Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-05
THE SIk.IGUE SCANDAL.

The Sprague scandal has assumed new
phase, and one not at all complimentary, if
reports are to be believed, to the woman in
the case. 1t seems that she has taken her
three daughters with her and decamped
from Canonohet to some place not as yet as
certsined. This freak might have been ex-
cused if it had been voluntary, but it seems
that all the movements of the lady have been
inspired by Prof. Conkling from his home
in Utica. Such, at least, is the report, and
if it shall be verified it will place Mrs.
Sprague in q very unenviable position and
seems to confirm the worst suspicious that
have arisen regarding her intimacy with the
Senator from New York.
We have every sympathy with mother
who desires the custody of her children in
the event of an inevitable separation be-
tween herself and her husband, provided
her character is such as to qualify her for
attending to their nurture and education.
The law, however, gives their custodB to the
father in all cases except when, after. suit
for divorce. he shall be proved to be inoom-
petent to care for their wants. This law,
even though it may appear to be unjust and
do violence to the feelings and instincts of a
mother, ought to be respected, for it IS based
upon the just and reasonable principle that,
as the man is the p1ovider of the family, he
should be held responsible for the care Of
his children in case of disagreement be-
tween himself and his wife. In all cases in
which family disputes come to the cog
nizance of the courts it is noticeable that
the sympathies of the Jury or the
court 60 with the woman, and her
transgression must be grave indeed
| to induce either judge or jury to deprive her
Of the company of her own children. The
act of Mrs. Sprague, therefore, in abducting
her children from her husbands roof at the
instance of the man who has been instru.
mental in dragging her name in the cess
pool of scandal, will be accepted generally as
confession of the fact that, IN case of a
legal settlement of the difficulties between
Der and her husband, she could not hope to
retain possession of her children. The shall
low pretense that Gov. Sprnguc, in drunk
en- frenzy, attempted to throw her out of the
| window of his house, will not be believed by
any one who knows aught of tho mans char
acter. He may have become dissipated of
late years. He has experienced all the vexa-
tons and indignities that usually drive men
to such course of life. But he is not des-
perado, and none who know him will believe
that he could be guilty of such an act as is
laid at his door, whether he was drunk or So
ber. Mrs. Sprague has evidently become
infatuated with the charms of the turkey-
cock Senator from New York, and her infat-
uation is so blind that she has lost sight of
the duties she owes to her husband and her
children; has lose sight of the value of her
own good name; has thrown herself COM
pletely away, to be dragged In the mire by
libidinous gossips all over the country. It
IS an extraordinary case, it is true, and it is
to be regretted for the sake of public moral
ity that it has attained such publicity, but
the fate of proud woman, dragged from a
| high social estate to be the common talk,
like any wantc n, may serve to point moral
and adorn tale, and may deter others from
taking the frat step in the same direction.