KU-KLUX (killMks') KLAN, a secret society which existed in the Southern States of the United States during the period immediately following the Civil War (1865-76). It was originally established at Pulaski, Tenn., about 1865 and its purpose was at first the amusement of its members. However, the sudden enfran chisement of the blacks of the South brought to the white population the serious problem of social readjustment. Politicians and unscrupu lous business men (carpet-baggers) were among the many Northerners who flocked to the South to exploit the new citizens, while the negroes, loosed from the restraining influence of their masters, and ignorant of and unprepared for the responsibilities of full citizenship, were demoralized and lawless. The Ku-Klux Klan, therefore, took upon itself the duty of fright ening the blacks into good behavior and obedi ence. From this beginning, all sorts of lawless deeds of violence were performed in the Klan's name, until the band became notorious. At the first meeting a name was suggested— "Ku Kloi," from the Greek "Ku}dos," a band or cir cle. On the mention of this name someone cried out, "Call it 'Kuklux.' " Nearly all pres ent were Tennesseeans, with only one or two from farther south. The name was adopted and the society provided for the following of ficers: A grand cyclops or president; a grand magus or vice-president; a grand turk or mar shal; a grand exchequer or treasurer and two lictors. There were the outer and inner guards of the °Den," as the place of meeting was desig nated. Each member was required to provide himself with the following outfit: A white mask for the face, with orifices for the eyes and nose; a tall, fantastic cardboard hat, so con structed as to increase the wearer's apparent height, and in shape like those placed on the heads of the heretics formerly burnt in the Por tuguese and Spanish a gown or robe of sufficient length to cover the entire per son. The color and material were left to the wearer's fancy and each selected what would in his judgment be most hideous and fantastic. Each member carried also a small whistle, with which, by means of (code of signals agreed on, they held communication with one another. The Klan increased in numbers and in power, an imperiwn in intperio, until its decrees were far more potent and its powers more dreaded than that of the visible commonwealths which it either dominated or terrorized. In April 1867 the grand cyclops of the Pulaski den sent out a re quest to all the dens scattered over the South to appoint delegates to meet in convention at Nashville, Tenn., in the early summer of 1867. At the time appointed this convention was held. Delegates were present from the Carolinas, Ala bama, Georgia, Louisiana and other Southern States. A plan of reorganization previously prepared was submitted to the convention and adopted and the delegates returned to their va rious States as secretly as they had come.
The grand officers were: The grand wiz ard of the invisible empire and his 10 genii.
The powers of this officer were almost auto cratic. The grand dragon of the realm and his eight hydras; the grand titian of the dominion and his six furies; the grand cy clops of the den and his two nighthawks; a grand monk; a grand exchequer; a grand lictor; a grand scribe ; a grand turk; a grand sentinel. The genii, hydras, furies, goblins and nighthawks were staff officers. The gradation and distribution of authority were perfect.
One of the most important things done by this Nashville convention was to make a posi five and emphatic declaration of the principles of the order. It was in the following terms: "We recognize our -relations to the United States Government ; the supremacy of the Con stitution ; the constitutional laws thereof ; and the union of•the States thereunder." This Nashville convention also defined and set forth the peculiar objects of the order as follows: 1. 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 the oppressed; to succor the suffering and especially the wid ows and orphans of Confederate soldiers.
2. To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and all laws passed in con formity thereto, and to protect the States and people from all invasion from any source what ever.
3. To aid and assist In the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.
The Klan had a very large membership; it exerted a vast, terrifying and wholesome power. but its influence was never at any time depend ent on or proportioned to its membership. A careful estimate placed the number of Kuklux in Tennessee at 40,000, and in the entire South at 550,000. In 1871, a special message was sent to Congress by President Grant, pointing out the fact' that the constitutional rights of some of the citizens and officials of the United States were being rendered insecure by the lawless members of the country and urging a Congressional 'enactment to put a stop to this condition of affairs. An investigation followed, and Congress passed the "Force Bill" for the purpose of enforcing the 14th Amendment and dealing with all offenders against that amend ment. In October of the same year, the Presi dent issued a proclamation calling on the mem bers of all illegal associations in nine counties in South Carolina to disperse and surrender their arms and disguises. Five days later a proclamation was issued suspending the privi leges of the writ of habeas corpus in the counties named. Several hundred persons were arrested, and this demonstration caused the gradual dissolution of the organization. Its purpose— to check the threatening political supremacy of the blacks in the South —had been accomplished. Consult Fleming, 'Documen tary History of Reconstruction' (Cleveland 1907) ' • Lester Wilson and Fleming, 'The Ku Klux Klan' (New York 1905).