The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-12-18
A Wonderful Change or Heart.

lHC OSutlilcl, w says.
An exhibition of one of the most re-
markable changes of heart and purpose
on record was given at the recent great
National Anti-Saloon League conven-
ton at Columbus, Ohio. The subject
of this change was Ex-Governor Patter-
son, of Tennessee, who, while eXecu-
tive of that State, was one of the most
determined opponents of Prohibition
and bitter enemy of the leading tenn
perance advocate of the State, Ex-U.
S. Senator Carmack. Mr. Carmack
fell victim of his zeal and was slain by
young Cooper, whose father was found
guilty as an accessory to the murder
and was promptly pardoned by Patter-
son. AS is generally known, the
present Governor of Tennessee is a Re-
publican, elected by a combination of
temperance DemocratsandR Republicans.
He has forced legislation that has made
Tennessee substantially dry and now
Ex-Governor Patterson rises. to give his
adhesion to the cause, with all his pow
er, and he is busy man and a force
full speaker. Concerning his own ex-
perience he said, at the Columbus con-
vention:
Il have seen the trail of liquor in
the criminal : courts where l have
prosecuted crime. | know and have
been a participant in it's paralyzing and
corroding influences in the social and
public life of our national capital. As
the governor of Tennessee, l have seen
it veritable and raging center of
storm around which gathered its defen-
ders and assallants, and from which
sprang divisions in parties, disputes in
families and dissentions in churches.
Going through life, | have seen it
drag down many Of the associates of my
boyhood, blasting their hopes and con-
signing them to untimely graves.
have seen its forked lightning strike
my fashionable child of my young
the suffering and tried to help him in
his brave but sometimes melancholy
struggle for redemption. At last
have felt it's foul and stealthy blow as
it turned upon me in its deadly and
shaming wrath-upon me, who has
pleaded before the people for its very
existence. Men have called me strong;
and while could see It's harm in Others
l thought myself immune, as thousands
before my time have thought and
suffered for the thought.
"All this l knew and felt without a
revelation of the deep pathos and
meaning of 1t ALL | needed help, for
was CROPPING and my feet were stumbling
in the dark. Deep in humiliation,
tortured and condemned in my own
esteem, which is the severest
penalty man may inflict upon himself,
thought of the oft-repeated phrases
about personal liberty, of the power OF
the human will to resist temptation,
with which had beguiled myself, and
found them as unsubstantial as the
| fabric of dream.
when logic failed and reason gave
no answer, l cast aside all pride OF
opinion, all thought of what the worlo
might say or think. and went to the
throne of Almighty God. There or
| Bonded knees, | asked for light anC
strength, and they came. The curtains
of the night parted, and the way was
clear. | arose a changed man. All
invisible hand has led me on to where
the vision is unobscured, and the pur-
poses of life stand revealed. From g
critic OF others, looked within. From
an accuser, | became a servent in my
own house to.set it in order. From q
vague believer in the guidance OF
Divine power, have become convert
of its infinite truth. From an unhappy
and dissatisfied man-out of tune with
the harmony of life and religion, have
become happy and content, firmly
anchored in faith, and ready to testify
from my own experience to the miracu
lous power of God to cleanse the soul:
of men.
"Out of this has icome the profound
conviction that on the question with
which | had to deal in my public career
all my arguments and all my conclusions
so far as they excused or justified the
moral right or policy of the state tc
legalize the sale of liquor. and thereby
give sanction to its ravages on society
were only the empty hopeless state
ments on application to thing wholly
and essentially evil, and concerning
which no principle of right or order Oh
liberty should ever be evoked for its
existence.
81 favor Prohibition in any form
that will either reduce or destroy the
liquor traffic. favor it personal-widC
town. vide, nationwide and world
wide"