The Nation's Peril Part 2

The GRIP is given by placing the forefinger on the pulse of the person you shake hands with.

_Countersign._--If halted by a camp or picket on the public highway at night, the following colloquy ensues:

"Who comes there?"

"A friend!"

"A friend of what?"

"My country!"

"What country?"

"I, S, A, Y." (Repeating each letter slowly.)

"N, O, T, H, I, N, G." (Repeating each letter slowly.)

"The word?"

"Retribution!"

These countersigns are issued every three months. The one here given was in vogue at the time of the discovery of the order.

A member of any order of the Ku Klux Klan of the first or probationary degree, in distress, and requiring speedy aid, will use a word signal, or cry of distress: "SHILOH!"

In expeditions conducted under direction of the Commander, or any of the brethren detailed by him to act as head, a code of signals by sounds, made with whistles, is used, in order that the members may not be recognized by their voices.

DIVISIONS OF THE ORDER.

There are several divisions of the order of the KU KLUX KLANS, all working under the same ritual and oaths, and having the same signs, grips, pa.s.swords, modes of approach, and general conduct of raids and midnight excursions. These are known under the names of "Knights of the White Camelia," "The Invisible Empire," "The White Brotherhood," "The Unknown Mult.i.tude," "The Union and Young Men's Democracy." All work in disguise, with the exception of the latter, who work openly as well as in disguise, and are all under the instructions of the "Grand Cyclops" and the Supreme Grand Council. They all have one and the same object, which is as plainly set forth in the oath as it well can be in an obligation of that character.

The difference in names and styles has been adopted for a two-fold purpose. First, to conceal the origin, object, and design of the order, and its founders and directors; secondly, to conceal its extent and numbers, and make it appear a mere local affair that has cropped out in different places without reference to any organized combination with one grand center.

The workings of the Klans over all the Southern country show more conclusively than any amount of subterfuge on the part of the leaders, that one common tie binds them all; that one common interest actuates them; that one common end is to be accomplished. The oath differs slightly in phraseology in different localities, to accommodate the varied circ.u.mstances under which it is administered, and with a view to greater concealment--the words "Unknown Mult.i.tude," "Invisible Empire," and "White Brotherhood" being subst.i.tuted in North and South Carolina; the words "Union and Young Men's Democracy," in Georgia and Mississippi; and the words "Knights of the White Camelia," in Louisiana and Texas and other States.

THE SECOND OR SUPREME DEGREE.

This degree differs from the first or probationary degree in the fact that those upon whom it is conferred are of the better cla.s.s of the ma.s.ses, and take upon themselves a more binding oath, administered under circ.u.mstances intended to be more impressive in character. The candidate for this degree is brought blind-folded into the center of the Camp, and caused to kneel at an altar erected for the occasion, his right hand placed upon a Bible, and his left upon a human skull. The Commander then says:

"Brethren, _must_ it be done?"

The members respond, "_It must!_" and this in a tone intended to strike terror to the heart of the novitiate.

The candidate, of course, has no knowledge of what is meant by the ominous "_Must it be done?_" and there is a mournful groaning in the response "_It must!_" indicating that a terrible experience awaits him, which the Brotherhood would gladly spare him if they could.

A death-like silence ensues for a few moments, which seem ages to the candidate, and affords ample opportunity for his imagination to picture the unheard-of horrors through which he may possibly be called to pa.s.s.

The silence is finally broken by the Commander, who says:

"BRETHREN, this brother _now_ kneels at the altar of our faith, and asks to be bound to our fortunes by the more solemn and mysterious provisions of our Order. Fortunately for him in this hour of peril, he has been found worthy, and in commemoration of his being made one of the great 'Unknown Mult.i.tude,' I again ask, '_Must it be done?_'"

The brethren, in solemn tones, again respond, "_It must!_"

The Commander then says, in a stentorian tone of voice, "_Let the blood of the traitor be spilled: bring the victim forth._"

The members here make a rustling noise, to resemble a struggle, a heavy blow is struck upon some appropriate substance, and a few drops of blood are trickled over the hand of the initiate that rests upon the skull. The brethren then surround him with knives and pistols presented in a circle about his head and neck, when the Commander then says:

"Must I swear him by the oath that shall forever bind, and never be broken?"

The brethren, placing their hands upon their left b.r.e.a.s.t.s, respond sepulchrally as before, "_Swear him!_"

The Commander now addresses the candidate as follows:

"_My Brother_, kneeling at the solemn altar of our faith, as one who desires that no government but the white man's shall live in this country; and as one who will fight to the death all schisms, and factions, and parties, coming from whatsoever source they may, which have for their design the elevation of the negro to an equality with the white man, I am now about to administer to you the oath of this, the supreme degree, of our Order--that oath which shall forever bind, and never be broken; at the same time informing you that this oath, being taken in a cause which has for its object the deliverance of your country and the land of your birth from the rule of the negro-worshiper and the fanatic, is paramount to every other oath which you have taken, or may hereafter take, outside of this Order. You will now repeat after me, p.r.o.nouncing your name in full, and your words aloud, on pain of instant death:

