The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-20
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Saturday Morning, August 20, 1870.
Judge Orr's Views.

to form their own opinion as to the
political course recommended to the
white people Of South Carolina by Judge
Orf
Circumstances have thus far restricted
our comments thereupon, toa few lines
of emphatic dissent. Our purpose now
is not to review all the extraordinary
statements and speculations of the
Judge, but briefly to expose his fallacies,
and to suggest the insufficiency of his
studied plea. Judge Orr twill vote for
Scott and Ransier." This is the propo-
position that he commences with, and
causes to stand out in bold relief Well,
30 much the worse for him, that he pro-
poses so to do, when the better ticket Of
Carpenter and Butler stands before him.
In the second place, Judge Orr objects
to the reform movement, not because it
is wrong in principle, not because it is
uncalled-for by the exigences of the case,
but because, in his own judgment, it
does not promise success. Here Judge
Orr betrays his great weakness-his
utter. unreliability to be the trusted
adviser of on honorable, high-toned
community. Assume that success is
not promised. Is all to he. sacrificed for
success, either in political affairs or olit-
side of them? Are not some kinds of
victory more disastrous than defeat?
Does Judge Orr thus propose to corrupt
the youth and the manhood of the State,
by suggesting that success is to be crite
rion ever of merit. and the measure of
political action? Is he prepared to say,
"My fellow-citizens, be succesSul-by
fair means. e possible; but by means
fair or foul, be SUCCESSFUL" This is
monstrous in ethics-oven in political
ethics-and yet this is virtually the
ethics of Orr and his school of politi-
clans. Theirs ,is Bacon's PHILOSOPHY
of fruit" and Bacon's philosophy, too,
not in its best aspect. And yet Bacon
has been called "wiscst, brightest and
meanest of mankind" Let judge
Orr remember that every virtuous effort
is a success-every vicious one disaster.
But we deny that the reform movement
is wanting in the possibilities and oppor-
tunities Of success. And we contend
that the method it proposes of reform, is
far more plausible and practical than
that suggested by Judge Orr. We pro-
pose now to turn his argument OF
figures upon him. It is stated by the
radicals that the negro voters Of the
State stood to the white voters as 1000
to 63, 600. Assume these numbers to be
correct. Judge Orr says, suppose 100
good men in every County. instead of
undertaking to oppose the radical party,
had gone into it, to purify and control it..
Well, assume they had. The result
would have been 5000 saints seeking to
influence $1,000 sinners. We would not
give much for the chance of success here,
Outside of the fact that 'evil communi-
cations corrupt good manners" We fear
that the sinners would go on steadily in
their preconceived plan of operations.
We deem it much more suggestive of
success for the $4,000 whites to take q
reasonable attitude, and by fair, open
and manly appeals, seek to control the
political action of $4,000 radical voters.
This is the plan of the refermists, and it
is better plan than that of Judge Orr.
Judge Orr should certainly apply at
once for letters patent, in order to secure
for himself the exclusive right and use
Of his wonderful, and new, and original
method of political actionl Join your
opponents in order to beat them! Join
radicalism in order to controlit! Plunge
into it's turbid waters, seething with
corruption, in order to purify them
This is Governor Orr's method of saving
South Carolina. Heaven save us from
such State-saving as this. Heaven save
us from such political course as Co.
vernon Orr would have South Carolina to
adopt, in order that his inexcusable course
may thus be sanctioned.
In his letter he has not O. little to say