The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-01-26
TWO GOVERNORS.

Hon, Robert L. Taylor has just con
cluded one of the most remarkable po-
litical careers that ever threaded the
annals of Tennessee. He has served
the people Of the state in congress, and
he has been called three times to be
their governor. He has been the sub
ject of more picturesque anecdotes and
the star of more remarkable episodes
than any man in Tennessee. Bob Tay-
lor is not a perfect man. He has made.
mistakes in office, "either as you or l."
He has but little taste for the weary
and dull details of business. He hasn't
the gift of saving his dollars; but has
rather a soul for squandering what he
has earned. He is more responsive to
music than to commerce. He would
rather fiddle than figure. And often
times he has shown more obedience to
the heart than the head. He has the
temperament, in short, of genius.
Hence as governor of Tennessee he has
often fallen short of what the people
demanded; he has erred in some OF his
pardons; and he has not shown as due
consideration for the cent per cent. as
perhaps the peonle would have liked in
a chief executive. Yet when all is said
-
that can be said in depreciation, there
remains a figure that will live in the
mem DRY Of Tennesseans. While not as
great as some of those who went be-
fore. he will take his place with Crock
EFT, Jackson, Johnson, Haskell, Gen
try, Polk and Harris. AS an orator he
has few equals in the south; yet he is
no logscian or debater. But no one can
move a crowd as he can. His spark
ling humor, his inimitable gifts as a
racOnteur, his striking and sunny rhet-
oric, combined with that indefinable
something which for want of q better
word we call magnetism, make him ir-
resistible on the stump or the platform.
Three years ago he had put aside ambi-
ton and abandoned politics; but in a
crisis the democracy turned to him,
and asked him to give up congenial
pursuits to become governor for the
third time, He did not desire the Of
fee; he wonld take no steps whatever
to obtain the democratic nomination;
yet he was named without a dissent
ing voice and elected. No such tribute
has, in our recollection. been paid to a
man who had turned his back upon pol
itics and the cares of public life, and
who regarded himself as politically a
closed incident, In the years to come
we do not doubt that he will be regard
ed as the most interesting figure in the
political history of the state, and le-
gend will twine about him many of her
most enchanting stories. +
He has been succeeded by a man who
is his opposite. The Hon. Benton Nc
Millin has had an honorable career.
Heis neither a great man nor a mag
netic orator, but he is hard-headed,
conscientious and full of energy. He
is a mar Of agreeable manner and Of
personal rectitude. His record in con-
gress has been one of steady growth,
aud has reflected credit ON himself and
on his constituents. He has been a
close and careful student of national
questions and is fairly familiar with
the science of government. He is well
qualified to give the people of Tennes.
see a business-like administration, fol-
he has an aptitude for executive affairs,
We join with the people of Tennessee
in the earnest hope that his administra.
tion viii be productive Of tangible re.
suits and will reflect credit and honor