The Green Forest tribune., 1903-07-25
Bob Tay1or's Farewell Address.

WIGIl pfOllG FIX SONefllOI DOo oS
 lor's views on the subject as eX- pressed by him in his farewell ad- dress upon his retirement as gov ernor of Tennessee in 1899:
 q am about to shuffle off this mortal coil of politics and fly away to the heaven of my native mountains, where l may think and dream in peace, safe from the sckening sting of unjust criti- cism; safe from the talons of some old political vulture, safe from the slimy kiss and keen dagger of ingratitude. 1 do not mean to say that all politicians are vultures, or that they are all hypocrites or assassins; for the great majority of our public men a'e 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 eternal truth always clear the atmos- phere, and the heel of justice will surely bruise the serpent's head. do not retire from this office with the ranking of disappoint- ments and chagrin in my bosom, but rather as one who retireS from labor to rest, from war to peace, from trouble to happiness. I do not retire the ssOmnambuist Of a shattered dream but with all the buds of hope bursting into bloom, and all the bowers of the future ringing with melody. l am con- tented 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 1 believe that the good in politics outweighs the bad, yet how thorny is the path, and how unhappy the pilgrimage of 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 passed like a shadow across the heart.
 "Every honest man who runs  for office Is candidate for trouble for the fruits of political victory turns to ashes on the lips. To me there is nothing in this world so pathetic as a candidate. He is like a mariner without com- pass, drifting on the tempest tossed waves of uncertainty, be- tween she smiling cliffs of hope and the frowning crags of fear. He is walking petition and d | living prayer; he is the pack horse of public sentiment; he is the dromedary of politics. And | even II he reaches the goal of his ambition, he will soon feel the beak of the vulture in his heart and the sting of the serpent in his soul.
 I am no longer a candidate: never again will be inaugurated into public office. The ark of 1 my humble public career now rests on the Ararat of private life, | and l stand on it's peaceful sum- init and look down on the reced- ing flood of politics. The dove of my destiny has brought me an olive branch from happier fields, and l go hence to labor and to love. l take with me heart full of gratitude and soul full of precious memories-gratitude to the people for their unwavering confidence in me-precious mem- ories of my friends, who have been kind and true. The record 1 have made is an open book to all. l am willing to live by that record. l am willing to die by it. For whatever mistake may have committed, l have kept steadily in view the honor of the state and the happiness of the people.
 As 1 have alr eady presented my views on public questions in my recent message to the general assembly, l deem it unnecessary to further discuss them on this happy occasion-happy to our! new governor, happy to me, 1 happy to all. It only remains for me to bid you an affectionate and