18 June 1868, Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield

We find the following in the Cassville Banner of the 10th inst.:

It is understood, and from good authority, too, that an organization known as the "Ku Klux Klan" is being formed in this county. The prime movers in this organization are known, as well as the barbarous and hellish purpose for which it is gotten up. We wish to say to such persons, that we deprecate all such movements to disturb the peace and quiet of our county, and the first act of violence will be met with a vengeance both quick and terrible. We wish to violate no laws, nor injure any person; but if those whose only crime is their loyalty to their government, are to be persecuted by such hell deserving scoundrels as will compose this organization, we give you, "K. K. K.'s" to understand, that for every loyal man injured, TEN of you shall bite the dust. These are no idle words, and if occasion require they will be demonstrated to you by the

NOTE

This story should probably be taken with some skepticism.  About this time, similar stories came out of many Southwest Missouri counties claiming local chapters of the KKK were forming and threatening the lives of their Radical (Republican) political opponents.  The stories are all rather vague and lack corroborating evidence of specific acts committed by these groups.  The stories may be inventions, looking to the approaching 1868 elections and playing off of publicity given genuine acts committed by the KKK elsewhere.  Stories like this largely disappeared from local newspapers after the election.  Both the Cassville Banner and the Patriot were Radical papers.

Historical Items from Southwest Missouri

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