One of those evil southern States

[Jito463]

Wait, are you actually defending the existence of the KKK?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Jito463

Wait, are you actually defending the existence of the KKK?

No. I'm saying that it was sprung up as a result of the hatred and abuse being dished out against the Southern people unjustly after the Civil War. If you really study this issue, you will see that allot happened that your government approved history book won't talk about.

[Originalist]

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Originalist

The Federal government of the USA's official position has always been against the black race. Even most of the "anti-Slavery" stance was only held by a small few within the early GOP. Most were really anti-black and anti-southern. Even the "stop the spread of slavery in the territories" was pure hype. Slavery had been open in the New Mexico Territory (which included modern day Arizona) for 10 years by 1860 and only 24 slaves could be counted there. Few slaves would ever have gone into the other territories as a plantation system was not practical there. Free blacks were forbidden in the territories as well as in many northern States. Lincoln made it clear that the two races could never co-exist equally. His plan was to export as many blacks as possible to homelands in and outside the territorial USA.

After the "Civil War" the victorious Feds decided that the newly freed slaves did have some usefulness. They were made pawns and agents of their new masters to help grind the defeated South into the dirt. To their credit many freed slaves wanted no part in this atrocity as they knew establishing good relations with the southern white population was the key to their future. But the victorious union had no intention of letting southern blacks and whites form strong bonds of friendship. They must be made to hate each other. So, one full year after the end of hostilities, the Congress passed the Reconstruction Act which stripped most of the voting population of white southerners of their citizenship and voting rights. For nearly 12 years the State Houses and governor's mansions in the South were occupied by freed slaves and northern whites. After having surrendered on the promise of "malice towards none, charity towards all", white southerners found themselves at the mercy of tyrants. This lead to the rise of groups like the KKK. We can thank an evil Federal policy for the rise of this group. But southern whites could not be expected to not organize some sort of defense against Federal oppression. To his credit, one of the leaders of the Klan, former CSA General Nathan Bedford Forest had the group disbanded when it became a purely racial organization. He even went so far as to have Klansmen hung for terrorist attacks against blacks. For his kind treatment of blacks, Forrest was invited by a prominent Afro-American fraternal organization as a keynote speaker. The following is an account that event.....


Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Speech to the Pole Bearers Association on July 5, 1875.


A convention and BBQ was held by the Independent Order of Pole-Bearers Association at the fairgrounds of Memphis, five miles east of the city. An invitation to speak was conveyed to General Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the city's most prominent citizens, and one of the foremost cavalry commanders in the late War Between the States. This was the first invitation granted to a white man to speak at this gathering. The invitation's purpose, one of the leaders said, was to extend peace, joy, and union, and following a brief welcoming address a Miss Lou Lewis, daughter of an officer of the Pole-Bearers, brought forward flowers and assurances that she conveyed them as a token of good will. After Miss Lewis handed him the flowers, General Forrest responded with a short speech that, in the contemporary pages of the Memphis Appeal, evinces Forrest's racial open-mindedness that seemed to have been growing in him.



Whereupon N. B. Forrest again thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the citizens of Memphis. You shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you free.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadly, when home rule was regained in the Southern States, they did not always live up to the ideals of N.B. Forrest. But when you suppress the majority, they in turn suppress the minority when given the opportunity. This was a grave mistake on the part of white southerners. As wrong as Lincoln was for invading the seceding States, his plans for a peaceful reconstruction might have worked but were not allowed to move forward.
They were cast aside by one of the worst, tyrannical group of fanatics (the radical GOP Congress) that as ever existed on American soil, and whose dark legacy still haunts us to this day.

In spite of the Federal Government's best efforts at preventing it, the bitterness and anger of those dark days has long melted away from the collective Caucasian southern consciousness. The election of many black politicians in predominately white southern districts serves to underscore this fact. Yet the unofficial policy of the Federal Government establishment is to keep blacks and white at each others throats, and to keep the black population in a state of dependency.

Originalist I haven't read all of this but what I have read sounds like lies.

KKK arose out of southern whites policing their own, but their mission turned hatefully racial soon after their formation. They were like a vigilante law engorcement organization.

Ideas of N. B. Forrest-- he's a MURDERER! The point of your story is that his views were changing-- is that what it is?

"For nearly 12 years the State Houses and governor's mansions in the South were occupied by freed slaves and northern whites." -- Define "occupied" as I think this is a gigantic stretch of the truth.

[Fionn mac Cumh]

While me and Originalist dont see eye to eye at all. The KKK didnt start as a hate group.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Originalist I haven't read all of this but what I have read sounds like lies.

KKK arose out of southern whites policing their own, but their mission turned hatefully racial soon after their formation. They were like a vigilante law engorcement organization.

Ideas of N. B. Forrest-- he's a MURDERER! The point of your story is that his views were changing-- is that what it is?

"For nearly 12 years the State Houses and governor's mansions in the South were occupied by freed slaves and northern whites." -- Define "occupied" as I think this is a gigantic stretch of the truth.

Jermyn, it is not lies. At one time in recent history, even the most pro-Lincoln scholars would declare that the Reconstruction era was radically unfair against the South and gave rise to extreme elements. Compare an Encyclopedia from the 1950's with a modern version, and you will see a radical difference. The modern versions gloss over the entire era. No mention of the complete disenfranchisement of the native white population and the horrors of carpet bag rule. No credit given to men like N.B. Forrest for his efforts to heal racial wounds. His name is being stricken from schools, streets, parks etc.

I'm not sure as to your concern over the use of the word "occupied". The White House has been "occupied" my many different Presidents over the years. The point i was raising was that of the complete exclusion and absence of any members of the native white population during that time. Nothing more was meant by the comment.

As for Forrest being a "murderer". Might you be referring to the Ft. Pillow massacre?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Fionn mac Cumh

While me and Originalist dont see eye to eye at all. The KKK didnt start as a hate group.

Thank you for your objectivity.

[Fionn mac Cumh]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Thank you for your objectivity.

Dude the history of the KKK is very interesting to say the least. It wasnt until the 1900s that they became what we now think of them.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Fionn mac Cumh

Dude the history of the KKK is very interesting to say the least. It wasnt until the 1900s that they became what we now think of them.

What was really bizarre was the massive rise of the KKK in the 1920's. But since most of it was in the North, it is hardly mentioned by historians.

[Originalist]

An good read for those interested. It's a short essay explaining how the actions of the Northern Leagues gave rise to the KKK during Reconstruction. It does not justify slavery, nor does it deny or justify the brutal actions committed by some in the KKK. It is a must read to understand what really happened to the South during Reconstruction. Again, this was once taught by scholars and historians sympathetic to Lincoln......

The Union League
Forgotten Scourge of Reconstruction

Principal credit to John Chodes, author of "The Union League: Washington’s Klan”

Copyright 1999


http://www.scv357.org/employment/pdf...on_League1.pdf