The Klan was formed for the purpose of intimidating Republicans and Republican voters. And yes, they hated and feared blacks but they were Democrats.You simply can't make it what you want it to be. The KKK was started by democrats as were other such organizations. And saying back then they weren't democrats is merely an effort at revisionist history.
The first klan was formed to keep freed blacks from raping, destroying and destroying the unprotecting south after the civil war. The second and third was more or less whites being assholes to all blacks.
Many were Democrats.
All of them were CONSERVATIVES.