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


preachers, revivalists and moralists
generally, are vieing with one anoth.
er in doing homage to Malcolm r.
Patterson, the author of all the hate
and malice and dissentions and un-
rest that have made the politics of
Tennessee during the past eight
years by word and a reproach. Vet
eran soldiers who have unselfishly
fought and sacrificed for years to
make conditions better in Tennessee
are being ignored in the wild rush to
give Patterson the second blessing"
as the high priest of prohibition in
Tennessee. Men who have lived
clean lives, who had honored God,
served their fellow man and been
faithful to their marriage vows are
being passed by in order that Patter-
son may have halo about his brow
and be hailed as the Moses of the
forces of good government in Ten
nessee.
And what excuse do we hear for
this unnatural and to the sane and
well balanced, remarkable and ludi.
crous spectacle? Simply this and
nothing more: Patterson declares
that after having sunk to the lowest
depths of human depravity, been driv-
en- in disgrace from the governorship
to private life, deserted by the inter-
estsG whom he had served with such
hdGiity, he has seen a vision, found
the throne of grace and become
converted to nationwide prohibit
ton Having fought Statewide"
until he could fight it no longer he
suddenly espouses nationwide" pro-
hibition with seat in the senate of
the United States as the real object
to be attained.
Now for the sake of argument, adj
hitting that Patterson's conversion
to the cause of prohibition is sincere
and not the result of the utter de-
struction of the political forces that
have served him in the past and which
were impotent If not unwilling to
serve. him longer, does his espousal
OF that one principle of government
warrant halo and crown for him as
the chief seer of the forces of good
government? Was his opposition to
prohibition the only sin Of which he
was guilty when he sat in the seats
Of the mighty? /
The man or the paper that would
answer this question in the affirma-
tive is grossly ignorant of the histo-
~ of his state these eight years of
strife and turmoil. Patterson's OPP
position to prohibition was but one
Of his sins against the peace and well
fare of the. state that had honored
him. What confession has he made
touching his other equally as dark
leeds?
Does Patterson's conversion to pro-
hibition change his standard of pub
lie service? Has Patterson repent
ed for his gross abuse of the privi-
eges and prerogatives of his high Of
ice? Has he asked forgiveness for
he infamous pardon brokerage that
iourished during his incumbency as
governor? Has he repented of the
ieceit he practiced upon the people
when, in his first campaign, he made
promises that he repudiated as soon
Is he reached Office? Pattersons ,
Whole political career in Tennessee
s record of broken promises, of for
,otten obligations, of fragrant disre-
lard for the honor AMI welfare of the
tate; of gross betrayal of public
rust. Now we ask in all candor and !
does his conversion to !
tate wide prohibition wipe away all ,
II his other political sins and fit him ,
or the leadership Of the forces of
.ood government in this state?
Finally has M. R. Patterson con- s
essed and repented of the part that (
le puayed in that darkest of all TRACE 7
lies in the history of Tennessee, the 7
of the knightly Car I
mack? What Precipitation or obia- c
ion has he offered for his defiant !
ardon of the murderer who robbed
he state of its ablest and best SER +
ant? Does a sudden and dramatic 7
spousal of the cause of nation T
ride" prohibition the better fit him s
Or public service? Does that one O
onfession relieve him of all the v
Their crimes and sins of which he a
ras guilty when trusted with high v
lice in Tennessee? n
Not one word has escaped the lips n
( Patterson asking the pardon OF I
he state for the part he played in o
he assassination of Carmack and the II
ewarding of his murderers. Not c