The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-06

Democrats and tho Grant he1ormera-
Political Gossip from Anderson vue
Abbeville.
[FRoN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ANDERSON, 8. c., July 8.
In accordance with the Instructions of TIE
NEWS, have this morning called upon e1
Governor James L. Orr, at his pleasant countr!
home, situated about mile from this village
and obtained from him an expression of hi'
opinion concerning the present condition o.
affairs In South Carolina, and hs views as to
the best method of attempting the much
needed reformation in those affairs. Judge
Orr received me with courtesy and cordially
assured me of his high respect for the journa
which had the honor to represent, and ex-
pressed his pleasure at the opportunity oi
placing bis views before the whole people 0l
South Carolina through such medium. The
conversation that ensued continued for per-
haps an hour, the Judge conversing rapidly.
intelligently and forcibly, and with. an ap-
pearance of perfect candor and frankness,
and the dialogue, 80 far as 1t was upon mat
ters of public interest, was about as follows:
Correspondent. have observed that since
your return from the Philadelphia Convention
you have been speaking In various places
upon the political prospects in this State, and
declaring In favor of thorough reform In the
State administration. What do you propose as
aplan for accomplishing atreform, and what
elements OF probable success are there In the
proposition!
Judge Orr. Well, sir, 1t Is evident that any
reform to be accomplished in our State affairs
must be accomplished by the Republican
party. Your papers acknowledge that, and
with the Immense Republican majority in this
State it is a self.evident proposition. The
masses that compose that Republican majority
are the colored people Of the State, and their
devotion to the Republican party Is not to be
altered by arguments as to the comparative
correctness Of the principles of the two par
ties. Such arguments are In the main above
their comprehension, and II 1t could be logl
cally proved las, mind you, don't think 1t
could) that the tenets of the Democratic party
were better than those of the Republicans, the
colored masses would still cling to the latter
party, through sentiment which, having Its
origin In gratitude to the Republican party for
Its benefits conferred, has now grown TO an
instinct of devotion to that party.
Correspondent. Yes, sir; and 1t is precisely
bY reason of that blind, unreasoning adhesion
or the colored people that the bad men OF
your party, who have swarmed to this State,
have been able, by shouting the shibboleth of
fo tho U0fpp nf
the coored masses to positions oi power, and
to the control of the funds Of the State, where
they have shown their gratitude by plumber
Ing alike the whites and the blacks.
Judge Orr. Yes, sir; but the colored masses
are still disposed to favor honesty In the ad-
ministration of affairs rather than rascality,
because they have had no share OF the plum
der, but have, on the contrary, had to endure
their share ofthe loss because the burden OF
exhorbitance in taxation and proflgacy IN
government must eventually be borne by the
poor laborers.
Correspondent. Then the colored people
are perfectly willing that thelr rulers should
be honest, but they must be Republicans;
and. as between an honest Democrat and q
dishonest Republican, they would be apt to
support the latter!
Judge Orr. Well, yes. The rulers and lead
ers of the colored people must be Republicans.
What they want now more than anything else
Ia honest Republican leaders. Their choice OF
leaders has hitherto been confined to the
.scarpet-baggers," because they were the only
men protesting Republicanism who possessed
any degree OF intelligence and educsticn.
Correspondent And their Intelligence and
esucation has been, In most cases, extremely
limited.
Judge Orr. Yes, but still superior to thai OF
the great bulk of the colored people who we're
iust released from slavery, and had been
without any means Of education. Now the
time has come when the white men of this
State, native South Caroltniaas, should re-
sume their nat0rat leadership In the affairs of
their own State, and this they can only do by
embracing Republlcanlsm and putting them
selves at the head of the Republican colored
masses.
Correspondent. What do you mean by en-
bracing Republcanism Accepting the neml-
nation Of Greeley, a lifelong Republican, and
the platform of the Liberal Republican Con-
yentlon, They have already done that.
Judge Orr. No, they must accept the noml-
nees and platform of the Regular Republican
Convention at Philadelphia. Nothing else is
recognized or will be recognized as being Be-
publican By the colored people OF this State.
There can be no more sacrifice of principle In
Democrats voting for Grant than In their vot-
ing for Greeley. Both are Republicans, and
they renounce their Democracy In voting
for either.
Correspondent. Then you think that the
Democrats, having struck their flag snd got ss
far as Greeley toward the Republican ranks.
might as well surrender altogether and 60 for
Grant and the entire animal?
Judge Orr. Yes. tits not as though the
contest In this State were upon abstract ques-
tions of political economy or between Demo-
cratic snd Republican principles. The Demo-
Gratis of South Carolina have shown them
selves willing to accept the fundamental prin-
ciples of Republicanism. All they want now,
30 far as the State is concerned, Is an honest
and economical administration of affairs, and
there Is no man In this country more anxious
for this consummatlon than President Grant
net of fat n