rats were not to be tolerated. It was almost necessary, as
a measure of personal safety, for each black to support the radical
program. It was possible in some cases for a Negro to refrain from
taking an active part in political affairs. He might even fail to vote.
But it was actually dangerous for a black to be a Democrat; that is, to
try to follow his old master in politics. The whites in many cases were
forced to advise their few faithful black friends to vote the radical
ticket in order to escape mistreatment. Those who showed Democratic
leanings were proscribed in Negro society and expelled from Negro
churches; the Negro women would not "proshay" (appreciate) a black
Democrat. Such a one was sure to find that influence was being brought
to bear upon his dusky sweetheart or his wife to cause him to see the
error of his ways, and persistent adherence to the white party would
result in his losing her. The women were converted to radicalism before
the men, and they almost invariably used their influence strongly in
behalf of the League. If moral suasion failed to cause the delinquent to
see the light, other methods were used. Threats were common and usually
sufficed. Fines were levied by the League on recalcitrant members. In
case of the more stubborn, a sound beating was effective to bring about
a change of heart. The offending party was "bucked and gagged," or he
was tied by the thumbs and thrashed. Usually the sufferer was too afraid
to complain of the way he was treated.

Some of the methods of the Loyal League were similar to those of
the later Ku Klux Klan. Anonymous warnings were sent to obnoxious
individuals, houses were burned, notices were posted at night in public
places and on the houses of persons who had incurred the hostility of
the order. In order to destroy the influence of the whites where kindly
relations still existed, an "exodus order" issued through the League
directed all members to leave their old homes and obtain work elsewhere.
Some of the blacks were loath to comply with this order, but to
remonstrances from the whites the usual reply was: "De word done sent to
de League. We got to go." For special meetings the Negroes were in
some regions called together by signal guns. In this way the call for a
gathering went out over a county in a few minutes and a few hours later
nearly all the members in the county assembled at the appointed place.

Negroes as organizing agents were inclined to go to ex