Klan, and active
measures taken to suppress it. The hope was
entertained that the legislation taken by the
convention and the reorganization would not
only enable the Klan to enact its role as
regulators with greater success, but would
{Page 406}
keep its members within the prescribed limits,
and so guard against the contingencies referred
to. They desired on the one hand to
restrain and control their own members; on
the other, to correct evils and promote order
in society; and to do the latter
solely by
utilizing for this purpose the means and methods
originally employed for amusement. They
failed in both directions. How and why will
be told presently.
By the reorganization no material change
was made in the methods of the Klans operations. Some of the old methods were modified,
some new features were added. The essential features of mystery, secrecy, and grotesqueness were
retained, and steps were taken
with a view to deepening and intensifying the
impressions already made upon the public
mind. They attempted to push to the extreme limits of illustration the power of the
mysterious over the minds of men. Henceforth they courted publicity as assiduously
as they had formerly seemed to shun it. They
appeared at different points at the same time,
and always when and where they were the
least expected. Devices were multiplied to
deceive people in regard to their numbers
and everything else, and to play upon the
fears of the superstitious.
As it was now the policy of the Klan to
appear in public, an order was issued by the
Grand Dragon of the Realm of Tennessee to
the Grand Giants of the Provinces for a
general parade, in the capital town of each
province, on the night of the 4th of July, 1867.
It will be sufficient for this narrative to describe that parade as witnessed by the citizens
of Pulaski. On the morning of that day the
citizens found the sidewalks thickly strewn
with slips of paper bearing the printed words:
“The Ku Klux will parade the streets tonight.” This announcement created great
excitement. The people supposed that their
curiosity, so long baffled, would now be gratified. They were confident that this parade
would at least afford them the opportunity
of learning who belonged to the Ku Klux
Klan.
Soon after nightfall the streets were lined
with an expectant and excited throng of
people. Many came from the surrounding
country. The members of the Klan in the
county left their homes in the afternoon and
traveled alone or in squads of two or three,
with their paraphernalia carefully concealed.
If questioned, they answered that they were
going to Pulaski to see the Ku Klux parade.
After nightfall they assembled at designated
points near the four main roads leading into
the town. Here they donned their robes and
disguises, and put covers of gaudy materials
on their horses. A sky-rocket sent up from
some point in the town was the signal to
mount and move. The different companies
met and joined each other on the public
square in perfect silence; the discipline
appeared to be admirable. Not a word was
spoken. Necessary orders were given by
means of the whistles.
†
In single file, in
deathlike stillness, with funeral slowness, they
marched and countermarched throughout the
town. While the column was headed north
on one street it was going south on another.
By crossing over in opposite directions the
lines were kept up in almost unbroken continuity.
The effect was to create the impression of vast
numbers. This marching and
countermarching was kept up for about two
hours, and the Klan departed as noiselessly
as they came. The public were more than
ever mystified. The efforts of the most curious
to find out who were Ku Klux failed. One
gentleman from the country was confident
that he could identify the riders by the horses.
But, as we have said, the horses were disguised
as well as the riders. Determined not to be
baffled, during a halt of the column he lifted
the cover of a horse that was near him, and
recognized his own steed and saddle, on
which he had ridden into town. The town
people were on the alert to see who of the
young men of the town would be with the
Ku Klux. All of them, almost without exception,
were marked mingling freely and conspicuously
with the spectators.
†
Perhaps the greatest illusion
produced was
in regard to the numbers taking part in the
parade. Reputable citizens were confident
that the number was not less than three thousand.
Others, whose imaginations were more
easily wrought upon, were quite certain there
were ten thousand. The truth is that the number of
Ku Klux in the parade did not exceed
four hundred. This delusion in regard to
numbers prevailed wherever the Ku Klux appeared.
It illustrates how little the testimony
of even an eye-witness is worth in regard to
anything which makes a deep impression on
him by reason of its mysteriousness.
The Klan had a large membership;
it exerted a vast and terrifying power; but its
influence was never at any time dependent on,
or proportioned to, its membership It was
in the mystery in which the comparatively
few enshrouded themselves. It is an error to
suppose that the entire male population of
the South were Ku Klux, or even a majority
of the people were privy to its secrets and
in sympathy with its extremest measures.
To many of them, perhaps to a majority, the
Ku Klux Klan was as vague, impersonal, and
mysterious as to the people of the North or
of England; they did—do to this day—attribute
to it great good.
One or two incidents will illustrate the
methods resorted to to play upon the superstitious
fears of the negroes and others. At
the parade in Pulaski, while the procession
was passing a corner on which a negro man
was standing, a tall horseman in hideous
garb turned aside from the line, dismounted,
and stretched out his bridle-rein toward the
negro, as if he desired him to hold his horse.
Not daring to refuse, the frightened African
extended his hand to grasp the rein. As he
did so, the Ku Klux took his own head from
his shoulders and offered to place that also in
the outstretched hand. The negro stood not
upon the order of his going, but departed with
a yell of terror. To this day he will tell you;
“He done it, suah, boss. I seed him do it.”
The gown was fastened by a drawstring over
the top of the wearers head. Over this was
worn an artificial skull made of a large gourd
or of pasteboard. This, with the hat, could
be readily removed, and the man would then
appear to be headless. Such tricks gave rise
to the belief—still prevalent among the
negroes—that
the Ku Klux could take themselves all to pieces
whenever they wanted to.
Some of the Ku Klux carried skeleton hands.
These were made of bone or wood, with a
wrist or handle long enough to be held in the
hand, which was concealed by the sleeve of
the gown. The possessor of one of these was
invariably of a friendly turn, and offered to
shake hands with all he met, with what effect
may be readily imagined. A trick of frequent
perpetration in the country was for a horseman,
spectral and ghostly-looking, to stop
before the cabin of some negro needing a
wholesome impression and call for a bucket
of water. If a dipper or gourd was brought
it was declined, and the bucketful of water
demanded. As if consumed by raging thirst,
the horseman grasped it and pressed it to his
lips. He held it there till every drop of the
water was poured into a gum or oiled sack
concealed beneath the Ku Klux robe. Then
the empty bucket was returned to the amazed
negro with the remark: “Thats good. It is
the first drink of water I have had since I
was killed at Shiloh.” Then a few words of
counsel as to future behavior made an impression
not easily forgotten or likely to be disregarded.
