The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-04
TAYLOP's FAREWELL

/ To Political Life Tho Eccentric
Governor OF Tennessee Tells Some
Truths In Laying Down the Robes
OF Office. 7as'
AT Nashville, Tenn. Monday, Robert
L. Taylor retired from official life. and
Benton Mcafillin took the oath OF Office
as governor. The inaugural ceremonies
were simple. but impressive. Governor
Taylor spoke as follows:
mfr. Speaker, Ladies' and Gentle
men: am about to shuttle off this NOR
Ia! coil OF politics. and fly away to
the heaven Of my native mountains.
where may think and dream In peace,
safe from the sickening sting OF crlti-
cism: safe from the talons OF some old
political vulture: safe from the Shiny
kiss and the keen dagger OF lngrati-
tude. re3isF
II do not mean to say that all poll
ticlans are rultures. or that they are
all hypOcrites or assassIns, for the
great majority Of our public men are
upright and honest. and worthy Of the
confidence reposed In them by the
people, yet there are black wings In
the political armament. and reptiles
crawl and hiss In every capital. But.
thank God, the live thunders OF eternal
truth always clear the atmosphere, and
the heel OF Justice will surely bruIse the
serpent's head.
II do not retire from this office with
the ranking of disappointment and
chnsrin in my bosom. but IA ther as one
retires from labor TO rest; from war
to peace: from trouble to happiness.
Il do not retire. the somnambulst
Of shattered dream, but with all the
buds OF hope bursting into bloom and
all the bowers OF the future ringing
with melody. am contented with my
lot In life. Three times have won
the laurel wreath OF honor, twined by
the people of my native state, and that
Is glory enough for me.
while believe that the good in poll
flies outweigh the bad. yet how thorny
is the path and how unhappy the pill 1
grimage TO him who dares to do his
duty! There are no flowers. except n
few bouquets snatched from the graves
of fallen foes: there is no happiness ex-
ceot the transient thrill of cruel. trI-
umph. which passes like a shadow
across the heart.
Every honest man who runs for Of
fee Is a candidate for trouble, for the
fruits OF political victory turn to ashes
on the lips.
ITO me. there Is nothing in this world
SO pathetic as n candidate. He Is like
mariner without compass. drifting on
the tempest tossed waves Of uncer-
tainty, between the smiling cliffs OF
hope and the browning crags Of fear.
He Is a walking petition and living
prayer: he Is the pack horse of public
continent: he is the dromedary of poll
tics. And even II he reaches the goal
Of his ambition, he will soon feel the
beak OF the vulture In his heart and the ]
fang OF the serpent In his soul.
Il take with me heart full OF graf |
itude and n soul full OF precious mem
cries: gratitude memories: gratitude to |
the people for their unwavering conf
dence In me: precious memories Of my |
friends who have been kind and true.
''The record that I have made Is |
an open book to all. ! am willing to |
live by that record: am willing to die |
by 1t. For whatever mistakes I have
committed. / have kept steadily in !
view the honor OF the state and the |
happiness OF the people.
ut only remains for me to bid you all |
an affectionate and final farewell. and |
TO express the prayer that the Christ |
who died for love and. mcrcy's sake will |
guide our chief executive. and all who !
shall follow him in the paths of peace |
and love. and baptiZe them with the |
spirit OF love and mercy. Farewell,
farewell"