The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-09-26

i
sonally" TO the very strictest prohi-
bition in the future, meaning there
by that he win never again use
liquors in any form. The statement,
coming from the man who has made
several campaigns OF Tennessee as
the candidate of the liquor forces,
who has stood with the lawless and
the vicious, who as candidate, re-
ceived the united support of those
classes, who as governor aided and
encouraged them, shows enc of the
most remarkable conversions record
ed in all history.
We all hope that the Ex-Governor
is sincere. That he really means
what he says, is the prayer of every
good citizen. He has splendid tai
ents and we earnestly hope that, in
the future, they will be dedicated
forever to the right, If the ex-gov-
ernor is sincere, II he is moved by
no low and vulgar motive to secure
revenge, he will make quite a dis
tinct addition to the forces of law
and order and decency in Tennessee.
His statement that ut is my sincere
wish to ally myself with the moral
and religious element Of the state,
for on these our civilization and ev-
erything good and permanent must
depend" indicates that he has really
come to the parting of the ways and
has chosen the straight and narrow
path.
But the Ex-Governor is not alto
gether consistent. He arfaigns the
liquor traffic in the following elo-
quent, forceful and true sentences:
"Often they are partners in gambling
bells where the money of all who en-
ter go into their Golfers, where
health is blighted and manhood des-
troyed. The wall of women, the
tears OF children, broken homes,
wrecked lives, destruction and
death are the fearful harvest which
is gathered In these fields Of crime"
All will agree that the ex-governor
has not overdrawn the picture That
would be difficult to- do, and he
speaks as one having bitter exper-
fence.
And yet in spite Of this bitter and
truthful portrayal of the evils OF the
liquor traffic, Patterson pleads for a
modification of the statewide prohi-
bition law. He would license linn
tied number of these terrible dens
Of iniquity with their fearful har-
vest" in the "Wail of women, the
tears of children, broken homes,
wrecked lives, destruction and
DEATH" If the liquor. traffic exacts
such a fearful havest" what claim
has it upon a Christian people Tor
life at all? The saloon is an an
achorism. It has no place in mod
ern civilization. 1t has refused to
he reformed and it must be destroy
ed. There can be no compromise
with it. The ex-governor seeks the
impossible. He would make respect
able that which is in league. with
death and has perpetual coven-
ant with hell.
Mr.. Patterson can hardly STAND
with the "moral and religious ele-
ment" and defend the saloon in any
form. Regulation has been tried
without success. The business is
essentially immoral and it cannot, in
the very nature of things be reform
ed. There is no half way ground;
no mysterious zone where the Right
and the Wrong of this question can
compromise.
Mr.. Patterson should at least be
willing to give the prohibition laws
a fair trial before he condemns
them; that they have never had He
admits as !. much, Why condemn
them at the behest Of the interests
that are securing the fearful har-
vest" in the wall Of women, the
tears Of children, broken homes,
wrecked lives and dedstruction and
death?" Why not give the law a,
chance?