New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-18
LIFTS 90 ASHORE.p

The position of the Democratic party III
this Congress, and the fine progress they have
made since they proclaimed their purpose and
started out, recalls what happened to two
bibulous persons who undertook, number OF
years ago, to row in a small boat from Nor
witch to New-London, Conn. 1t being dark
and foggy night, they had fortified themselves
with uncommon care, and provided we'll
filled bottle against contingencies. There was
considerable fumbling around and working at
cross purposes before they left the wharf, but
they finally cast off the line at the bow OF
the boat seated themselves at the oars, and
in high spirits considering the condition OF
the atmosphere, began their journey. They
pulled for a while with great energy at the
oars, and then for a while with equal en-
ergy at the bottle. Occasionally they ex-
changed encouraging and inspirltlnS re-
marks, between drinks, upon the favorable
circumstances III which they found themselves.
The fact upon which they dwelt with the
most satisfaction, and to which they most ire
oueuty REQUIRED, was that the tide was with
them. as very plain (hic) It re tide wiz u.s."
said one, in a pause in the FLASHING of the
oars. Then there was a gurgling sound as
though bottle had been inverted, and the
other said "QIic) Yes. We've got ev'ything
cur own way sure. We're wizze tide, and IS
Every s'rong.n And they resumed the work.
After a while they heard cock crow on the
shore. Mus be passin' Allyn's Pont,' they
said. and took a drink. A little later 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 lined
with hen-coops. For fellows who had been
pulling alternately at the oars and the bottle
all night. they were in uncommOnly good
spirits. About the time the bottle was
emptied day began to dawn and the fog sud-
denly lifted The land was right behind
them, and the wharf had a strangely familiar
look. Well it might. They hadn't cast off
their stern line. Then they drew in their oars
and one said: "Well, we've (hic) had the ex-
"ercise all same. Let's go ashore" They
went. and as they went bantam rooster on a
wood-pile tapped his wings and crOwed again.
We would not be understood as saying that
the present session of Congress furnishes the
perfect parallel of the voyage described. In
many important particulars the two enter
prises differ. And yet, in both cases there
were very heavy fogs, and in both a strange
jnfatuation "a to the set of the tide and
strength of the current. May we not say also
that whenever, during the past three months,
we have read the celebrating remarks of Mr..
Samuel Cox upon the political situation, or
observed, by the reports of the caucuses, that
he was for standing firm and not yielding
an inch, we have been involuntarily reminded
of the befogged bOatman'S remark, that "that
"rooster must be at Gales Ferry and of the
subsequent discovery of the bantam on the
wood-pilel There is something, too, IN the
plaintiye notes of Senator Thurman as they
are waited to us from the latest caucus which
very forcbly suggests to us the fog-bound
excursionsfs Lets go ashore" while be-
tween the lines of all the comments of the
Democratic press we read the consoatory re-
mark, "Well, we've had the exercise all
" same.n