The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-21
The sprague Sensation and SANDER.

The sensational reports which have been
manufactured and circulated about the dis
turbance in the family OF ex.Gov. Sprague,
OF Rhode Island, in most part for partizan
purposes and to crafty feelings Of personal
enmity. are disgrace to American journal
ism. The persistent purpose to implicate
Senator Conkling and Mrs. Sprague in a
criminal Intimacy, with the primary and
Interior design of sn2irching She character of
Mr.. Conkling, and destroying his political
influence, would be encouraged by no gen
tleman, nor would journalists who properly
estimate the mission Of the press, prostitute
their columns to such revolving garbage.
That differences have sprung up in the fam
lily of Mr.. Sprague no one will dispute, and
these may be traced to the want OF congenf-
ality between the principal parties to the un-
fortunate affair, aggravated by financial mis-
fortunes an9 excessive indulgence in stimu-
ating drinks. That there is anything unnat-
ural or out of place in the friendship exist
ing between Mrs, Sprague and Senator Conk-
ling, we do not believe. Mrs. sprague, as
the daughter OF her father, Chief Justice
Chase, was accustomed to the association of
prominent political characters during her
fathers lifetime, and among those who were
his intimate acquaintance and friends was
Senator Conkling. His public position. his
high personal character, his ability and in
fuence placed it in his power to aid Mrs.
Sprague in many Of her difficulties, and the
statement of the lady herself, as well as the
assertions Of Gov. Sprague, relieve the com
plications OF the immoral coloring the parti-
zan press have given them. 1t was to adjust
legal differences in Gov. Sprague's relations
to his embarrassed estate, so as to remove
the impeachment 60 an appropriation sulfi-
Gent of the assets to support comfortably
the wife and children that was the reason
for Mr.. Conkling's presence at the Sprague
residence. Air. Gprague's morbid state of
mind and unnatural condition, added to
the evident arrangement that had grown
up between himself and wife, caused the
outbErsG OF passion on the occasion, which
has been pretezzt for the sensational Sian.
Q6ES cOuCUCtC1 dIit CilCA1dnCl% W ptIs YUM
ling's political enemies. The statement Of
Mrs. Spragne, that there was nothing i'm
proper in his presence at the Sprasue resi-
dence, and that the occasion for it was as
above related, and that the entire disturba ace
was but the elimination of long existing dii-
ferenees between her husband and herself,
from want OF eongeniaNty and the morbid
condition of his mind, growing cut o. his fl
nancial complications, will, as we believe.
be found to be the true source of the unhap.
py affair. Gov. Sprague Indignantly repels
any and every suspicion of his wife's virtue,
and his subsequent conduct in admitting her
to his residence, and giving the assurance OF
protection, corresponds with the conscious
ness he felt of her innocence. Naturally ner-
vous aud excitable, and this condition sggra-
waited by her Indifference and his pecuniary
embarrassments, brought him to the pitch of
frenzy which found expression in bis insane
demonstrations en- the occasion which has
been the source Of this cruel end heartless
and SANDER.