[billbears]

The reason the KKK was allegedly disbanded was that it became dangerous to be in it when the Federal government started prosecuting Klansmen for the crimes they committed. That, plus the guidance of it's inspirational star, Robert E. Lee who created for it the concept of the 'Invisible Empire' kept it operating and functional as the muscle of the Southern Democrats. Instead of just assaulting whoever they chose, they now had to be much more careful and not leave witnesses.

LOL!!! That's great!!! That's right down the ol' Party line!! Keep selling it. It's got to be getting harder by now. The northern propaganda has holes big enough in it to drive a truck through

When the war ended, returning Confederate veterans found the South in ruins. A group of six of those veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee, who had shared the terrible experience wanted to make sure they never lost contact. To keep in touch and have some fun with other veterans of similar interests, they decided to form a social club.

After a few meetings and much discussion, the original six and others who joined them decided on a name derived from the Greek word Kuklos, meaning circle. Drawing from their Scotch-Irish heritage, they decided the group would be a clan. To make it easy to remember, particularly for organizing purposes, they created an alliteration of the name, the Ku Klux Klan.

The original Klan was a fun club for Civil War vets. Several researchers and writers agree that had there been a YMCA, VFW Post, or similar organizations in Pulaski, TN in 1865, the Klan might not exist. All the secrecy, costumes, and mysterious initiation rites were intended to add to the college fraternity-like excitement. Club members picked strange sounding names for officers, such as Grand Dragon, Grand Wizard, Grand Cyclops and others.

Bedford Forest only learned of the Klan during its first general meeting in mid-1867 in Nashville. That was when he was elected the Grand Wizard, likely in absentia. The best scholarly research indicates that Forrest was no more than a figurehead for the KKK. No evidence exists that he ever “rode with” the Klan, “led” the Klan, or owned any Klan paraphernalia.

The only written Klan communication known to exist from that period was the message to disband the Klan in 1871, after it became terribly violent. Sent in Forrest’s name, even that message was written and signed by John Watson Morton, Forrest’s former chief artillery officer.

Here

"I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man - to depress none. (Applause.) I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don't propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We may differ in color, but not in sentiments. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief."--Gen Nathan Bedford Forrest

Good ol' abe couldn't have said it better. Matter of fact he WOULDN'T have said anything of the sort

"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races -- that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."--good ol' honest abe lincoln