Year: 1872

A TALK WITH JUDGE ORR.


The following letter of the correspondent
of the Charleston Neaus will define the position
of Judge Orr: t.


ANDERSON, S. c., July 8, 1872.


In accordance with the instructions of the
Neus, I have this morning called upon ex-
Governor James L. Orr, at his pleasant coun-
try home, situated about mile from this vii
lage, and obtained from him an expression of
his opinion concerning the present condition Of
affairs in South Carolina, and his views as to
the best method ofattempting the much-needed
reformation in these affairs. Judge Orr re-
ceived me with courtesy and cordiality, assur-
ed me of his high respect for the journal which
had the honor to represent, and expressed
his pleasure at the opportunity of placing his
views before the whole people Of South Caro-
lima through such medium. The conversa-
ton that ensued continued for perhaps an
hour, the Judge conversing rapidly, intelli,
gently and forcibly, and With an appearance
of perfect candor and frankness, and the dia-
logue, so far as it was upon matters OF public
interest was about as follows:


Correspondent. I 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 de-
claring in favor of thorough reform in State
administration. What do you propose as
plan for accomplishing that reform, and what
elements of probable success are there in the
proposition?


Judge Orr. Well, sir, it is evident that any
reform to be accomplished in our State affairs
must be accomplished by the Republican par
ty. Your papers acknowledge that, and with
the immense Republican majority in this State
it is selfevident proposition. The masses
that compose that Republican majority are
the colored people of the State, and their de-
votion to the Republican party is not to be al
tered 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 if it could be logi-
cally proved Gas, mind you, don't think
it could) that the tenets Of the Democratic
party were better than those of the Republi-
cans, the colored masses would still cling to
the latter party, through sentiment which,
having its origin in gratitude to the Republi-
can party for its benefits conferred, has now
grown to an instinct of devotion to that party.


Correspondent. Yes, sir and it is precise
ly by reason of that blind, unreasoning adhe-
sion of the colored people that the bad men OF
your party, who have swarmed to this State,
have been able, by shouting the shibboleth OF
Republicanism, to mount upon the votes OF
the colored masses to positions Of power, and
to the control of the funds of the State, where
they have shown their gratitude by plundering
alike the whites and the blacks.


Judge Orr. Yes, sir but the colored mass
IS are still disposed to favor honesty in the
administration 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 of the loss-because the burden of
exhorbitance in taxation and profigacy in
government must eventually be borne by the
poor laborers.


Correspondent Then the colored people
are perfectly willing that their rulers should
be honest, but they must be Republicans; and,
as between an honest Democrat and dishon-
est Republican, they would be apt to support
the latter?


Judge Orr Well, yes The rulers and
leaders of the colored people must be Repub-
licans. What they want now more than any
thing else is honest Republican leaders. Their
choice of leaders has hitherto been confined to
the "carpet-baggers, because they we're the
only men protesting Republicanism who pos
sessed any degree of Intelligence and educa-
ton.


Correspondent. And their intelligence and
education has been, in most cases, extremely
limited


Judge Orr. Yes, but still superior to that
of the great bulk of the colored people who
were just released from slavery, and had
been without any means Of education. Now
the time has come when the white men of this
State, nativeSouth Carolinians, should resume
their natural leadership in the affairs of their
own State, and this they can only do by en-
bracing Republicanism and putting themselves
at the head of the Republican colored masses.


Correspondent. What do you mean by
embracing Republicanism? Accepting the
nomination Of Greeley, lifelong Republican,
and the platform of the Liberal Republican
Convention? They have already done that.


Judge Orr. No, they must accept the NOM
inees and platform of the regular Republican
Convention at Philadelphia. Nothing else is
recognized or will be recognized as being Re-
publican by the colored people of this State.
There can be no more sacrifice Of principle in
Democrats voting for Grant than in their vo-
ting 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 and got
as far as Greeley toward the Republican ranks,
might as we'll surrender altogether and 60 for
Grant and the entire animal?


Judge Orr. Yes 1t is not as though the
contest in this State were upon abstract ques-
tions of political economy or between Demo
cratic and Republican principles. The Dem
ocrats of South Carolina have shown them
selves willing to accept the fundamental prin-
Piles of Republicanism. All they want now,
so far as the State is concerned, is all honest
and economical administration of affairs, and
there is no man in this country more anxious
for this consummation than President Grant
himself The present condition of affairs in
South Carolina and Louisiana is terrible
burden for the Republican party in the coun-
try to carry, and they are determined to purge
the party of such dishonesty.


Correspondent "When the devil was sick,
the devil a saint would be; when the devil
got we'll, the ID saint was he"


Judge Orr. What did you say, sir?


Correspondent Nothing, sir, 1 am listen
ing to you.


Judge Orr. I was saying that the leading
Republicans at the North have been shocked
and astounded to hear of the robberies perpe-
trated by Republican officials in this State.
Some of them asked me in Washington if all
the horrible stories about the frauds in South
Carol;na uora true and when I had to tell