The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-10
ALL IS VANITY.

The preacher who is quoted III tlie
Word as saying that ''all is vanity ana
vexation of spirit" must have under
stood with prophetic knowledge the dis
amendments and heart-burnlngs OF po-
litical life. There is very little that Is
satisfying in public life. 1t is most often
the bows chase of the butterfly.
4 recent case in point has side full
of sadness. Governor Taylor, of Ten
nessec. has published a card withdraw
ing from public life, in which he gives
reasons which impel many men not to
enter public life He has three times
been Governor of Tennessee and was
recently a candidate for the Senate. We
give few extracts from his letter
which, show how thorny is the road to
success in politics. Among other things.
he says:
Il have fully and finally determined
to retire from politics. l do so because
| am tired of political life. ! am tired
of it's narrowing antag0niSms. | am
tired of its unjust accusations. and its
because ais / grow older | find myself
less and less able to bear the stings of
criticism and the stabs of SANDER. !
am tired of it because there is no peace
in it for me and because [ believe that
| can do more good and have more
friends and more happiness in the pri-
vate walks of life If ! had an office
to give to every friend who asks, and
n hO of
ing mother, and the husband Of every
sobbing WIFE If / had money to put
in all the bony hands of poverty daily
extended to me for help. If had power
to protect the weak against the strong.
If l could give happiness to all the
people and sorrow to none, l would be
| contented to remain i'm the field of poll
| tics"
II have had my abmitions and have
earnestly sought to reach high position
in order that / might be able to benefit
| my fellow men. / have succeeded but
the realization was like the rainbow or
elusive phantom ever in sight. never
in reach, resting ever on the horizon
of hope, and | have discovered that he
who climbs to the summit of political
prominence Will look down with long
ing eyes. upon the humber plane of life
below and wash his feet had never wall
dered from its warmer sunshine and
sweeter flowers.
Il have made many mistakes: who
has not? nut / have tried to be faith
full. l shall carry many regrets with me-
into private life. | have often been COM
RELIED to deny favOTS to those whom !
love because | had not enough to go
around. i have often antagOnzed 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 heart Some of the wounds are
not yet healed but there us no malice
there towards amy man.
1T was my wish to retire last October
but the protests Of my friends constrain-
ed me to remain in the office of Gov
ernor until the cxpiratio of my present
term. / declared myself a candidate for
the United States Senate in the excite
ment of the hour at the close of the
recent Senatorial contest. / do not re-
tire from ii now because of any fear
of defeat, for | have assurances. from
every county and section of 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 pennilesss old age, with
a resistleSs desire to get away from the
unhappy collisions of politics and with
the wish that | may have the good will
of all the elements Of the people of my
natiye State | voluntarily announce af-
ter full and thorough deliberation that
with the close of my present term of of
flee | shall vanish from the political
arena. To those who have so generous
ly and vigorously sustained me, and who
are even now working and planning TO
crown me with the highest honor in the
gift of our people | wish TO express my
deep and undying gratitude and love.
Fo9 those who have opposed me in 20
littcal life / have nothing but good will
and the olive branch