The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-10
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Wednesday Morning. July 10. 1879.
Orr's Policy.

Ne,Os, defines his position plainly. and
with oommendable oandor declares his
purposes and proposed plan Of opera
dons. He takes issue squarely with
Scott. Parker. Moses & Co, and the
present administration generally. and
demands reformation in our ruinously
corrupt Government. In simply pro-
Tossing desire for reform and for the
selection OF honest and competent men
for Office. Judge Orr does no more than
the most oonsummate scoundrel who
claims to bea Republican. Scott, Moses,
Parker. or dny other of the present
officials whom we have reason to believe
have dipped their hands deepest into
the corrnptions and frauds Of the last
four years, will be crying now Justify for
reform. Not q member of the last infa-
nous General Assembly will there be
found who does not pirate as glibly about
honesty as il he had never stolen dollar
or perpetrated the pettiest fraud. The
difference to intelligent people is, that
they can trust Orr's sincerity. He
has never participated in any OF their
rascalities. nor excused or extenuated
them, except in supporting the Scott
party in 1870. He has never held
public position the duties of which he
has not otperformed with credit to himself
and the complete satisfaction of the
people, 80 far. at least, as his integrity
and ability are concerned.
There is nothing, then, absurdly in
consistent between his precept and his
example when he breaches reform, as
there is when We hear the same senti-
ments expressed by SGott, Moses, Nea-
gle, or those of their ilk. But the diff
Guilty is in the uneducated and ignorant
colored people being able thus to discri-
inmate between the true and the false.
Pie great mRsses of them whose votes
determine the results of our elections
live,upon the plantations and farms in
the backwoods.- and, being unable to
read the newspapers. or to gain informa-
tion otherwise, know nothing of the con-
duct Of their representatives, except
what thelatter themselves may tell them.
They have sort general idea that
things have not worked we'll, and that
there has been an acknowledged want of
honesty in the administration OF public
affairs; but as to who are the guilty par.
ties, they have very crude and erroneous
notions. and are ready to be swayed in
any direction their willy demagogues
may desire.
a significant instance of this credulity
and ignorance OF the oolosed people was
furnished at mass meeting lately held
at Calhoun's Mills, in Abbeville County.
There were, it is reported, about 1000
oolored people. present. They are in
that section well-tosdo, and above the
average of their race, in intelligence.
We fnd that they adopted resolutions
demanding only honest and capable Re.
pnblicans for Office, and Immediately
buoIcoItcE OtClaEcO Will Ouo HCCUEO tu6C
F. j. Moses, Jr., the Speaker of the
present House of Representatives., and
one OF the chief leaders in the most COR
rupt Legislature which ever disgraced
any State, as their choice for Governor.
So it will prove in other communities.
The leaders and men of influence among
the colored people are few in number,
and nearly all unsorupulons carpet-bag.
gers or scalawags. or colored men whose
weak moral sense has been utterly de.
bauched by contact with their white
associates N1ed N9
Orr's work of reform, then, will no,
be easy. nor. it's success by any meant
certain. But he is tower Of strength
in himself. throughout all the upper
Counties, and. being backed by Grant
and the Republican party at Washing.
ton, and assisted, as he certainly will be,
by every honest Republican in che State,
and, by many who are not honest, bu,
desire to present that appearance. his
aauRa in not a hooa1arr ona m. xh:oc