The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-03-11
GOV. TAYLOR IS DONE.
Puts All Political Ambition Away
From Him.
RetIres From the Observation-Disclosures
Which Induced Him to the Decision.
Hurts in Fierce Battles Pain Him.

NASHVILLE. March Gov. Robert
L. Taylor tonight gave out the follow
ing signed statement:
TO the People, have fully and
! finally determined to retire from poll
| tics. | do so because | am tired of
| political life. / am tired of its harrow
| ing antagonisms. am tired of its I'M
| just accusations and its violent cOnten-
| tons / am tired of it because, as l
grow older, l find myself less and less
able to bear the stings of criticism and
the StabS of SANDER. l am tired of it
| because there is no peace in it for me,
and because / believe that | can do no
more good and have more friends and
! more happiness in the private walks of
life.
IF / had an office to give to every
friend who asks and a pardon for the
son OF every old weeping mother and
the husband of every sobbing wife; If l
had To put in all the bony hands of
poverty daily extended to me for help;
II L had power to protect the weak
against the strong; if / could give hap
plHess to all the people and sorrow to
none, would be contented to remain
IN the field of politics.
1t Is true / have remained in it a
FOR the principles and policies of govern
ment which thought were best for our
country. | have had my ambitions and
have earnestly sought TO reach high
position IN order that / might be able
TO benefit my fellOw-meu. | have sue
ceeded, but the realization was like the
rainbow, resting ever on the horizon of
hope, and l have discovered that he
VINO climbs to the summit of political
prominence will look down with long
ing eyes upon the humber plane of life
below and wish his feet had never
wandered from its warmer sunshine
and sweeter flowers.
IWenty years of anxiety and nerv-
Gus strain, and the perilS and sweat of
political campaigning and official agony,
VIII have rounded up with the close of
my present term of office, and l will be
ready to gladly surrender all my hopes
OF further political promotion to others
who are more ambitious and who find
delight in giving and receiving blows
] have concluded shat twenty years of
such life Is enough for any one man
of my temperament.
Resume of His Service.
Three times l have borne the ban
ner OF my party among the mountain
businesses of the First congressional
district; SIX times l have canvassed
tennessee, from Bristol to Memphis:
three times have worn the honOrs of
governor of my native State. Whether
1 nave fought the battle well or not,
whether / have been a faithful servant,
will leave to the verdict of the people
whom l have served so long.
i did not wish to enter the struggle
OF 1896, but my party commanded. and
there was nothing left for me to do but
to obey. Since nv election | have never
had that fixed purpose which is neces-
Sary TO the achievement of success in
poltlcS. l have wavered because | had
an uncOnquera bic desire to quit the life
OF a politician and to enter happier and
more peaceful fields of labor. | have
never waveTed one lot or title in the
performance OF my duty in office. but
only as to what | should do with refer
ence TO my own personal future. | feel
conscious that | have been true to my
trust and true to the people Had not
been true to them l might have had q
smoother path and a softer pillow. but |
have always believed it better to walk
In the thOrny path of duty and sleep
upon the hard pillow of care for the |
sake of the right; / have believed it bet
ter to suffer the bruises and wounds of
criticism for the welfare and happiness
OF the people than to Toll on fiOwerv |
beds of ease, with a guilty conscience |
and trust betrayed.
he best energies of my youth and |
young manhood have been given to the |
service of my party and my country. |
nave made many mistakes who has
not? But | have tried to be faithful. | |
snail carry my regrets with me into pri- |
Vate lie. / have often been compelled |
10 deny favOrs to those whom | love |
because had not enough to go around |
nave often antagOniZed men whom |
honor and esteem in the struggle for |
political preferment. In obedience to |
the command of duty. have unavoid- |
ably trampled upon the hearts that are |
noble and warm in the relentless war
fare OF politics. There are many scars |
IN my own heart; some of the wounds |
are not yet healed, but there is no /
malice toward any man.
Away with Political Ambition.
1t was my wish TO retire last Octo-
Der. but the protests of my friends con-
strained me to remain in the office of |
governor until the expiration of the
present term. | declared myself a can
didate for the United States senate in
The excitement of the hour at the close
Of the recent senatorial contest. / do
not retire from it now because of any
fear of defeat. for | have assurances
4 yin NNNi. NOIlAtN anu StCIlOu Oh the
State which convince me that | could
easily win in the coming contest: but
with my health not so robust as in the
days gone by; with private interests
long neglected, threatening penniless
DID age; with Il resistless desire to get
away from the unhappy collisions of
politics. and with the wish that | NAV
have the good viii of all elements Of
NY beloved State, l voluntarily an
lounce, after full and thorough de-
liberation. that. with the close of nv
present term of Office. | shall vanish
from the political arena. To those
who have 50 generously and vigorously
sustained me, and who are even now
and planning to crown me
With the highest honor in the gift of our
people. l wish to express my deep and
Indying gratitude and love. For those
Who have opposed me in political life |
rave nothing but good will and the olive
.4h I IT, |