This will not be endured
any longer; and if it occurs again, and the parties be
discovered, a remorseless vengeance will be wreaked upon them.

We reiterate that we are for peace and law and order. No man,
white or black, shall be molested for his political sentiments.
This Klan is not a political party; it is not a military party;
it is a protective organization, and will never use violence
except in resisting violence.

Outrages have been perpetrated by irresponsible parties in the
name of this Klan. Should such parties be apprehended, they will
be dealt with in a manner to insure us future exemption from
such imposition. These impostors have, in some instances,
whipped negroes. This is wrong! wrong! It is denounced by this
Klan as it must be by all good and humane men.

The Klan now, as in the past, is prohibited from doing such
things. We are striving to protect all good, peaceful,
well-disposed and law-abiding men, whether white or black.

The G. D. deems this order due to the public, due to the Klan,
and due to those who are misguided and misinformed. We,
therefore, request that all newspapers who are friendly to law,
and peace, and the public welfare, will publish the same.

By order of the G. D., Realm No. 1.
By the Grand Scribe.

This order doubtless expresses the principles which the Klan, as a
body, was honestly trying to maintain. It also illustrates how they
were driven to violate them by the very earnestness and vehemence
with which they attempted to maintain them.

The question naturally arises, Why, under the embarrassing
circumstances, did not the Klan disband and close its operations?[50]
The answer is, that the members felt that there was now more reasons
than ever for the Klan's existence. They felt that they ought not to
abandon their important and needful work because they encountered
unforeseen difficulties in accomplishing it. It is an illustration of
the fatuity which sometimes marks the lives of men that they did not
perceive what seems perfectly clear and plain to others. Nothing is
more certain than that a part of the evils which the Klan was
combating at this period of its history grew out of their own methods,
and might be expected to continue as long as the Klan existed. Men are
not always wise. But even in cases where their conduct does not p