The Fraternalism of the Klan
Surely there can not be in this frank statement of the principles and
the purposes of the Ku Klux Klan any ground for the criticism that
the organization was founded on racial and sectarian animosities and
hatreds. The Klan is neither anti-racial nor anti-sectarian. It is
pro-American. We concede to every distinctive organization in race and
religion the same rights of restricting and qualifying its membership
that we claim for ourselves. If, in the light of all the past, and
in view of the present, we are insisting upon an organization of
native-born white American citizens, we do not, by stipulating the
conditions of membership in the Ku Klux Klan, avow hostility to any
one class or company who may not, for one reason or another, qualify
for membership in our organization. Indeed, as Americans we not only
have the right to organize under the law and in keeping with the law,
but far more than that--in the exercise of that right the Klan is
positively committed to vouchsafing the same right to any other class
of people on the American continent who desire to organize themselves
for patriotic, social, fraternal or religious purposes. Only this
too is also stoutly maintained: Any organization that is formed and
fostered under the flag of our common country must not be inimical to
our democratic government and institutions.
There are numerous organizations in America to which members of the
Klan would not be admitted. These organizations are racial, social,
political and sectarian. There has never been any complaint against
these organizations. They have never been subjected to scrutiny by the
Department of Justice of the United States Government. They have never
been brought under Congressional investigation. They have lived and
grown and pursued their purposes of organization without restraint or
interference from the outside. All this is in exact keeping with the
freedom that is granted under the Constitution and the laws. We realize
only too well that when organizations have arisen that have threatened
the peace or morals or health of our social life, or, for any purpose,
inveighed against the basic institutions of our country or the orderly
conduct of our people in obedience to constituted authority, such
organizations have been speedily suppressed. There are not a few of
the leaders of such movements in the penal institutions of our country
to-day, designated as political prisoners, because they undertook to
obstruct the machinery of the country in its war activities. The Ku
Klux Klan is committed so thoroughly--nothing remaining uncommitted--to
the full freedom of human life guaranteed under the Constitution to
American citizens that it can never interfere with the rights of
groups or individuals outside its ranks. It stands everywhere against
disorderly and disruptive movements which deny the authority of the
government and disobey its mandates whether in time of war or peace.
If there is one thing, more than any other, which we Americans must now
devoutly take to heart it is obedience to law. Perhaps we are rightly
accused by Europeans of being quite the most lawless among civilized
nations. This is indicated by nothing so much as by the series of
terrible race riots which have disgraced some of our great cities
during recent years--notably Atlanta, Washington, East St. Louis,
Chicago and Omaha. Space limits us here to the description of a single
case in which the Klan has been involved. At a small town in Florida,
a terrible race riot was precipitated on election day, 1920. It was
reported that one or more Negroes, disqualified by law from voting,
were nevertheless demanding that they be permitted to vote. This
incident led to others, and resulted in a terrible race riot. More than
a score of persons, mostly Negroes, were killed. The white men, having
defeated and dispersed the Negroes of their own community, thoroughly
inflamed, proceeded, late in the day, to march upon --------, for
the purpose of attacking the Negroes of that community. The Klansmen
notified by a member of the ---- Klan, of the approach of a force
of armed whites, armed themselves and placed their services at the
disposal of the officers of the law. They met the oncoming force just
outside the limits of their own town. Unhappily, the attackers were
not turned back without an armed conflict. In this affray two Klansmen
were killed. The mob was driven back. The Klansmen lost their lives in
defense of the law and while protecting the Negroes of their town.
On another occasion one of the largest and soundest local Klans ever
founded by our organizers was instantly dissolved, because our rules
and regulations in these things were violated. The Klan in question
wished to find a remedy for a serious local disorder. A tradesman in
the community was conducting a thriving bootlegging establishment which
grew to be a scandal to the whole town. The Klan, recently organized,
and not fully comprehending our methods, posted notices warning the
culprit to leave town. They emphasized their warning by posting along
side certain signs of the Ku Klux Klan. For this interference with the
orderly process of justice in this case the local Klan in question was
quickly disbanded by our headquarters.
With this and other similar incidents in mind the reader may well
imagine the thoughts and feelings of Klansmen everywhere when they
are told that their organization has been founded for the purpose of
"Lynching Niggers." We have been accused of crimes in towns where we
had no local Klan within hundreds of miles. In such cases the lynching
accusations are often carried on the wings of great organizations of
the press. Our denials we find ineffectual. But of this I am certain:
The truth will sometimes overtake the lies and the evil will recoil on
the heads of the evil-doers.
But in addition to the purely patriotic principles of the Klan, which
are fundamental, it is a fraternal organization. A Charter for the
Klan was granted by the State of Georgia. All of its activities are
subject to scrutiny by the State and review by properly constituted
authority. The Charter may be revoked at the will of the State.
Where-ever irregularities are shown in the conduct of the Klan, or
wherever the Klan departs from the purposes of its organization as set
forth in the Charter, the Klan may be disbanded by due process of law.
It is therefore not an organization that has sprung up over night,
without responsibility, claiming independence of the law of the land.
The Klan offers its membership a graduate course in fraternalism.
There are several orders administered and each of these orders marks
an advance in devotion to our common country and in those fraternal
relations and responsibilities which bind us to our fellow men. There
can be nothing in this organization, as there is nothing in the many
fraternal organizations in this country, that is inimical to the
highest sense of social order. Indeed, underlying the fraternalism
of the Klan is a consecration to the American home, the preservation
of its sanctity and the maintenance of ideal family life. From
this a sympathetic helpfulness flows out to those in distress and
discouragement, and a force of strong men is thrown about the weak and
helpless without respect to color or creed. This is the service of love
and sacrifice to our age and generation which is symbolized by the
fiery cross.