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ting the odd Ku Klux orders。
The general objects of the order were thus set forth in the revised Prescript： first； 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 oppressed； to succor the suffering and unfortunate； and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers； second； 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； third； to aid and assist in the execution of all 〃constitutional〃 laws； and to protect the people from unlawful arrest； and from trial except by their peers according to the laws of the land。 But the tests for admission gave further indication of the objects of the order。 No Republican； no Union Leaguer； and no member of the G。 A。 R。 might become a member。 The members were pledged to oppose Negro equality of any kind； to favor emancipation of the Southern whites and the restoration of their rights； and to maintain constitutional government and equitable laws。
Prominent men testified that the order became popular because the whites felt that they were persecuted and that there was no legal protection； no respectable government。 General （later Senator） Pettus said that through all the workings of the Federal Government ran the principle that 〃we are an inferior； degraded people and not fit to be trusted。〃 General Clanton of Alabama further explained that 〃there is not a respectable white woman in the Negro Belt of Alabama who will trust herself outside of her house without some protector 。 。 。 。 So far as our State Government is concerned； we are in the hands of camp…followers； horse…holders； cooks； bottle…washers； and thieves 。 。 。 。 We have passed out from the hands of the brave soldiers who overcame us； and are turned over to the tender mercies of squaws for torture。 。 。 。 I see Negro policegreat black fellowsleading white girls around the streets of Montgomery； and locking them up in jails。〃
The Klan first came into general prominence in 1868 with the report of the Federal commanders in the South concerning its activities。 Soon after that date the order spread through the white counties of the South； in many places absorbing the White Brotherhood； the Pale Faces； and some other local organizations which had been formed in the upper part of the Black Belt。 But it was not alone in the field。 The order known as the Knights of the White Camelia； founded in Louisiana in 1867 and formally organized in 1868； spread rapidly over the lower South until it reached the territory occupied by the Ku Klux Klan。 It was mainly a Black Belt order； and on the whole had a more substantial and more conservative membership than the other large secret bodies。 Like the Ku Klux Klan； it also absorbed several minor local societies。
The White Camelia had a national organization with headquarters in New Orleans。 Its business was conducted by a Supreme Council of the United States； with Grand； Central； and Subordinate Councils for each state； county； and community。 All communication within the order took place by passwords and cipher； the organization and the officers were similar to those of the Ku Klux Klan； and all officers were designated by initials。 An ex…member states that 〃during the three years of its existence here ＇Perry County； Alabama＇ I believe its organization and discipline were as perfect as human ingenuity could have made it。〃 The fundamental object of the White Camelia was the 〃maintenance of the supremacy of the white race；〃 and to this end the members were constrained 〃to observe a marked distinction between the races〃 and to restrain the 〃African race to that condition of social and political inferiority for which God has destined it。〃 The members were pledged to vote only for whites； to oppose Negro equality in all things； but to respect the legitimate rights of Negroes。
The smaller orders were similar in purpose and organization to the Ku Klux Klan and the White Camelia。 Most of them joined or were affiliated with the large societies。 Probably a majority of the men of the South were associated at some time during this period with these revolutionary bodies。 As a rule the politicians； though approving； held aloof。 Public opinion generally supported the movement so long as the radicals made serious attempts to carry out the reconstruction policies。
The task before the secret orders was to regulate the conduct of the blacks and their leaders in order that honor； life； and property might be secure。 They planned to accomplish this aim by playing upon the fears； superstitions； and cowardice of the black racein a word； by creating a white terror to counteract the black one。 To this end they made use of strange disguises； mysterious and fearful conversation； midnight rides and drills； and silent parades。 As long as secrecy and mystery were to be effective in dealing with the Negroes； costume was an important matter。 These disguises varied with the locality and often with the individual。 High cardboard hats； covered with white cloth often decorated with stars or pictures of animals； white masks with holes cut for eyes； nose and mouth bound with red braid to give a horrible appearance； and frequently a long tongue of red flannel so fixed that it could be moved with the wearer's tongue； and a long white robethese made up a costume which served at the same time as a disguise and as a means of impressing the impressionable Negro。 Horses were covered with sheets or white cloth held on by the saddle and by belts； and sometimes the animals were even painted。 Skulls of sheep and cattle； and even of human beings were often carried on the saddlebows to add another element of terror。 A framework was sometimes made to fit the shoulders of a Ghoul which caused him to appear twelve feet high。 A skeleton wooden hand at the end of a stick served to greet terrified Negroes at midnight。 For safety every man carried a small whistle and a brace of pistols。
The trembling Negro who ran into a gathering of the Ku Klux on his return from a Loyal League meeting was informed that the white…robed figures he saw were the spirits of the Confederate dead killed at Chickamauga or Shiloh； now unable to rest in their graves because of the conduct of the Negroes。 He was told in a sepulchral voice of the necessity for his remaining more at home and taking a less active part in predatory excursions abroad。 In the middle of the night； a sleeping Negro might wake to find his house surrounded by a ghostly company； or to see several terrifying figures standing by his bedside。 They were； they said； the ghosts of men whom he had formerly known。 They had scratched through from Hell to warn the Negroes of the consequences of their misconduct。 Hell was a dry and thirsty land； and they asked him for water。 Bucket after bucket of water disappeared into a sack of leather； rawhide； or rubber； concealed within the flowing robe。 The story is told of one of these night travelers who called at the cabin of a radical Negro in Attakapas County； Louisiana。 After drinking three buckets of water to the great astonishment of the darky； the traveler thanked him and told him that he had traveled nearly a thousand miles within twenty…four hours； and that that was the best water he had tasted since he was killed at the battle of Shiloh。 The Negro dropped the bucket； overturned chairs and table in making his escape through the window； and was never again seen or heard of by residents of that community。 Another incident is told of a parade in Pulaski； Tennessee： 〃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。'〃
It was seldom necessary at this early stage to use violence； for the black population was in an ecstasy of fear。 A silent host of white…sheeted horsemen parading the country roads at night was sufficient to reduce the blacks to good behavior for weeks or months。 One silent Ghoul posted near a meeting place of the League would be the cause of the immediate dissolution of that club。 Cow bones in a sack were rattled within earshot of the terrified Negroes。 A horrible being； fifteen feet tall； walking through the night toward a place of congregation； was very likely to find that every one had vacated the place before he arrived。 A few figures wrapped in sheets and sitting on tombstones in a graveyard near which Negroes were accustomed to pass would serve to keep the immediate community quiet for weeks and give the locality a reputation for 〃hants〃 which lasted long。
To prevent detection on parade； members of the Klan often stayed out of the parade in the