The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-26
TAYLOR'S vALEDICTORY.

OONtfuui us WI sutSvNf ~
dress to the Legislature was as
tollows:
MIR. Speaker, Ladies' and Gem
tlemen-I am about to snuff,e II
this marital coil OF politics aud fl,
away 10 the haven of my native
mountains, where | may ,h,hk and
dream in peace, safe from the sick
en,ng sung of VI Just cri'lcism; safe
from thu lalons of some old poiC
zeal vultnre; safe ir"m the shiny
hiss Of hyp"cracy and the keen dag
ger of ingia,ltude. | DO not mean
to cay that all politicians are vul
lures, or that they are all h,po-
critics and as as-irs, tor the great
majority of our public men are up
right and honest, and worthy 1T the
confidence r. posed in them by the
people; yet there are black wing
in the poliiic,l armament and rep
tiles crawl and hiss IN every capt.
tol. But, hank God, the live
thund, rs of eternal truth always
clear the atmosphere, and the heel
OF Justice will bruise me serptnPs
had. | do not retire from this
high office with the rankings of
disappointment aud chagrln in my
bosom, but rather as one who ie-
tires from labor to rrHI; from war
to peace; from II, uble to hapni-
"A . ,a
bulist of shattered Dream but
with all the buds of hope bursting
into bloom and all the bowers of
the fnture ringing with melody. l
am content with my lot in lite.
Three times | have worn the laurel
wreath If honor twined by the peo-
pie Of my native state. and that is
glory enough for me. While | be.
Iieye that the good in politics out
weigh the bad, yet how unhappy
the pilgrimage IT, him who darrs to
do his du'y. There are no fl ,wers,
except few boque,s snatched
f,om the graves of fallen toes; there
il no happiness except the transient
thrill of cruel triumph which passes
like a meteor across the heat.
Every honest man who runs for
I. flee Ia n Candidate for trouble, tor
fruits OF pt litic,l victory turn to
ashes on the lips. To me there Is
nothing in this world ~ pathetic rs
CANDIDATE. He is like mariner
W thout n compass, drifting on the
temprst-LOsepA waves OF uncertain.
t, between the smiling cliffs of
! hope aud the frownIng crags vi
fear. He is a walking petition and
living prayer; he is the backbone
of public srutimeu'j he Is the
droned Ty Of politics. And ii he
reaches the goal OF his amb'uon he
will soon feel the Le,k cf the vnl-
i ture IN hls heart and the fang of
TIE serpent in his soul. am no
longer candidate. Never again
will be inauguiated nto puohc
nfic-, The ark Of my humble pub
lie career rests on the A,arat Of
private hfp, aud l stand IN Its
peaceful summit and look down On
the r. ceediug food of pal tics. The
dove of my destiny has brought me
an olive branch from happier fields,
and | 90 hence to labor and 10 love.
take With me- n heart full Of graf
,tude aud saul full If precious
memori,s; gratitude TO the people
for their unwaverl. confidence in
me; precious memories Of my
friends who have been kind and
true. The record l have made is
an open book to all. am willing
l.ouu 70 by that record Il am vii"
R RI Awe BIZ it. For whatever
liug to die HvAaye committed, l
mistakes l may MIA \ view the
have kept s,eudfastly in e bappi-
honor IF the state and ~ We al
ness of the people As l haSaaEa
ready presented my views o" public
que >tions, in my rrcenI me>saye TO
the general assembly, dem il un
necessary aud inappropriate 10 fur>
Their di- cuss them on this happy
occasion; happy to our new gov
amor, happy to you, happy to me.
happy to us all. 1t only remains
for me to bid YOU a i an affection.
ate and fual farewell, and TO ex-
press the PRAYER that the Christ
who died f r love and mticv's sake
will guide our chief executive, and
ho shall follow him in the paths
of peace and love aud baptize them
with the spir', of mercy.
"Fare FAREWELL"