"Go slow," it commanded. At the bottom was a drawing of a coffin and on each side a rope. The signature was "K.K.K." Ku-Klux rule in the south half a century ago was an attempt to govern by masque. Secret covenants arrived at by a sheeted brotherhood, veiled signs, orders written in blood and posted at midnight on the victim's door--by such means did the Klan substitute the masque for the ballot. Congressional investigating committees who stripped the night-riding organization of secrecy during the administration of President Grant, were entertained during a session of congress by tales of lares and lemures howling at night in fields or on crossroads, bad luck omens for the negroes. UNDER MARTIAL LAW In organization the Klan was military, and its town, county and state rule, as recorded in the Congressional Globe, operated as under martial law. As the revolt of the white southerner to colored and northern domination reared itself into giant-size, towns under Klan domination came to take their rule and law from the K.K.K. note, flapping in the wind on a tree or fencepost, with the coffin on its signature, urging that it be obeyed. WARN CARPET BAGGERS In South Carolina, according to the report of the federal committee, townsfolk journeyed to the postoffice, not to get their mail, but to read the daily Ku-Klux bulletin. One such, reprinted in the ten-volume report of the committee which examined southern outrages, was a warning against further "carpet bagger" administration. It is as follows: Headquarters, Ninth Division, S.C. Special Orders, No. 3, K.K.K. Ignorance is the curse of God. For that reason we are determined that members of the legislature, the school committee and the county commissioners of Union county shall no longer officiate. Fifteen days' notice from this date is given, and if they, and all, do not at once and forever resign their present inhuman, disgraceful and outrageous rule, then retributive justice will as surely be used as night follows day. By order of the Grand Chief, A.O., Grand Secretary. THREATEN NEGROES FOR FIRES Another "special order," this one warning that the colored race in general would be punished for all malicious fires in particular, was made public in the Charleston News, Jan. 31, 1871. Headquarters, K.K.K. January 22, 1871. Resolved: That in all cases of incendiarism, ten of the leading colored people and two white sympathizers shall be executed. That if any armed bands of colored people are found hereafter picketing the roads, the officers of the company to which the pickets belong shall be executed.