Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-05-05
AID. cviieR,ON ON p0liricS.


ION the occasion of his retirement
from office AID Ed 4. Cullerton delv-
cred u icmarkablc address on the dis
| appointment and thanklessuess of hold
ing office. II has attracted wide atten-
ton. and in part Is rs follows:
| mir. Chairman. ladies and gentle
men: am about to shuttle of this
mortal coil of politics and fly away
to the heaven of my native mountains.
where may think and dream in peace.
safe from the sickcning sting of unjust
criticism: safe from the talous of some
old political vulturo: safe from the
Shiny kiss and the keen dagger of in
gratitude.
II do not mean to say that all politi.
clans are vultures. or that they are all
hypocrtes or assassins: for the great
majority of our public men are upright
and honest and worthy of the conf
dencc rcposed in them by the people:
yet there are black wings In the politi-
cal armament. and reptiles crawl and
hiss IN every public building. but.
thank God. the live thundcrs of eternal
truth always clear the atmosphere and
the heel of justice will surely bruisc
the scrpcnt's head.
II do not retire from this office with
the ranking of disappointment and
cha grin in my bosom. hut rather as one
who rctires from labor to rest: from
war TO peace: from trouble tn happi.
ness.
II do not retire. the sOmnambulist Ot
u shattcscd dream. hut with all the
buds of hope bursting into bloom and
all the bowers of the future ringing
with melody. am contentcd with my
lot in life. Many times | have worn
the laurel wreath of honor. twined by
the people of my native city. and tina,
IL glory enough for me.
while | believe that the good III
politics outwcighs the bad. yet how
thorny is the path and how unhappy
the pilgrimage to him who darcs to dc
his duty! There are no flowers excep,
u few bouquets snntchcd from til,
graves OF fallen foes: there II no happi
ness except the transient thrill of crue
triumph. which passes like u shadow
across the heart.
Every honest man who runs fol
office In n candidate for trouble: for tn,
fruits Of political victory turn to ashc,
on the lips.
ITO me there II nothing In this worlt
50 pathetic as u candidate. He II lik,
u mariner without u compass. driftini
on the tempest.tOsscd waves of uncer
tainty. between the smiling cliffs ~
hope and the frownlng crags of fear
He Is walking petition and Twin,
prayer: he II the pack.hOrse Of publ,
. sentiment: he IL the dromedary Of poll
ties. And even II he reaches the goa
, of his ambition. he will soon feel tn,
beak of the vulture In his heart and tn,
4 fang of the serpent In his soul.
II am no longer u candidate. Neve
again will be innugurated into publi
= office. The ark Of my humble publ,
career now rests on the Arnrat Of prl
'. vate life. and stand on the peaceful
= summit ana look down on the reccdinl
r flood OF politics. The dove Of my lestin,
has brought me an olive branch iron
Z happier fields, and go hence to labO
!. and to love.
r Il take with me u heart full Of graft
tude and soul full Of precious mem
2 Ories-gratitude to the people for thei
!. unwavcring confidence In Inc, precious
). memories Of my friends who have beef
kind and true.
0 1.-THE record that I have made In al
{ open book to all. nm willing to liv,
by that record; ! am willing to die b.
It. For, whatever mistakes ! may hav,
{ committed. ! have kept steadily II
p view the honor of tho city and the hap
q plness Of the people"