Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-12-04

South. This might seem anoma-
lous, but it is strictly true. For
do not Thurman and Ben. Hill an,
JEFF. Davis and Lamar and all tn
honorable" men affirm 1T? l
takes smart man to rid
| two horses at the sam,
time, going in opposite directions
but the Democracy is smart. L
canr and does beat all ordinary
riders. Its necessities compel it tc
be smart. But fate is too much fol
it. For while it always looks. back
the country is always going ahead
There is a very touching story
some three thousand years old, ii
the Bhagrat Gheeta-the Bible O.
the Brahmins-which illustrates the
whole matter. There was al
ancient Democrat, Demos by name
who had intimate relations with
Vishnu. lie was a priest in the
Holy Pagoda Of Lucknow, aad held
about such2a relation to the Great
Temple of India as the sainted
Tweed did to the mystic worship OF
Tammany Hall. 1t was his duty to
receive the gifts that were daily
placed on Vishnu's altar. The
sight of such wealth piled up before
his eyes, gold, and myrrh and frank"
incense, all precious gems, rubies,
beryls and diamonds from Golcons
da--was to him continual temptas
ton. And so the good priest COM
planned to Vishnu that his virtue
was subjected to too stronga strain.
Vishnu, like reasonable god, saw
the difficulty and danger, Ind there's
fore admonished Demos to fix his
eyes upon the wcrshippers, and not
to look at the altar and the gifts
thereon.
But, said Demos, "When, O. Wish
nu, l serve at thy altar, must
needs look before me, and the
worshippers are behind me; and
my eyes must behold what lies be-
fore them. They are fixed in the
front of my head, and I can not see
behind me- Thereupon SO goes
the ancient story, Vishnu changed
the good Priests eyes to the back
of his head, so that he might not
see what was before him, and
thereby the ravishing temptation to
steal, which always ass&iled the
soul of Demos, when gazing at the
gifts on the altar, was taken away.
1t was wise and kind in Vishnu
to do this, but the matter does not
end there. Demos lived long ago
and has Numerous posterity. And
there are not wanting antiquarians
who assert that modern Democrats
are the lineal descendants of old
Demos. Yet there be scoffers who
assert that the name Democrat is
not thus derived-that the name is
from "Dempn," and that the first
of that name was an original Sc
cessionist and succeeded in estabs
fishing "Home rule" and estates
rights among his own people.
But, 'like father like son" is a
true maxim, and when every day
furnishes US with new evidence that
the Democratic party has its eyes
in the back of its head, we are
more and more inclined to
trust the Hindoo legend and to
trace thence the party's genesis.
Why, just consider. The party
never sees anything until it is
already past. 1t thought in the
years /" 1861-'65," that it was de
stroying the Union. 1t now clearly
sees and strongly asseverates thai
it saved the Union ~
1t was spending its time, between
drinks, last year in clamoring fol
cheap, irredeemable greenbacks
and cursing resumption of Johr
Sherman. Now, il sees the hand Of
Providence in the restoration Of
specie payments, and is devoutly
thankful. In September last it was
sure Ewing would be Governor o.
Ohio, and resumption failure
Now it sees clearly that Ewing il
not Governor, never will be, anG
that the fate of poor old Mr.. Thur
man is sealed, because resumption