Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-20
nailp Aennsbrt Journal.
Augusta, Friday Morn'g, June 90, 1872
From the New York Tribune.
"Let's Go Ashore. '

LETS Go AshOre!'
The position of the democratic party in
this Congress. and the fine progress they
have made since they proclaimed their
purpose and started out, recalls what hap
pened to two bibulous persons who under
took. number of years ago. to row in Il
small boat from Norwich to New London.
Conn. 1t being dark and foggy night.
they had fortified themselves with uncom.
mon care. and provided a well-filled bottl,
against contingencies. There was consid-
cradle fumbling around and working al
cross purposes before they left the wharf
but they finally cast off the line at the bow
of the boat, seated themselves nj the oars
and in high spirits, considering the condi-
ton of the atmosphere, began their jour
ney. They pulled for while with great
energy at the oars, and then for while
with equal energy al the bottle. Occa-
sionally they exchanged encouraging and
nspiriting remarks. between drinks, upon
the favorable circumstances in which they
found themselves.
The fact upon which they dwelt with the
most satisfaction, and to which they most
frequently required, was that the tide was
wiz us said one, in n pause in the plash-
ing of the oars. Then there was a CUR
cling sound as though a bottle had
been inverted, and the other said
"(Iic) Yes. We've got ev'ything our
Gown way sure We're wizze tide, and
$50 very strong" And they resumed the
. work. After while they heard cock
crow on the shore. Mus be pass'n
"Allyn's Point, " they said and took drink.
A little latter they heard another crow,
and said, "Tha' rooster mus be at Gales
Ferry - and as they were getting along
so finely they agreed unanimously to
take another drink. With the approach of
dawn the growing increased. till they made
up their minds they were drawing very
near New-London and the shores must be
filed with hen-coops. For fellows who
had been pulling alternately at the oars
and the bottle all night, they were in I'M
commonly good spirits. About the time
the bottle was emptied day began to dawn
and the fog suddenly lifted. The land
was right behind them. and the wharf had
strangely familiar look. Well it might.
10 haI,'t - "a tba;, linn Than
they drew in their oars and one said ::
well. we've (hic) had the exercise all
.'same Let's go ashore They went,
and as they went bantam rooster on Il
wood-pile tapped his wings and crowed
again.
We would not be understood as SAYING
that the present session of Congress fur
nishes the perfect parallel of the voyage
described. In many important particu-
lars the two enterprises differ, And yet,
in both eases there were heavy fogs, and
in both a strange infatuation as to the set
of the tide and strength OF the current.
May we not say also that whenever, dur
ing the past three months, we have read
the exhiarating remarks of Mr.. Samuel
Cox upon the political situation, or OBJ
served by the reports of the caucuses,
that he was for standing firm and not yield
ing an inch, we have been Involuntary
reminded of the befogged boatman's re-
mark that ''that rooster must be at Gales
Ferry" and of the subsequent discovery
Of the bantam on the wood-pile? There
is something too, in the plaintive notes
of Senator Thurman, as they are waited
to us from the latest caucus, which very
forcibly suggests to us the fog-bound ex-
cursionist's Lets go ashore" while be-
tween the lines of all the comments of the
democratic press we read the consolatory
remark, "Well. we've had the exercise all
1.-THE same