The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-03-11
GeV. BOB TAYLOR IS TIRED.

finally determined to retire from 1oii-
ties lido So because I am tired Of
political life. ana tired gifts harrow
ing a-ntagonisms / am tired Of its un-
just accusations and violent conten-
tions / am tired Of it because, as
grow older, I find myself less and less
able to bear the stings Of criticism and
the stabs eff SANDER. / am tired Of il
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 private walks of
life
IF I had ain office to give 70 every
friend who asks and a pardon for the
son Of every Old weering mother and
the husband Of every soabing wife if ]
had 70 put ia an the bouy hands Of
poverty daily extended to me for helpi
if ! had the power to protect the weak
against the strong ifI could give hap
piness to all the people and sorrow to
none, / would be contented to remain in
the field Of politics
"Tt is true / have remained in it a
long time and have fought vigorously
for the principles and policies Of gov
eminent which I thought were best for
our country. have had my ambitions
and have earnestly sought to reach
position in order that I might be able
to benefit my feIow-men / have sue
ceeded. but the realization was like the
rain bow, resting ever on the horizon
Of hope, and I 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 wish his feet had never
wandered from its warmer sunshine
and sweeter flowers.
Twenty years Of anyiety and ner
yous strain, and the perils and sweat
Of political campaigning and official
agony, will have rounde up with the
close Of my present term Jf Office, and l
will be ready to gladly surrender all
my hopes Of future political promotion
to others who are more ambitious and
who find delight in giving and r%eceiy
ing blows. I have concluded that
twenty years Of such life is enough for
any one man Of my temperament.
Resume Of Hts Service.
Three times 1 have borne tho ban
ner Of my party among the mountain
businesses Of the frst congressional dis
trict six times 1 have canyassed Ten
nesseo. from Bristol to Memphis three
times have worn the honors Of gov
.ernor Of my native state. Whether
have fought tie battles we'll OF not
whether 4 have been 4 faithful servant
I will leave to the verdict Of the people
whom have served SO long
II did not wish to enter the struggle
Of 1886, but my party commanded and
there was nothing left for me TO do but
to obey Since my election / have
never had that fixed purpose which is
necessary to the achievement of success
in politics. Ihave wayered because I
had an unconqUerable desire to quit the
life Of a politician and enter happier
and more ~peaceful fields Of labor. /
have never waycred one jot on little in
the performance Of my labor in Office,
but only as to what should DO ID ref
erence to my own personal future I
feel conscious that ! have been true to
my trust and true to the people. Had /
not been true to them / might have had
a smoother path and 2 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
better to suffer the bruises and wounds
Of criticism for the welfare and happi
ness Of the people than to loll on flow
cry beds Of ease, with q guilty con
science and q trust betrayed
'The best energies Of my youth and
young manhood have been given to the
service Of my party and my country
/ have made many mistakes who has
mott But Ihave tried to be faithful I
shall carry my regrets with me into
private life. Ihaye often been com
PEELED to deny favorg to those whom i
love because had not enough to go
around have often antagonized men
whom honor and esteem in the strug
gle for political preferment. In obed
fence to tie command Of duty, I have
unavoidably trampled upon the hearts
that are noble and warm ia The relent
less warfare 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
fit 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 Ideclared myself a can
didate for the United States senate in
the excitement of tie hour at the close
Of the recent senatorial contest / do
not retire from It now because of any
fear Of defeat, for 7 have assurances
from every county ana section IF the
state which convince me that / could
easily win IL the coming contest but
with my health not g rnbusta s IL the
dnNa nnna hr. with nriNata interests