No, no, Cal, judged out of their own mouths, by their words to their victims, with some of whom I have conversed, their ruling motives are hostility to the Government, to the enjoyment of the negro of the rights given him by the amendments to the Constitution, and by the laws which they are organized to oppose.[E] Their real object is the overthrow of the State governments and the return of the negro to bondage.

And tell me, Cal, do you look upon these midnight attacks of overpowering numbers of disguised men upon the weak and helpless, some of them women, as manly deeds?
Is it a noble act for white men to steal from the poor ignorant black his mule, his arms, his crops, the fruit of his hard labor ?" [Footnote E: See Reports of Congressional Committee of Investigation.] "No, sir," returned Calhoun half-reluctantly, his face flushing hotly.
"No, emphatically no, say I!" cried Horace, Jr., "what could be more base, mean, or cowardly ?" "You don't belong, do you, Cal ?" asked Rosie, suddenly.
He dropped his knife and fork, his face fairly ablaze, "What--what could make you think that, Rosie?
No, no, I--don't belong to any organization that acknowledges that name." A suspicion for the first time flashed upon Mr.Dinsmore, a suspicion of the truth.

Calhoun Conly was already a member of the White Brotherhood, the name by which the Klan was known among themselves, Ku Klux being the one given to the world at large; that thus they might avail themselves of the miserable, Jesuitical subterfuge Calhoun had just used.
He had been wheedled into joining it by Foster and Boyd, who utterly deceived him in regard to its objects.

He had never taken part in the outrages and was now fully determined that he never would; resolving that while keeping its secrets, the penalty of the exposure of which was death, he would quietly withdraw and attend no more of its meetings.

He understood the language of the searching look Mr.Dinsmore gave him and seized the first opportunity for a word in private, to vindicate himself.
"Uncle," he said with frank sincerity, "I am not free to tell you everything, as I could wish, but I hope you will believe me when I assure you that I never had any share in the violent doings of the Ku Klux, and never will." Mr.Dinsmore bent upon him a second look of keen scrutiny.