e organization called the "Union
League." It was composed of the disorderly element of the negro
population and was led and controlled by white men of the basest and
meanest type just now referred to. They met frequently, went armed to
the teeth, and literally "breathed out threatening and slaughter."
They not only uttered, but in many instances executed the most
violent threats against the persons, families and property of men,
whose sole crime was that they had been in the Confederate army. It
cannot be truthfully denied that the Ku Klux committed excesses and
were charged with wrongdoing. But they were never guilty of the
disorderly and unprovoked deeds of deviltry which mark the history of
the Southern "Union League." It was partly, I may say chiefly, to
resist this aggressive and belligerent organization that the Ku Klux
transformed themselves into a protective organization.[35]

Whatever may be the judgment of history, those who know the facts will
ever remain firm in the conviction that the Ku Klux Klan was of
immense service at this period of Southern history. Without it, in
many sections of the South, life to decent people would not have been
tolerable. It served a good purpose. Wherever the Ku Klux appeared
the effect was salutary. For a while the robberies ceased. The
lawless class assumed the habits of good behavior.

The "Union League" relaxed its desperate severity and became more
moderate. Under their fear of the dreaded Ku Klux, the negroes made
more progress, in a few months, in the needed lessons of self-control,
industry, and respect for the rights of property and general good
behavior, than they would have done in as many years, but for this or
some equally powerful impulse.

It was a rough and a dangerous way to teach such lessons, but under
all the circumstances it seemed the only possible way.

Of course, these men were trying a dangerous experiment. Many of them
knew it at the time, and did not expect it on the whole to turn out
more successfully than others of a similar character. But there seemed
to be no other alternative at the time. Events soon occurred which
showed that the fears of those who apprehended danger were not
groundless, and it became evident, unless the Klan should be brought
under better control than its leaders at this time exercised over it,
that while it suppressed some evils, it would give rise to others
almost, if not fully, as great.[36]

FOOTNOTES:

[31] It wil