New-York tribune., 1876-09-07
BURNING THEIR SHIPS.

In ono of Mr.. John Kelly's explanatory, re-
tractory, and apologetc speeches in the late
Saratoga Convention, he took occasion to com
pare the Liberal Republicans who had gone
over to the Democratic party intending to
STAY, 10 Cortez landing in Mexico and burn
ing his ships. 1t was an uncommonly forcible
figure. We dimly remember to have heard that
historic event similarly used upon previous Oc-
casions. Mr.. Kelly, however, put it with such
eloquence aud power that there were not
more than sixty-fi dry eyes among all the
Liberals in the house; one to each Liberal,
kept dry for winking purposes. 1t was, to
use Mr.. Kelly's own words, "only hypothe-
"cated case.n But when these gentlemen
thought of the ships they had burned, and the
impOssibility Of getting out of the company
they had fallen into, and the very dim pros
pect of their getting what Cortez went for in
Mexco-the spoils and plumber of the country
they were overcome with the most painful
emotions. It was as if Mr.. John Kelly had
invited these gentlemen to banquet of cold
victuals, had turned the key on them, and
set them to rinsing tumblers and waiting on
the table, and then complmented them for
their general good behavior. 1t was a very
touching spectacle. The sixty-fve Liberals
who were members Of the convention were no
doubt profoundly impressed with the honor
done them by Mr.. John Kelly in referring to
them at all, even in "hypOthecated case"
They divided with "Our adopted fellow w-citi-
9" zens of German BIRTH the honor of being
patronized by the statesman of Tammany Hall.
"Good boys,n says Mr.. Kelly; "you have
"come over to us and burned your ships.n
There were other ships burned too. Spriggs
went to Utica and burned his ship. He never
returned But he telegraphed. And then the
convention proceeded to burn its ships. 1t
went on and finished the ticket as directed by
Spriggs and adjourned. There was more burn
ing of ships at Saratoga last week than has
been witnessed on this continent since the time
of Cortez. Mr.. John Kelly's figure seemed TO
set them all on fire. The sky was lurid
with the flames of burning ships. Ii was q
great spectacle. The Democratic party was
perfectly delighted with it. Seymour is
"nominated and the convention has adjourn
"ed," said all of them we have burned our
"sbips." This state of things continued for
several hours. Then it began to look MS
though they had been little hasty. They had
use for the vessels they had committed to
the flames. SO instead of keeping up the
jubilant demonstrations they began a search
for the fellow who started the confiagra-
ton. "Who brought friction matches into the
convention?" was the great question. 1t
was found to be Spriggs, and "Spriggs any
chow" is now said to be "henceforth dead in
"the Democratic party.' Burning ships is
sometimes a brilliant movement. 1t was 80
accounted when Cortez did it, But it has not
turned out so in the case Of the Saratoga Con-
vcntion. Spriggs would have done better to
have kept his communications open and re-
turned to Saratoga. The convention would have
been wiser to have waited for something more
definite from its candidate before putting the