The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-12
DAYLIGHT IN TENNESSEE.

n Governor Patterson retirement from the race
Il for Governor of Tennessee Leaves the political
xitnation in an unsolvable tangie. So far as the
l politicians are concerned, they are for the most
part in the perilous position of men suddenly
called upon by the logic of events to live up TO
S1heir protestatsons. In political algnments such
as have recently characterized Tennessee no worse
fate could befall politician.
/ Recognizing in the fullest degree the absolute
folly of the Patterson candidacy, we have been
throughout the complicated series of Tennessee
events somewhat unable TO conceive the quality
sof patriotism In the independent faction which
has sought to make its protest effective by fusion
with the Republican party considerable por-
Etion Of this opposition which refused persistent
lin to participate in the party convention, which
afterwards refused TO enter primary to choose
i party candidate, has based its attitude upon its
&alleged loyalty TO the cause of prohibition. Up
IA the assumption that it was advancing this
canse, il has not hesitatcd to align itself with
the Republican faction knowing full we'll Gf
II knows anything) that in Republican circles in
the South neither prohibition nor any other
moral measure is ever supported with sincerity
by an element that judges between Democratic
dissensions with the sole idea of aigning itself
with and Turing from the party organization the
~eaker element of the party. Patterson may be
black as sin. But not even Patterson Gov
ernor would bring to the State the semblance of
the corruption, the disgrace the base political
traffic in men and morals which would, soon or
late, follow upon the giving of the State to
Il Faction whose purpose is subservient TO its
/ greed. Now that the fight against Patterson
4 has been won. what does the disaffected element
Il propose to do Viii it show that it is, as it
rlairns, still Democratic or will it be disclosed
that lis attitude has been one of sef-seeking
covered up by a moral pretenson!
1t is true that Patterson's delay, his egotistic
belief in himself, his policy under attack of rule
Or ruin, have done much toward inviting the dis
aster that still faces the party. 1t is thai
If the genius of the opposition shall prove to
have been political instead of moral, he will be
justly blamed for having made possible the carry
ing out of its real, opposed to It's professed de-
sign 1t is not to be questioned that if the Fall
election shall result i'll Republican victory,
! Patterson will be the person chiefly to blame for
the calamity. But Notwithstanding these facts,
Pattersons retirement places the forces that have
been pitching their opposition to the Democratic
party upon justihable opposition to him in a
position where they must stand before the world
shorn Of the opportunity of double-dealing. If
the independent convention meeting on Wed
nesdav endorses the Republican candidate, it
stands as Republican convention; if it agrees
10 suppcrt the nominee Of the Democracy in
place Of Patterson it iustifies the purity Of its
purpose. We shall see what we shall see. We
swat the issue with more hope than confidence.
We have, however, this confidence: that de-
spite the action of the Independents, should they
cling TO their purpose to nominate Republican
candidate, the great ma ority OF Democratic
voters are not under these circumstances to be led
sway from old principles and ancient political
&anlignments. We believe that the masses Of the
Democratic voters have been disatfected in an
honest cause. We consider them TO have been,
satisfactorily not, arrayed in opposition to a man
they considered bad in the furtherance of an end
ne consider worse than any man. But we feel
1ure that, the man having been eliminated, they
~ no longer to be led in revolt against the only
party to which they can loo1 for decent govern
nent.
H in the movement against the regular nomi-
1ees of the party there has been unworthy mo-
live, Patterson has at a late hour unmasked it.
NJ that motive should now disclose itself by con-
tinned adherence 10 the Republicans, it will
1And at length in the light. So standing,-no
matter what the action of the Independents may
be,we do not believe that it can longer make
appeal to honest Democrats, who have made their
5eotest felt.
We have all along thought that Patterson
Sonid retire We have considered him a man
Nh1olutely irreconcilable to party success. We
11e felt that the breach he had created was one
Il ~ b healed so long as he remained can
1nsc. It is pleasant surprise that even Pat
pon should have seen and recognized the OBJ
slo6s writing on the wall. Now that he has
~, there i no longer room for the suspicion