New-York tribune., 1876-09-04
THE DELUDER, SPRIGGS.

It seems to have been Spriggs. From all
the information that can be obtained, Spriggs
appears TO be the man. Some of the ablest
investigators in the Democratic party have
reached the conclusion that Spriggs did it.
Several leading organs have as good as
charged, in leading articles with double leads
and no reading between the lines, that 1t was
Suiggs and the general judgment of man
kind is slowly settling down. like mule in
a morass, to the conviction that the man who
brought Seymour into the field and all the
attendant woes is Spriggs. Spriggs, as 1t now
appears, "deluded" the Democratic Conyen-
ton. Holding the responsible position OF
member of the special committee appointed to
wait on Gov Seymour and request his accept
ance of the nomination, Spriggs, Immediately
after tho result was reached in the convention
or Wednesday, moved rapidly on Utica, and at
once opened communication with the candi-
date. Whether Spriggs kept his fellow
committeeman informed of his progress,
telegraphing them upon Mr.. Seymour's first
refusal that he felt encouraged, upon his
second and more percmptory repulse of the
committee that things were looking brighter.
and upon his refusing to hear another word
upon the subject that there was no doubt of
his acceptance, dors not appear. We only
know that Sprggs tclegraphed as the conclu-
sion of the whole business, "GO Oh and finish
your ticket" and that the convention, with
a confidence in Spriggs of which Spriggs may
well be proud. did go Oh and finish the ticket"
In fact they finished two tickets-the State
and National Finished them both in the
most complete and effectual manner. For Il
few moments after the announcement OF the
acceptance was made by Col Lester B. Faulk-
ner-made, by the way, with countenance
and manner OveTfiOwing with seriousness and
sincerity-there was a general impression that
as clear-hcaded statesman, Spriggs-in the
parlance of the party Just laid right over
the whole convention. Some of the oldest
and most abe-bodied reformers chuckcd each
other in the ribs in the playful way
of the Democratic refOrmcr, and said,
"Oh, isn't that Spriggs neat one Z"
" You can bet on Spriggs every time" ="
"lnow Sprggs would fetch him." and other
such complimentary things. leading Demo
crat from Buffalo had been the recipient of q
myd eri0us wink from Spriggs before he started
On hi, mission, and did not hesitate to say
thai he knew from that that it was all right !;
and he aided much as one might speak of
Daniel Webster, "Spriggs, Sir, is a very able
"man" 1t was, so to speak, Spriggs's hour.
Brief, but very satisfying. The convention
adjourned admiring Spriggs, and feeling that
Spriggs had saved the country.
The next day it all came out. Mr.. Seymours
acceptance was cOuched in terms something
like these: 81 shall not under any circum-
"stances consent to be candidate" Spriggs
is described by correspondent of The World
as "an enthusiastic admirer of Mr.. Seymour,
"oplimist in philosophy, and of bold and
"hopefu temperament" Being that sort of a
person his bold and hopeful temperament grew
bolder and more hopeful with each re-
fusal until at last when the candidate
made it peremptory and final, and re-
fused to listen to further conversation on
the subject, he telegraphed to the convention
TO go on and finish the ticket" The average
Democrat not being an optimist in philoso
"pliy" nor Z" of bold and hopeful tempcra-
"ment," filled to cOnstrue Mr. Seymour's reply
into an acceptance. The party woke up without
any head to its ticket and with strong sus-
picion that somebody had imposed on its good
nature. Then the trouble began. Who did it 7
was the question. For the next forty-eigbt