The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-02-09
GOV. ROBT. i. Taylor.
PENNESSEES EXECUTIVE MINGLING
a WITH HIS MEMPHIS FRIENDS.
He Advocates Public Libraries and
Talks About National Politics--The
New Assessment Law Destined
to Work Long Needed
Revolution.

New Assessment Law Destined
to Work Long Needed
Revolution.
Memphis Appeal. $685.
Gov. Robt. L. Taylor arrived in the
city last night from Jackson, Tenn,
and will spend the day here with his
friends. When seen last night at his
room in the Peabody hotel, by an Ap.
peal reporter, he was just bidding
good evening to q friend who had
called to pay his respects. and court
Sously welcomed The appeal man.
The distinguished young executive
of the great State Of Tennessee is
looking the picture Of health, and
his suaye and pleas.dg manners al
ways make one fell ct ease while talk
ing to him. All of the newspaper
men know him and like to talk to him
for he is uniformity kind to them.
81 know" said he, that you would
like for me to tell you some news, but
the fact 10, that is q commodity am
destitute of, unless tell you that l
am here from Jackson, and how !
came to go there. The purpose OF my
visit there was most pleasant one,
and in good cause. The wide-awake
and public spirited people of that most
prosperous city have public library.
1t is not a very large one, and they are
most anxious to enlarge both the
building and the number of books.
They invited me there to make them
a speech on the occasion of public
meeting held Friday evening for that
purpose. / cheerfully responded, and
took for my text subject that en-
braces wide feId-"Happiness." !
had a splendid audience in fact du
not believe ever spoke to finer body
Of refined ladies and gentlemen. The
objects for which they had met were
fully discussed, and the necessary
funds for the purchase of the books
were readily raised. Lam thoroughly
in love with the idea of public libra
ries. No city of any size can afford
to be without one. Why, they told
me in Jackson that the library there
had worked o revolution during the
few years of its existence. Men and
women are reading who never read
before. Minds which were eager, but
had not the means, greedily take ad-
vantage Of the opportunity, are cult
waited and ennobled. Time, precious
time, that would otherwise have been
spent idly, is turned into better than
| gold by reading good books. The peo'
pie there tell me that their library has
done thousands OF dollars worth oi
good, and they mean to maintain it
AS just said, every city should have
public library, for it is the greatest
civiizer that can be introduced into a
community. My coming to Memphis
means nothing more than like tC
come here occasionally to see the
many warm friends | have here"
care we to have very much politics
this year, Governor"
more than we have had in years, ]
think; not especially here in thil
J State, but throughout the whole coun
try. I'll tell you why The Republi
can party is going to make its greatest
eftort--most probably its last--al
least, for many years, for if that party
loses in this contest its fate is sealeC
for years to come, Do ! think it vii
be defeated? Most certainly | do. ThC
Republican party was doomed severa
years ago. 1t goes into this campaign
in houndering condition. 1t seem
to me they are 10 divided among them
selves already that they cannot eve
, get together. They have no idea, no
even the most knowing one anon,
them, who they are goingto nominate
for President. No, most certainly
do not know for them. On the othe
hand the Democratic party was neve
b in 80 fine and compact condition
: The country is satisfied with it, and i
going to keep it in power. Tennessee
Democrats will not be remiss in re
spending TO the balance of the countr,
on this point. The Democrats neve
, had a finer or greater opportunity o
:. were never in better trim to make th
|, most of it. Yes, sir, we'll have a livel
campaign--one to be remembered
but the Democratic party will win."
Governor, will you have any oppC
sition for a renominationP
S II can't say. have paid but littl
e attention TO the matter. have bee
+ staying at home, doing my best to Civ
y the people clean and faithful admin
+ issration. How succeed they will
i the judges. have no other ambitio
n than 10 serve tho State Of Tennessee
l. faithfully, for l owe to them all that
j am. They put me where | am, an
d will determine whether | am to sta