Kukluxed | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 24, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 25.

“Kukluxed”

THE foregoing does not seem like a very significant title for an article, but notwithstanding, it stood at the head of some very striking paragraphs that recently appeared in the editorial columns of one of New York’s greatest daily papers. The paragraphs that we find in this paper under the foregoing title are well worthy of reproduction and are as follows:

“Intimidation is the order of the day.

“A national administration at Washington commissioned by the people to check monopoly and privilege is kukluxed by Big Business.

“A United States Senate with a Democratic majority of six pledged to tax reduction is kukluxed by bullying representatives of sugar and wool.

“A governor of New York pledged, like everybody else in the state, to direct primaries, is kukluxed by two arrogant bosses.

“A district attorney in New York who in the pursuit of his duty has prosecuted criminal policemen is kukluxed by an irritated and malicious mayor.

“An independent press which has made war upon police corruption, with no interest to serve but that of the people, is kukluxed by the same resentful officer.

“The city of Paterson, New Jersey, whose authorities have attempted to enforce the law and promote a settlement of a labor dispute, is kukluxed by revolutionary rovers and wreckers who fight law and labor as well as capital. There are others.

“Big Business threatens that if president and Congress legislate in behalf of the people, wages will be cut, factories closed, and manufacturing plants removed to Europe.

“Representatives of the tariff-fattened sugar and wool rings threaten certain senators that if they vote against high taxes it will not be safe for them to return to their homes.”

“The big New York bosses threaten their henchmen with defeat and political exile if they assist the governor in the matter of direct primaries.

“Irritated by the exposure of conspiracy, blackmail, and graft in the police department, the mayor attempts to intimidate the district attorney and the press by insinuation, slander, and vituperation.

“Recognized in Paterson, New Jersey, as enemies of those who work as well as of those who hire, the leaders of the I. W. W. threaten to ‘wipe the town off the map.’ So it goes.

“The main question involved in these conditions is not the intent of the kukluxers, plain as that may be. The intent is to substitute the will of individuals and groups for that of city, state, and nation. The important question is whether the people are to take sides in the various controversies, and if so, under what standard they are to align themselves. If those who defend public rights in these instances are not to be overborne, they must have the support of courageous and self-respecting men, irrespective of party.

“With kukluxers at work on every hand, it is not enough to vote once a year. There must be a continuing purpose behind the vote. It is not enough to elect well-disposed public servants. They must have backing and encouragement in their lawful undertakings.

“Most people’s political activities end with the closing of the polls, which is when those of the kukluxers begin. Those who would show the true colors of American citizenship have only to examine conditions in Washington, New York, Albany, and Paterson. There is good fighting all along the line.

“Intimidate the intimidators! Kuklux the kukluxers!”

The “Kuklux Klan” was organized for purposes of intimidation. The Klan did not pretend to be right always, but it did pretend to have powers of intimidation. It worked in secret. The foregoing editorial paragraphs are quite significant in showing the extent of secret organizations that are working for similar purposes of intimidation. The long list enumerated is confined to a small corner of the Atlantic States. The list could have been greatly extended if the whole country had been taken in; and then when this country had been traversed, the whole world could have been gone over in the same way, and it would have been found to be in the same condition. Concentrated wealth is seeking to intimidate in order that it may hold power.

Francis Joseph, the aged emperor of Austria, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife. The archduke is the head of the Austrian army, and is to succeed to the throne. He is said to be a man of great ability and a devout Catholic, and will doubtless be a prominent figure in the final settlement of the Balkan difficulty.

Political rings are seeking to intimidate so that they may hold power and extort money from their victims. These conditions are quite universally prevalent, and every one knows that it is so.

A recent book published by a well-known and popular author presents a list of problems that are confronting the world. They are right along the line of what is suggested by the foregoing New York editorial. Leading men everywhere are discussing these great problems. They recognize that they exist. They recognize, furthermore, that they are a menace to our times, and that unless something can be done speedily, they will overthrow our civilization.

The courage that many men manifest in saying that they hope to meet the situation and successfully contend against it is very much to be admired. But should they succeed, they will do something that has never been performed before in the history of the world. It has been the universal testimony that whenever a nation has become honeycombed with internal corruption, luxurious vices, and the grasping power of greed, that nation has had to go down. The nations of the world are rapidly coming into the place that is characteristic of every nation that has crumbled into decay. When we follow the philosophy of history, we ought to see, if we had no guiding rays of prophecy, that this world is rapidly approaching its climax, and that it must soon break to pieces because of its own internal conditions. The second coming of Christ to end the conflict and perplexity is the one bright star of hope.