The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-04
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 4, 1885.
THE GREAT UNKNOWE.

be a dark horse-bossomed into
regular presumption office squatter,
and he and Phelsn are now lovingly
irving to inhale sill the fragrance OF
the sweet flower they love so dearly.
Paterson was the dark horse which
Pbelao go much dreaded, and it re-
mains TO be seen whether the two will
ioin end make common cause sgsinst
the touatter's abomination, the snort
ing stallion, black as night, and from
whose postrils pour cloud OF smoke
indicating the consuming fires within.
The neigh Of the dark horse to the
squatter is more awful than a
b'ast from Gsbtieps piping trumpet.
Patterson may 90 back on the dark
horse and join Phelan and the AUd-
lanche ia their hatred Of this useful,
convenient end sometimes indispenss-
BILE animal; but the APPEAL will stand
the firm friend OF the dark horse.
No one desires or believes that this
steed will pranCe into the Exposition
Bui dirg on the 18th Of September,
but he should be kept hard by for
emerger cief. The dark horse, the
great unknown, las often upset the
exI ectatlons OF the squattere. Asp!-
rants for the Presidency do not fear
each tther, but they dread the great
unknown. Van Buren, was slain by
the great unknown, James X. Polk,
in 1874. Pierce was the dark 10 80
that trsmpled down the Democratic
aspirsnts in 1852. Hayes was dugled
into the convention that nominated
him as q dark hose. The career OF
Mr.. Lincoln went long way to recon
Gle people 10 the custom Of prefeIring
the unknown TO the known. His
judgment, tact, patience and general
ability, comb med with such rare ca
gatity, honesty and humanity IS he
pos' ested, silenced all cavil, and made
it teem ss though the superiority oil
the unknown were fully established
Us though the instincts Of thereople
were superior to their reason and
supposed knowledge, but this by no
means follows as true. The instincts
of the people had nothing TO do with
the nomination OF Lincoln. He was
nominated because ii was e:s'er t.
combine the friends Of his great rivals
upon him than upon any one OF them
because he was unknown and they
were known. Now in all this there
Is tomething more than the mere ef-
feet or influence Of the hot rivalry and
animosity OF prominent men, though
that and the disposition 10 pay of old
scores and the discrimination to keep
an equal we'll in the rear hts cen
siderable to do in the case. Mr..
Van Buien, for initauce, helped
to slay Gen. Cas-, aud Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Conkling doubtless con-
tributed to the downfall Of each other,
ard their efforts were potent to the
end. There is behind all this liking
for the unknown-a hope Of tirding
some great good in something new
and untried. 1t is the condition Of
mind that enables patent medicine
lnsn TO come into the market and sell
o new ard untried nostrum 10 make
his torture, while hosts OF educated
and scientific physicians are put to
their trumps TO make a respectable
living. The charm attending the un-
known, as regards craftsmanship, is Of
the same nature So that which
cspttvatts our interest in 1ugRlery
and legerdemain. We enjoy 1t while
1t is mysterious, but 1t beComts stale
and fiat the very moment the trick Il
explained and exposed. The worthy
of the unknown is part Of our ma
ture as much as hero worship. Tit
people tire Of too much greatness. w
like the sun, but then we cannot tea
TO have him shine all the time. Nigh
is relief and cloudy days are wei
come. Contrast and chaugeare crave'
and enjoyed. Phelan and Patterson
have squatt'd on the public domain
one OF Uncle Sans most desirable Of
fees. They are not likely to be dis
turbsd in their presumption right
and when the convention decide
which Of the two is entitled to the O
fee the Democracy Of the Tenth Cor
gresiional Dis riot will unite in Rivin
him possession.