The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-19
Friday, August IS, 1870.
JUDGE ORR'S LETTER.

letter Of Judge Orr, upon the political
':tuation, furnished to tho public jour,
ais of Columbia and Charleston, in
.:hic,, lie signifies his intention Of sup
;,orting the Republican nominees,
::cssrs. Scott & l,ansicr, anticipates
he success of tho Republican party,
ard would seem to assign reasons sat
;.iactory to himsor for wishing such
y consummation.
We regret tho publication OF this
liter for many rcasons-as we'll for
10 sake Of Judge Orr himself, as Of
tho best interests Of tho country
'"hich wo think tho publication Of
A,ch document tends TO prejudice.
NC say, for tho sake Of Judge Orr
?.msclf; for he hillsclf cannot but
Hnticipato tho storm Of ccnsure and
dispersion which awaits him ut the
hands of those have never wished him
Nrll; ho cannot but anticipate the
Necessary distrust and alienation up
n the part of old friends, towards
"no who cuts loose from old party
fics, gives up long cherished prirci-
i''cs, and deserts bodily to tho camp
"f the enemy. lie cannot suppose for
I moment that tho reasons which he
puts forth will control tho conduct
and change tho policy Of his old adhc-
rents; or that ho will DO regarded in
any other light than as q dcscrter,
a"d hence ancnablo TO its natural
and almost necessary penalty-bittcr
hostility by come, and distrust and
alienation upon tho part of all. Judge
Orr, wc suppose has counted tho cost,
nd is willing to pay tho price. Al
;Hnation, misrepresentation, and as
aspcrsion await often Us VOL tho best
IS the least dcscrving-thcy form no
'ouch-stono Of dcmcrit-and happy is
nat man whose solid principlo-n.ens
'9ascia reeti-enablos him to SUSTAIN
!ho fiery ordeal
we regret, wo say, tho publication
Of letter which wo think must pref
u'iice tho true interests of tho State.
4 great party has been formed in the
State, has adopted its platform, and
int its nominees in tho ticld-a party
which comprises nearly all Of tho na-
live born citizens of South Carolina,
nd which whilst Inviting the co op-
Grafton of men Of ovory color aud
:ondition, Republicans as VOL as
Democrats, has received, and is re-
Giving largo acccssions from tho
:anks of tho colorod-a party, whose
inspiring breath which gave it life-
"hoso cardinal principle, inscribed up
IN every banner, and tho burden OF
every cry-is Reformation Of abuses
10 save from uttor ruin. This party
is engaged in death-struggIe with
another which now controls tho dcs-
'iny Of tho State, and which Judge
)rr himself denounced only O few
iaonths since, as controlled by mon
who wcro without public confidence,
Ignorant, corrupt, and dishonest, -
and unfit for decent socioty-and
which no now admits needs, by re-
:rcnchnent and reformation, to be
relieved from incompotcncy and cor
rHption. Yet in the very midst Of the
canvass, and the height of tho fray,
Indigo Orr gives the weight of his
"amo and influence TO tho very party
which is responsible for these abuses
takes issue against tho party which
is formed solely to reform them, and
arrays himself against his old friends
and ncighbors, whose only desire is to
relieve themselves from tho grinding
taxation, and disgraccful corruption
which threaten to ruin them. Surely
very strong reasons must havo opera
ted upon tho mind Of Judge Orr, to
adopt a course rcpugnant to his own
feelings, and at war with tho princi-
pies of his friends.
Now what arc tho reasons which
Judge Orr assigns for his course? Hc
is in favor ho says of Reform, but
believes 1st-that tho policy inaugu-
rated by tho Union Reform party to
secure it is entirely impracticablc-
and End. That it is only practicable
through tho agency of the Republi.
can party, to whom Democrats may
nowconnect themselves without sac.
rifico Of principle.
Why does he think that the efforts
Of tho Reformcrs will provo unavail.
ingf Because they are making fruit,
less efforts TO overthrow a party and
not to reform it-cfforts which will
Hcrve only to withdraw attention from
tho reformation Of abuses, by calling
into action the instinct of selfpre-
servation. This is tho FIRST time we
suppose in tho history of parties, that
the followers Of tho ono have been
called upon to desert thoir standards,
and join the ranks of the enemy, for
The purpose Of correcting thaae abu-
scs which o;va aniroua tn kEAs sfsnnfI;ot