Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-15
THE CoNKLING-sPRAGUE I'M
BROGLIO.

In our republican society man who
occupies high official position besomes
the property of the public even to his
private affairs. He must keep even ms
family and social relations free from
faint or suspicion if he would escape
public criticism. The public will peer
into his private relations that it may
better Judge him in his public capacity.
Ii is often what a man conceals that re-
yeals his character more accurately than
acts of public service.
1t is but just that a man who gains
wide and important influence in society
by virtue of the position to which the
people have elevated him, should be
held responsible to the people for the
manner in which he uses it. He has
no right to compromise those who have
placed confidence in HIM by irregulari-
ties in private life, more than the en-
ploye has who represents a private
business establishment for pay. The
employer in the latter case has no less
right to call his employee to account for
his conduct than the people have their
servants.
1t is but a natural, and in some re-
spects, justifabie curiosity, therefore,
which seeks to understand the exact
significance Of the PRAGUE.CONELrNG
imbrogio. Amid the mystifcation and
misstatement, that the eager news
mongers have thrown about the affair,
il occurs to ms that it is not difficult to
deduce 4 very plain story.
There is really but little in the affair
itself, so far as CoNELING is concerned,
il it had no antece tents. The storm
that burst so suddenly and unexpected
" about his head was gathered from
remote rather than immediate
causes. There were evidently
three melting causes which lead
to the hasty and unseemly
burst OF temper by Mr.. SPRAGUE. The
first was whisky. The second, the pres
ence of the German Professor, about
whose services there had been dis
agreement IN the family. And the third
was the presence of Mr.. CoNELISG, at a
moment when the irate passions OF Mr..
SPRAGuE were seeking a victim upon
which to vent themselves.
1t was nothing, however, in the mere
presence of the New York Senator, or in
his conduct at that time, that was cause
of offense, but rather recOllectiOns OF
past relations with the wife of Mr..
SPRAGUE which his presence served to
recall at an unfortunate moment.
Whether these relations were OF such a
nature as TO compromise the character
of CoSELING or Mrs. SPRAGUE, we do not
discuss. But it is quite certain that they
were offensive TO the husband.
So far as the occurrence at Mr.. SPRA-
CUES residence is concerned there is
really nothing in it more than an I'M
seemly show of temper on the part OF
the proprietor of that establishment.
There is no charge of improperly at
that time against either Mr.. CONKLING
or Mrs. SPRAGUE. The former may
have been present at the mansion for
the best of reasons and with the best
motives. His conduct while there, so
lar as is known or suspected, was with
out cause of reproach. To justify the
conduct OF Mr.. SrRAGUE therefore,
or to impugn the character OF
CoNELING for his connection with the
affair, there must have been prior
cause Of ofFense. Ii there was meme,
then only Mr.. SPRAGUE can be blamed,
but il the reports OF CoNELING's past re-
latiOns with Mrs. SPRAGUE have any
reasonable foundation, then, perhaps,
SPRAGUE acted as many others would
have done under the same circumstan-
ces, and CoNKLING deserved the uncer-
emonious dismissal which is the ocCa-
sion OF so much comment.