The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-19
Letter from Judge Orr.

i MY DEAR SIR: enclose you horc
with communication expressing m,
|opinions of tho present political stu
alton in South Carolina. Tho publi
cation of it would be gratifying to mo
if you havo space ia your columns
l am, very respectfully yours, etc,
JAMES l.. ORR.
| MIR. EDITOR: In response to maui
rlcs addressed to mo by friends il,
letters, and otherwise, l shall proceed
very briefly to state my opinions or
tho political issues presented to tho
people in the canvass now progressing
i'll this State:
!. | shall voto for Scott and Ran
sicr, Rcpublican&om for Cover
nor and Licutcnant-G Governor.
| z. | cannot vote for the nominees o
the Union Reform party because, in
my Judgment, the purpose which they
propose to accomplish is entirely i'm
practicable, and the nominations made
by their convention, will not only &C
complish no good results, but the con
sequences Of the nomination and can
vass must be pcrnicious. The avowct
purpose Of the convention was to
effect reforms in the administration OF
the State Government. In somo OF
its departments rctrcnchment and re.
form is doubtless greatly needed
some Of its Offices arc filed by incom-
Pctent and corrupt nicn-who should
be driven from the places they occu-
py. More economy in the appropriu-
lions and disbursement of public mon
cy should be practiccd.
Low arc tlcso objects to be attain
cd? The only reforms in the State
government, that can bo successfully
accomplished, at least for many years
to come, must be by and through the
republican party, and it's organixa-
tlons. They have control Of all the
departments Of the State Govern.
mcnt, and have a majority Of more
than thirty thousand voters, to pre-
serve and perpctuate that control. So
long as an opposing party, disavowing
fcruLlicanism, is organized in the
State to defeat and displace them, so
long will party machinery and ap-
peais to party appliances preserve it's
unity and supremacy. If we want
an illustration Of the strength and
constancy Of party organization in
securing sclfpcrpetuation, look to the
State OF Vermont, for thirty years
prior TO tho war, when it annually
rolled up its $4,000 or more majority
tor the Wing party, despite ali the
efforts Of the Democracy, aided most
Of the time by Federal Influence and
patronage. When you attempt to re-
form party by destroying it-which
is the present mode of reform adop-
ted-thc first law Of nature, selcpre-
servatlon, appeals TO each member of
that party to resist the new move
mcnt, and avert its destruction; such
an antagonism has another most bale
full influence; tho most active and
oftchtimcs the most unscrupulous par
tisans cxaggcrato the Importance Of
maintaining party usage and disci-
plinc, and the great mass of the hon
est portion Of the party arc thus di-
Vcrted from careful examination in
to the fitness of those seeking to rep
resent them, and from abuses and
corruptions existing in tho party.
An antagonistic patty may be organized
with great effect, when there is a remote pros
pect OF success in driving the party in power,
OF It's leaders who are guilty Of mislule. from
their supremacy; but i. there such a prospect
in the present cnnvassf The cclorcd vote is,
and has been from 1867, nearly unit for the
Republican party. and hive they acted un-
wisely or unpatriotically in their ardent de-
vo:ion TO the Republican partyl Suppose the
conditions Of the white race were reversed
that we and our ancestors had been slaves for
2oo years-that O party had made war to give
us ireedom-that it had succeeded-that the
same party had periled its own supremacy by
guaranteeing to TIC our civil rights, and above
all, the ballot The eectual weapon of pre-
serving tiicse rights-had been secured to us
hy eolemn Constitutional enactment by the
came party, aud we were, in the face of all
this: appeHied to by those who had opposed
all these grcat boors. TO join with them in
overthrow'ng the party Of our deliverance
and redemption, woulI any white man for
moment tolerate with patience any such
propoationf Would it not be most migrate
tul for the colored man to renounce such
party, when Its very existence is now thleut.
eEedf Some of his leaders, white and color
cd. may be incompetent, corrupt, and treach.
erous; but he would exhibit strange obiivi-
ousness If he would consent to Join an antago-
ns'ic organization to destroy his own party,
even before lie had attempted to reform it.
The relative population of white and color
ed are Hs three TO four, and the vote may Le
assumed to be the same. The coored majority
is more than 25,0o0. Assuming that the great
mass Of the colored voters will sustain the Re.
publican party and the foregoing views, con-
hrnied by the experience Of the last five years
does 1t not conclrsively chow, that if there il
dishonesty and peeulation in departments of
the State Government, that it cannot be re-
formed hy reform partyf Don't the figures
snow that The votes are too numerous on the
other side2 This view of 25, 600 majority is
on the assumption that every white man in the
State votes the reform ticket; but when the
ballots come to be cast, it will lie found that
many white Republicans in South Carolina,
many moe whites who will vote the Repub-
can than blacks who will vote the reform tick
ct.
If have shown TINT reform cannot be a C.
complishcd through the reform party, it de.
wolves Oh Inc TO show how, not only reform is
to be accomplished. but how large infusion of
| the Intelligence and virtue of the white race
can exercise its just and legitimate influence in
the counseis of the State.
1t must be done through the organizations
of the Republican party. The wise and expe.
| rienced in good faith must 60 into the Repub.
lican pnrty: acquire fair and Legitimate in
iluence; and i'll selecting the most competent
and de.erving men for official positions ia the
Republican ranks, and when confidence has
| been attained, by good faith and sincerity,
| then the highest intelligence and virtue will
| be revoked by the Republican Convention for
1 services in the Offices Of trust and response.
bility.
The greatest obstacle in accepting this sug.
gesilon by many conscientious men who ave