The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-01-20
was received with hearty cheers and
L. fnlln

was received with hearty cheers and
spoke as follows:
"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen :
l am about to shuttle off this mortal coil
of politics and iy away to the heaven of
my native mountains, where L may
think and dream in peace, safe from tn e
sickening sting of unjust criticism ;
safe from the talcns of some old politi-
cal vulture: safe from the Shiny kiss
and the Keen dagger of ingratitude.
II do not mean to say that all politi-
clans are vultures or that they are all
hypocrites or assassins; for the great
majority of our public men are upright
and honest, and worthy OF the conf
dence reposed in them by the people;
vet tn ere are black wings in the politi-
cal armament, and reptiles crawl and
hiss in every Capitol. But, thank God,
the live thunders of eternal truth al
ways clear the atmosphere, and the heel
of justice will surely bruise the ser
pent's head.
II do not retire from this Office with
the wrankling of disappointment and
chagrin in my bosom, but rather as one
who retires from labor to rest; from
war to peace; from trouble to happi
| ness.
81 do not retire, the somnambulist OF
a shattered dream, but with all the buds
| of hope bursting into bloom and all tn E
bowers of the future ringing with melo'
DIV. l am contented with my lot in life
Three times | have worn the laure
wreath of honor, twined by the people
of my naive State, and that Is glory
| enough for me. ...f.
"Wbiie 1 believe that the good in pol
itics outweighs the bad, yet how thorn J
is the path and how unhappy the pill
grimage to him who dares to do his
duty! There are no flowers except 1
few bouquets snatched from the graves
of fallen foes; there is no happiness ex
cept the transient thrill of cruel tri
umph, which passes like shadow
across the heart.
"Every honest man who runs for of
flee is q candidate for trouble; for thu
fruits of political victory turn to ashes
on the lips.
"To me there is nothing in this worlC
81 pathetic as a candidate. He is like
liariner without a compass, drifting Oh
the tempest tossed waves of uncer
tainty, between the smiling cliffs o
hope and the frowning crags of feal
He is walking petition and livint
prayer; he is the pack. horse of publi
sentiment; he is the dromedary of poll
tics. And even if he reaches the goal o
his ambition, he will soon feel the beal
of the vulture in his heart and the fan
of the serpent in his soul.
81 am no longer candidate. Neve
again will be inaugurated into publ
office. The ark of my humble publ
career now rests on the Arrarat of prl
vate life, and | stand OH its peaceful
: summit and look down on the recedin
; flood of politics. The dove of my de'
tiny has brought me an olive branc
: from happier fields, and | go hence {
) labor and to love.
II take with me a heart full OF graf
tude and soul full of precious meme
! ries gratitude to the people for the
unwavering confidence in me; preciou
memories of my friends who have bee
kind and true.
: rhe record that | have made is a
open book TO all. l am willing to liN
by that record; am willing To- die byl
7 For whatever mistakes / may have con
n mitted, have kept steadily in view tf
honor of the State and the happiness I
z the people.
Il AS | have already presented m
views on public questions in my recei
g message to the General Assembly,
n deem il unnecessary to further discus
them on this happy occasion; happy
our new Governor happy to you; htpI
: to me; happy To US all.
q at only remains for me TO bid you a
an affectIonAte and final farewell. az
Il to express the prayer that the Chrl
who died for love aud meTcy's sake wi