The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-05-23

80
is the scope which tt 6iySs 70 Rhman,
enefgieS in every departmsnt!of aetaon,
whether polticafo industIial,ss sAidWa
have been led 70 believe chat inowhefa
elsa in the world was this more fully
realized than in Gil parts OF the United
States. Yet We see, in late number Of
the Brooklyn New Yosk) Eag5, On
article upon the death In Russis OF Hon.
James Il. Orr, OF South Csr6lins, in
which it is said that "the social division
to which Nj. Orr belonged Was the poor
whites OF State wherein that division
came to its poorest, and where all
political opportunities seemed centered
in the hands III tho most accomplished,
hospitable and exclusive aristocraoy
which this world ever saw The Eaole
pays warm tribute to the energy OF the
man who rose against such obstacles "to
be the most honored man his State has
possessed since the ashes OF CALHOUN
were laid in her sacred SOIL"
While the Eagto has rendered just
tribute to Mr. Orr's qualities OF mind and
character, We regret that an intelligent
and independent papsr shoull fall into
the mistake that any considerable class
Of ''poor whites" In the condition as.
signed to that class by ignorant and
preiudiced partisans. ever existed in the
South, or that all political opportuni.
ties" were concentrated in its ''aristo-
craoy." In no part OF the United States
WAS there before the war as little OF that
poverty which involves want as in the
Southern States. The fertility Of the
soil, almost spontaneously producing the
means OF subsistence, the mild aud
genial climate in winter in many parts of
the South being rarely more severe than
the Northern apsumns, and the srarso
population, sll contributed to render ex
treme poverty comparatively unknown.
There are probably more poor people,
that is people in need Of charitable assist.
ance. in the city of New York than there
were before the war in all the Southern
States put together.
We may add, that to the class in the
South known as 'poor whites J.mes L.
Orr did not belong. His father was
Chriltopher Orr, OF Anderson District,
South Carolina, and had acquired
through mercantile pursuits a compe.
tency, and given thorough education
to his three SONS and two daughters
His grandfather, John Orr, was a native
of Wake County, North Carolina, and as
gallant Wing soldier, participated in
the revolutionary war. The paternal
ancestor of the Orrs emigrated from Ire
land, and settled originally in Pennsyl.
vania, about the year 1880. Neither,
on the other Land, is it true that the
aristocracy of South Carolina and other
Southern States was as monopolizing
and exclusive as it is represented in the
above extracts. There was. in fact, no
part of the country in which talent and
L. L IL T..
or from what locality of the Union, had
speedier recognition than in the South
ern States. The illustrations Of this
truth are almost numberless. The great
George McDnfie, OF South Carolina,
was OF humble perentage. The father OF
President Andrew jackson, native of
mother belonged TO hard-working and
The father of John O. Calhoun loft his
family in moderate circumstances, and
after his death his son resided with his
widowed mother. laboring on the farm.
Andrew Johnson, OF Tennessee, was
originally tailor. These are only few
out Of many instances OF the prompt
and practical recognition of labor in the
South, without regard to origin. The
same is true. whatever may have been
the locality from which talent came.
John NJ. Berrien, the distinguished rep
resentative in former days Of Georgia in
the United States Senate, was native
of New Jersey. Johnson, OF Virginia, a
native of New York, was elected Co
vernon of Virginia over George W.
Summers, a native Virginian. The
father of the late DR.. Josiah Clark Mott,
principal author of the famous TYPES
of Mankind" by Mott and Gliddon, was
native OF Eastern Connecticut, but
moved to Camden. South Carolina,
where he practiced law with success. was
elected 10 Congress. aud ended his dnys
as Judge OF the State Court of Appeals.
The most brilliant and popular orator in
tho Southern States, SargentB. Prentise,
of Mississippi, was native OF Maine,
and ono of the most famous Southern
editors, George d. Prentiss, OF Ken
lucky. was native OF Connecticut. The
list might bo indefinitely. extended. The
"blue blood" of the South hns never
been more potent than the "yellow gold'
of the North in keeping to itself the keys
that unlock the gates Of success. It is
a great mistake to represent that in any
section of this country, which was settled
mainly by the poor and middle classes Of