The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-02
NOT AN ENDLESS JOY
is THE LIFE OF A POLITICIAN AND
OFFICE HOLDER.

So Declares Hon. Robert L. TAYLOR,
Three Times Governor of Tennessee
His Farewell Address in Surren-
dering the Reins of Government to
Hon. Benton McMilIin, His Sue
cessor-Says He Retires Permanent
Iy to Walks of Private Life.'
! Gov. r. l.. Taylor. of Tennessee,
who has thrice been Governor of that
State, on retiring from office, before
surrendering to his successor. Hon.
Benton McMillin, delivered the fol-
lowing farewell address:
Il am about to shuttle off this NOR
tai coil Of politics and fly away to the
heaven of my native mountains,
where l may think and dream in
peace, safe from the sickening sting
of unjust criticism; safe from the
talons of some old political vulture:
safe from the Shiny kiss and the keen
dagger of ingratitude.
Il do not mean to say that all poll
ticians are vultures or that they are
all hypocrites or assassins; for the
great ma aiority 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 capitol. But,
thank God, the live thunders of eter-
nal truth always clear the atmos-
phere, and the heel of Justice will
surely bruise the serpent's head.
Il 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.
Il do not retire, the somnambulist
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.
s.While | 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 bouquets snatched from
the graves of fallen foes; there is no
happiness except the transient thrill
of cruel triumph, which passes like a
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.
s'To me there is nothing in this
world so pathetic as a candidate. He
is like mariner without compass.
drifting on the tempest-tossed waves
of uncertainty, between the smiling
cliffs of hope and the frowning crags
of fear. He is walking petition
and a living prayer; he is the pack
horse of public sentiment; he'is the
dromedary of politics. And even if
he reaches the goal of his ambition,
he will soon feel the beak of the vul-
ture in his heart and the fangs Of the
serpent in his soul.
Il am no longer a candidate. Never
again will be inaugurated into pub,
lie office. The ark of my humble
public career now rests on the Ararat
of private life, and | stand on its
peaceful summit and look down on
the receding waves of politics. The
dove of my destiny has brought me
an olive branch from happier fields,
and l 90 hence to live and to love.
Il take with me il heart full OF
gratitude and soul full of precious
Memories; gratitude to the people fol
their unwavering confidence in me:
precious memories of my friends who
have been tried and true.
The record that l have made is
an open book to all | am willing to
live bv that record: | am willing to
die bv it, For whatever mistakes !
NAV have committed, | have kept
steadily in view the honor of the
State and the happiness of the Peo-
pie.
.'As have already presented my
views on public questions in my re-
cent message to the General Assem-
bly,, | deem it unnecessary to further
discuss them on this happy occasion
happy to our new Governor: happy to
you; happy to me; happy to us all.
"It 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 mercy'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 mercy. Fare
well, farewell.
Il now have the distinguished hon
or to close the scene. SO far as | am
concerned Benton McMillin has
given his heart and hand to Tennes-
see. now pronounce them husband
and wfe-and may the Lord have
mercy on their souls"