The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-05-24
A WISE AND CHRISTIAN DE-
CISION.


Barbee has at last taken the right
step, as will appear from his card
published elsewhere in this issue.
1t had been better had he taken that
step earlier.
DR.. Barbee aud those who have
championed his cause, were so jeal-
Gus of his good name and so sensi-
tive to criticism, that from the be-
ginning they have been unable to
differentiate between mistake and
crime.
Very few if anybody ever believed
that DR.. Barbee intended any wrong
when he worded the misleading tele-
gram to Senator Bate. His blame.
less life for all these years from
youth to hoary age, stands an unim-
peachable witness in his behalf.
And when at the Ularksville confer
ance he admitted probable mis-
take of the head, but declared that
he bad intended no wrong, and upon
that admission and declaration the
conference passed his character, the
world said Amen"
But that probable" mistake was
positive one; and however inno-
cent it may have been of any
Intentional wrong, it did mislead
the Senate and bring reproach upon
the church; to correct which has
been the single contention and only
purpose of DR.. Barbee's critics.
If you get anything from a man
under a misrepresentation of the
facts, and you are responsible for the
mistake, the only way-not only the
right way, but the only way to
square Yourself with that man, is
to give him back what you got from
him.
The fact that you are in confidence
bound to respect the secrets Of
your business associates, will MOI
warrant or excuse any evasive Oh
misleading statement that effects
the rights or influences the conduc
of another.
The fact that the question asked
was improper or impertinent nigh
justify an improper or impertinen
answer, but not misleading one
If in the effort to disentangle him
self from embarra ssing situations o
this character, a man. upon the spu
OF the moment, writes or says some
thing misleading, he may be accus
ed Of mistake but not convicted o
crime. The crime, IL such itgrow
to be, comes from holding on to wha
may have been wrongfully obtained
comes from taking advantage Of tn
misleading statement; comes from
not squaring yourself with the in
iured or offended party.
DR.. Barbee's second mistake, an
perhaps most grievous one, was
his obstinate refusal to see and col
rect his first one. For this, howeve
he is only in part to blame. TIL
other part he may charge to bad al
visors; in less polite society som'
times called fool friends"
And yet there is much more
him to be admired than there is
be condemned. Barring this sing
unfortunate circumstance, his Iii
has been full of good works and a
solutely blameless. His hero
struggle against poverty and adver
surroundings in his early life, g
title him to look with contempt upC
shallow accusers who bear no sea
of battle. His rugged characte
made strong by adversely, his gre
learning, the strength of his logi
the tenderness of his eloquence, Il
softness of his heat, the gentlene
of his disposition, these tender al
strong characteristics, stamp him
man to be loved, revered and a
mired. With as little ostentati
and with as little self-seeking
worldly ambition, he has done
much for Methodism and for Chr
as any man in Tennessee, save o
perhaps; and, considering the ener
of his nature, the reach of his
tellect and influence, the indeper
ence and earnestness of his chars
ter, the effort he has made and
good he has done-the mistakes
his life have been remarkably few
Now that he has done what he
for the church that he loves bet
than his life, the man who will p
sue him further is unworthy to LOO
the latchet of his shoe; but
General Conference has yet its p
to do. That war claim money m
be returned to the gOverume
Nothing short of that is honest q
right, and the agitation" will ne
cease until that is done.