The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-11-07

conversion, his remarkable change Of
heart, it is not out Of place to call at
tention to the circumstances of that
conversion. Three months ago Pat
terson was politically dead" There
was none so poor as to do him rev.
erence. He journeyed to Nashville
to aid in the election of candidate
running upon platform of nullifica-
ton of the prohibition law. His po-
litical enemy used official power to
wreak revenge upon Patterson and to
humiliate and expose him.
Shortly thereafter Patterson be-
came converted" but notwithstand-
| ing this fact he continued to support
| the candidate of faction of the
liquor party upon platform of nullifi-
cation. His candidate was ignomin-
iously defeated and then it was that
Patterson issued his first confession
of faith" In that document he de-
cried prohibition and declared that
events had justified the wisdom of his
course when he vetoed the prohibition
laws. Though pleading for law en-
forcement he continued to be the
apologist for the liquor traffic. This
inconsistency was pointed out by The
Herald and other papers.
The statement fell fiat; it pleased
neither side. Within very short
time came the second confession of
faith" in which the former champion
and beneficiary Of the lawless liquor
power burned all of the bridges be-
hind him and out Heroded-Herod in
his advocacy of prohibition. From a
local optionist, an advocate of the "sa-
cred right of local self-government;
the staunch friend of individual lib
erty' he became the champion of
nationwide" prohibition, to obtain
which an amendment must be submit
ted by the congress of the United
States, OF which the senate is an i'm
portant part.
No man can deny that the Lord and
Savior of mankind can save the low
est and vilest of man. my grace is
sufficient for thee" is the hope of the
ages. But taking all the circum-
stances into consideration, the fact
that Patterson contents himself mere
ly with the statement that he is not
now" a candidate, we cannot but mar
vel at the encouragement which he is
receiving from the very men who
eight years ago helped him to politi-
cal power only to be betrayed by
him. Patterson may be entirely sin
cere in his conversion, but in the
light of his past record, of fair prom
ises made only to be broken, it would
seem to be the part of discretion for
the forces of good government in
Tennessee to be slow in giving en-
enlargement to his ambition.
No one would be further from deny
ing the saving grace of God than The
Herald, but it remembers all too WV
idly perhaps. but has not forgotten
and never can, when Patterson only
a little more than four years ago
stood in the presence of assembled
thousands while he was about to
take the oath for the second time as
governor of the state, and declared
that he had then gone to the
Throne At that time the tragedy
of Carmacks taking off still cast its
shadow over the state; aroused from
their apathy and lethargy the good
men and women of Tennessee were
asserting themselves and passing pro-
hibition laws only to have them scorn-
ed and vetoed by Patterson. In the
midst of it all Patterson told how he
then had gone to the throne. These
are facts Of history and they are facts
that should be kept before that great
army of patriotic Tennesseans, who
have through great travail and at
enormous sacrifice, won so much for
decency and good government these
Ave years.
So long as there remain thousands
and thousands of patriotic citizens
who have uncomplainingly given of
their time and money and best tai
ents for the achievement Of all that
makes for the best in life, The Her
aid will first honor and acclaim the
veterans before it falls in frantic de-
votion and wild admiration upon the
neck of the latest recruit.