The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-11-14

nifty.
We knew, We loved, we mourn.
Carmack-the loving father. the de-
voted husband, the loyal friend
Carmack, the gifted editor, the bril-
liant orator. the polished statesman.
the upright citizen; but we must also
know and remember Carmack-the
martyr.
"Carmack could be alive today.
strong in the full vigor Of his splen-
did physique, facing the noon hour of
life, laden with honors, surrounded by
friends, luxurious in riches or seated
with the knightly in the government
of our country, according to the bent
OF his inclination, had he been content
to merely live and let thrive and
prosper those who reward public Of
fcials powerful enough to be danger
GUS If they be wise enough to be
dumb.
"Carmack did not embrace the
cause of prohibition because he was
defeated or disgraced, and could no
longer win the favor of the saloons
as tickle in politics as any painted
courtesan in love, but a senator of
tthe United States at the height of his
power, at the zenith Of his populari-
ty, he challenged the political despot-
ism of the saloon because he despis-
ed its support-no matter how effec-
tive and preferred it's destruction as
a political factor in Tennessee to a
seat In the senate as the price of 81
lence. i,
!, "Carmack declared war upon the
saloon because he knew that it was
all evil and fed alone upon misery
and want and ruin.
"Carmack met the forces of evil not
when they were scattered and routed,
in full fight to escape the deadly
charge of citizens of every party and
creed fighting under one banner, in
vain effort to shun the ambush OF
their own Hessians joining the enemy
they could not destroy. Carmack
challenged the power OF the saloon
when it's armies numbered untold le-
lgions, when its Golfers were brim-
ming over with gold, wrung from the
wrecks of homes and humanity, when
every brewery and every distillery
was a commissary well stocked; and
when his own followers were raw re-
cruits, undisciplined, unarmed and
without the sinews of war.
"Only a man with Carmack's clear
vision could have foreseen the future
and the end.
"He knew full well that in the first
battles the recruit must yield the
field to the veteran that the enthusi-
asm for a cause that makes men will
ling to live, but ready to die, must be
famed into a flame before principle
could successfully contend against
corruption.
"He knew his political future de-
pended not upon the outcome OF the
war, but upon the result OF the first
battles, that defeat in the beginning
meant his retirement from public
life. but from Office and opportunity
and would impose leadership bur-
densome and without reward; that
leadership in the nations forum
where a whisper travels with the
wings of the wind from coast to
cost to the leadership of a forlorn
hope: that he would be misunder-
stood and maligned, his life threaten
ed and perhaps taken, but never fal-
tering, undaunted and unafraid ne
dedicated his ambition, his ease, his
contentment, his life itself to the
cause of Him who had brought him
peace and a perfect understanding
Buckling on his armor he went forth
to battle-counting not the cost-tc
; fight to make men free and to perpet
, uate free government, for he kne"
full we'll that men could not be free ano
government was not free so long as
, government itself was in partnership
: with the saloon, licensing merclless
master to be cruel to its slaves anc
to be unrelenting to the innocent vic
, tins of the homes 1t wrecked.
!, And SO Carmack enlisted for tht
: war. He gave up Office and opportu
! nity as the result Of the first battle;
, he forsook a life Of wealth and ease
, when he marched upon the field fol
the second contest, knowing full wei
! the odds against him, and not un
mindful of the full measure Oh the
, consequences, and then he surren
, dered his life that principle migh'
-