Where Did Nygard Find The Ku Klux Klan?
Tribune242 Editorial
AT LEAST two of our readers are holding us to our promise to research Peter Nygard’s far-fetched claim that a racist gene is embedded in Lyford Cay neighbour Louis Bacon’s DNA.
Mr
Nygard would be surprised to know how many Bahamians are incensed that
after so many generations of struggle to bring all races in this country
together as one people a foreigner has come into our midst to re-inject
the racial virus and open up old wounds. Many believe that – despite
his financial generosity — Peter Nygard has betrayed this country’s
hospitality by assuming to have more rights than a resident’s permit
gives him.
The
quarrel between these two neighbours — Bacon and Nygard — is so intense
that seemingly Mr Nygard can’t even present a donation without
burdening his listeners with the Nygard-Bacon saga. It is almost like a
plea to recruit Bahamian sympathy to his side in his campaign against Mr
Bacon in return for his financial generosity.
This
last episode, which resulted in our promise to our readers that we
would research a statement by Mr Nygard, which was made at Mr Nygard’s
home — Nygard Cay — when he presented a $10,000 cheque to the Acklins
regatta. It could have been a very pleasant afternoon if Mr Nygard had
not decided to turn it into a Bacon-bashing event. Possibly this was to
deflect attention from reporters’ main interest — the extent of his
financial generosity to the governing party, both before, during and
after the 2012 election. Also reporters wanted to know what he expected
from our government in return, especially in view of his latest video
release announcing that he — Peter Nygard — had taken this country back.
Mr Nygard will never know how much he has damaged himself and his
government with this one presumptuous pronouncement. He must learn that
people do not like to feel that they have been bought.
On
the afternoon of the $10,000 presentation, Mr Nygard told reporters
that Mr Bacon’s attitude against blacks was in the Bacon family’s blood
line.
In
fact, he said, it stemmed from a great grandfather — one Colonel Roger
Moore — who, he claimed, was a high-ranking Ku Klux Klan member.
As
we stated at the time, although no one can be held responsible for his
ancestors, the story told by Mr Nygard is not the same as the one we
discovered when we did a quick check before writing the July 16th
article. However, we promised to do further research and report back to
our readers.
Nevertheless,
we did point out at the time that the Moore – later Bacon — plantation
was owned by Mr Bacon’s great-grandfather 11 times removed in 1752. The
Ku Klux Klan did not come into existence until a century later, around
1866.
As
a result of a superficial search, we obtained the following from the US
governmen’s Official Records p. 86-87, which is entitled the
“Wilmington race revolution - the true story from the official records”.
“…
the building caught fire soon after the arrival of the crowd. Many
joined in the statement that the fire resulted accidentally. In any
event the building was practically destroyed, the blaze, at the same
time wiping out of existence the negro sheet which had carried the
editorial defaming and traducing the white women of the South.
“When
reports of the fire were received in the business district,
considerable excitement prevailed. At the corner of Front and Walnut
Streets, a large crowd of negro laborers, who were employed at the
nearby cotton compresses, gathered. These colored people were not intent
on making trouble. The fact is, the belief was expressed that few, if
any, were armed. They were, rather, in a state of bewilderment,
wondering what had happened, and what might eventuate.
“Colonel
Roger Moore, as stated above, was in command of the entire situation.
While controlling the assembled citizens at Front and Walnut Streets,
Colonel Moore was harassed by two or three excitable, white men. They
told him, in effect, if he did not give the order to fire into the
negroes on the opposite corner, that they would do so. Without losing
his head, but with calmness and determination, Colonel Moore responded
to these hot heads. He said he had been placed in command by his fellow
citizens. Until they recalled him he intended to remain in command. He
said there was no occasion at this time for bloodshed and he certainly
had no intention of having bewildered negroes slain in cold blood.
“With
this announcement Colonel Moore told the several men who were
commanding him to give the order to fire, that he would allow them
exactly one minute in which to take their place in the ranks. If they
did not comply immediately, then he would have them arrested and placed
in jail until they cooled off. These men clearly perceived that Colonel
Moore meant exactly what he said. They then lost no time in obeying his
command.
“The
actual outbreak, resulting in loss of life, happened in the northern
section of the city, early in the afternoon. A negro fired into a crowd
of white men, standing near the corner of Fourth and Harnett Streets.
One white man was seriously wounded. Later, another was shot and
painfully hurt. During the turbulence and conflict which resulted, it
was estimated that from seven to ten negroes were killed.
“Realizing
that the aid of military forces was essential, appeal had been made to
the Governor for declaration of martial law. In the late afternoon, this
step was taken. Several companies of soldiers from nearby points were
ordered to Wilmington. Colonel Walker Taylor, of the National Guard, was
then placed in command. With this step, the organized citizens forces
which had been functioning on a quiet basis for a year or more under the
direction of Colonel Moore, disbanded. There was no further need for
their services. Colonel Taylor was a man of discretion and good
judgment, and the situation within 48 hours was so much quieter, that
the visiting troops were ordered home.
“Many
negroes who were frightened to the point of distraction with the turn
of events, went to the woods near the city. They thought their lives
were in jeopardy. One of the last orders given by Colonel Moore before
his authority was vested in Colonel Taylor, was to a number of white
men. He told them to go in the woods, tell the negroes they could safely
return to their homes, if they behaved themselves, and that they would
be protected.“
This
is obviously the story to which Mr Nygard referred, embellishing it
with his own twisted anger against Colonel Moore’s descendent – Louis
Bacon – who has lived quietly at Lyford Cay for many years.
If
Mr Nygard has a problem with his neighbour, then let him find redress
in the courts, not create divisions in our community over something that
is none of their business.
July 29, 2013
