The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-13
A Remarkable Address by Govern
or Taylor.

Inc address OF Governor Taylor
of Tennessee, on his retirement the
first of the month, is one of the most
readable and truthful that has ever
been uttered by retiring officer,
the full text of which is as follows:
"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentle
men: | am about to shuttle off this
mortal coil of politics and fly away
to the heaven of my native noun
tains, whore may think and dream
in peace, safe from the sickening
sting of unjust criticism; safe from
the talons of some old political vul-
lures; safe from the Shiny kiss and
the keen dagger of ingratitude.
81 do not mean to say that all poll
iticians are vultures or that they are
all hypocrits or assassins; for the
great majority of our public men are
upright and honest and worthy the
confidence reposed in them by the
people; yet there are black wings in
the political armament, and reptiles
crawl and hiss in every capitol. But
thank God, the live thunders of eter-
nal truth always clear the atmos-
phere, and the heel of justice will
surely brnise the serpent's head
81 do not retire from this office
with the ranking of disappointment
and chagrin in my bosom, but rather
as one who retires from labor to rest;
from war to peace; from trouble to
happiness.
~ do not retire, the somnambulist
of shattered dream, but with all
the buds of hope bursting into bloom
and oil the bowers of the future ring
ing with melody. l am content with
my lot in life. Three times l have
worn the laurel wreath of honor,
twined by the people of my native
state, and that's glory enough for me
"While l believe that the good in
politics outweighs the bad, yet how
thorny is the path and how unhappy
the pilgrimage to him who dares to
do his duty There are no flowers
except few boquets snatched from
the graves of fallen foes; there is no
happiness except the transient thrill
of cruel triumph, which passes like
IA shadow across the heart,
Every honest man who runs for
office is candidate for trouble; for
the fruits Of political victory turn to
ashes on the lips.
80 me there is nothing in this
world so pathetic as candidate.
de is like mariner without COM
pass, drifting on the tempest-tossed
waves of uncertainty, between the
smiling cliffs of hope and the frown-
ing crags of fear. He is walking
petition and living prayer; he is the
oackhorse of public sentiment; he is
he dromedary of politics, And
'ven if he reaches the goal of his
inhibition, he will soon feel the beak
If the vulture in his heart and the
ang of the serpent in his soul.
lam no longer candidate. New
II again will | be inaugurated into
'ublic Office. The ark of my humble
areer now rests on the Arrarat of
rivate life. aud | stand on the peace
III summit and look down on the re-
seding food of politics. The dov 4
{ my destiny has brought me an
live branch from happier fields, and
go hence 10 labor aud to love.
IL take with me heart full of
latitude and soul full OF precious
Memories; gratitude to the people
'r their unwavering confidence in
he; precious memories of my friends
tho have been kind and true.
''The record that | have made is
a open book to all l am willing
live by that record; | am willing
die by it, for whatever mistakes |
ay have committed, l hvae kept '
sadily in view, the honor of the j
ate and the happiness of the PEG !
>. Memphis Appeals.