_Oath of the Second or Supreme Degree._

"I, A. B., in the presence of Almighty G.o.d, and these my friends here a.s.sembled, kneeling at this altar, with my right hand upon the holy Bible, and my left washed in the blood of a traitor, and resting upon the skull of his brother in iniquity, and being fully impressed with the sacredness of this act, do solemnly swear that I will uphold and defend the Const.i.tution of the United States, as it was handed down by our forefathers, in its original purity; that I will reject and oppose the principles of the Radical party in all its forms, and forever maintain and contend that intelligent white men shall govern this country. And I furthermore swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Order of the Const.i.tutional Union Guards, and will never make known, by sign, word, or deed, any of its secrets now about to be, or that may hereafter be confided to me; that I will obey all its precepts, mandates, orders, instructions, and directions issued through the Commander, and aid and a.s.sist the brethren in carrying out and enforcing the same; and that I will keep secret, even unto death, the plans and movements of this society. I furthermore swear to obey the South Commander in the Camp, in preference to any known law, precept, or authority whatever, and to defend the brethren, if need be, with the sacrifice of my life. I swear that the enemies of the white man's race, and the white man's government, and the friends of negro equality shall be my enemies, and that I will uphold and defend the white man's government against all comers, whether in the name of Radicals, Negro-worshipers, Carpet-baggers, Scallawags, or spies in the land. I swear to forever oppose the social and political elevation of the negro to an equality with the whites, and that I will come at every hour of the moon to execute the trust confided to me by the Commander and the brethren. I furthermore swear that, in case of our being interrupted in the establishment of the principles for which we are contending, that I will regard no oath that will convict one of the members of this Order, but under all circ.u.mstances will stand by the Order in blood and death. I furthermore swear that I will not give the signal cry of distress, only when in real distress, and that I will yield my life, if necessary, in aid of a brother giving the double cry of this degree. Lastly, I swear by this Bible, and this skull, and this blood, that should I ever prove unfaithful in any particular to the obligation I have now a.s.sumed, I hope to meet with the fearful and just penalty of the traitor, which is _death_, DEATH, DEATH, at the hands of the brethren. So help me G.o.d."

The candidate having kissed the book, the bandage is removed from his eyes. He sees before him a human skull upon one side of the Bible, and a small chalice or cup filled with blood upon the other. The brethren are all disguised in long black gowns, covering them completely from neck to heels. Black masks and black conical shaped hats of enormous height, decorated with representations of death's head and cross bones, complete the costume.

Some of the members bear pine torches, which throw a wierd and unearthly glare upon the unholy scene, and render it a fit counterpart to the abode of the demons who seem to have instigated the proceedings. When the bandage is removed, these torches are swung violently to and fro, and the brethren simultaneously utter a loud cry.

The candidate is now informed that the signs, grips, and pa.s.swords of the preceding degree are used in this, with the exception that the signal cry of distress in this is composed of two words: "SHILOH, AVALANCHE."

OPERATIONS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN.

AN AUTHENTICATED ACCOUNT OF OUTRAGES COMMITTED IN THE SOUTH.--THE PERPETRATORS AND THEIR VICTIMS.

THE MURDER OF EDWARD THOMPSON.

From the close of the war, up to the fall of 1870, there resided in Lowndes county, Georgia, an exceedingly intelligent colored man, named Edward Thompson. He was noted for his piety, and the peculiar influence he exerted over the members of his race who resided in Lowndes county, and Hamilton county, Florida; and being thoroughly imbued with Republican principles, lost no opportunity in disseminating them among those of his race with whom he a.s.sociated. Through his exertion, and by the force of his example, the negroes voted the ticket of the Republican party at every election, always seeking his advice before going to the polls to deposit their ballots.

Thompson's case was brought before the Camp of Hamilton county, Florida--at that time, presided over by one Elihu Horn, Commander of the Camp--as one requiring energetic action upon the part of the Order. A warning was issued to Thompson, the import of which could hardly be mistaken. The following is a verbatim copy of the same taken from the original.

"K. K. K.

"_His Supreme Highness of Hamilton to Edward Thompson._

"His Supreme and Mighty Highness has heard of your seditious practices in leading others astray, and encouraging them in opposition to the white man's government. Time is given you to repent and submit as your fathers have done. Now this is to warn you, and all such as you, on pain of punishment and death, to abandon your vicious harangues, and abide by our orders. The moon is yet bright; it may turn to blood.

"By order, "K. K. K."

Thompson paid no heed to this warning, but continued to pursue the even tenor of his way. He had resided so long in the place, and been so favorably known there, both among the whites and blacks, that he scouted the idea that this meant anything more than a threat intended to intimidate him, and he continued exerting his influence in the Republican cause with his brethren, as had been his custom. Several warnings were subsequently sent to him with no better effect, and it was finally decided in the solemn conclave of the Camp, that he should receive the long threatened "visitation."