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Show ' The Birth of a Nat loii a IB -; HISTORICAL FACTS CONCERNING THE CLANSMEN. As the sensational and daring work of the K!u Klux Klan throughout the Second Part of "The Birth of a Nation" creates so much stir among the spectators and enters so heavily into their discussion of the enormous work afterwards, it might be well here to give a brief account of this scarlet secret organization. organiza-tion. The object of these'Clansmen," history tells us, was the suppression of the negro as a factor in politics; it's means, terrorization, ending in many cases in murder. It's origin is unknown, but it is supposed to have sprung up about 1 867 from local associations all having the same end in. view. Such information as we have in regard to it is founded on a copy of its constitution, prescript as it was termed and on a congressional con-gressional investigation made in 1871. In this 'prescript' the name of the association is never mentioned, 'two asterisks being inserted instead. Their local lodges were called dens; the master, cyclops; the members, ghouls. A county was a province; governed by a giant and four goblins, A congressional district was a dominion, governed govern-ed by a grand Titan and six furies. A state was a realm, governed gov-erned by a grand dragon and eight hydras. The whole country was the empire, governed by a grand wizard and ten genii. Their banner was triangular, a black dragon on a yellow field with a red border, their mysteries were never to be written, writ-ten, but only orally communicated; the distinctive feature of their dress was a covering for the head descending to the breast, holes being cut out for the eyes and mouth', the covering cover-ing being decorated in any startling or fantastic manner. The order succeeded in its' purpose. The midnight raids of men, thus clad, who administered whippings or other punishment, pun-ishment, had the effect intended and the "Ku Klux" became a terror to all negroes, keeping them, either from exercising their political rights or else causing them to act with their per- ; i seedtors. The order, however, outran its' original purpose, and-, ; where whippings did riot accomplish the desired end, as with , M the northern whites that had gone south and with the bolder i 1 k$ i E negroes, murder Was freely resorted to. r The disorders grew and in March 1871, a congressional f i" investigating committee was appointed to look into the mat- ter and to not fail to take any drastic means of dealing with I; the offenders, being backed up by both navdl and military f forces to do so. , In the same month President Grant, in a message to cont - gress asked for legislation to enable the restoration of order in the south, as neither life nor property were there secure, and as even the transportation of the mails and the collection of j the revenues were interfered with. The rG Klux, or Fovcc ,h Bill was promptly passed. , An attempt to renew it faUe in 1 67?. In October, 1 8717 ' President Grant issued twc. proclamations,' the first orderinf r certain associations in South Carolina to surrender their amis' I i and disguises within five days, the secondat trie expiration 6f: . i the five days, sutfpending the writ of habeas corpus. Manw , arrests and corvictidns followed, the association was crushea ! r within four months. t I j- The Ku Klux Klan was known by various names; as Tne t . White League and Invisible Empire. The name "Ku KluxS ; has ever since been applied in a general way to troubles between. the negroes and whites of the south. 5$ J This wonderful photodrama will close a very successful i X eight-day engagement in this city Sunday night, there ''will rjg j two performances Sunday, a matinee at 2 ; 1 5 and an evening ! j performance at 8:15. The people of Ogden that have noB i witnessed this historical masterpiece should do so, or you will! J u miss the greatest dramatic event of. the season.-1 Advertises . ment. - ; . .; r) j ' |