The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-21


MATTERS sATIsFACTORILTsf5E r. - ~
rFrom the New York Timcs.l
NARRAGANsETT PIER. r. l., August 49,
It was not expected by the friends OF ex-
Governor Sprague that he would make
public reply to Mrs. Sprague's first state
ment, and the general feeling at the Pier,
in Providence, and in Newport, was that
Mrs. Sprague would not seek to address the
public again, except under great provoca-
| ton. One OF Mrs. Sprague's friends, upon
being asked whether that lady had not been
directly insulted and grossly compromised
many months ago, when several wash
ington correspondents alluded to the
uncommon relations supposed to eX-
ist between her and Senator Cohk'
ling. pretended that Mrs. Sprague
was not aware of those reports. EX-
Governor Sprague says that he is surprised
at this, as his wife is an habitual reader OF
very many newspapers, and is interested IN
all newspaper gossip. He himself takes
very few papers, never reads them care
| fully, and often passes week without read
| ing a paper. He has not looked at any OF
| the public prints since the scandal, but he
| was prepared for Mrs. Sprague's additional
statement, and cannot efectually object TO
her making as many more as she likes. BE
declines TO contradict his wife's public ut
| terances, and deprecates her action. As one
| Of his most intimate and faithful friends
puts it, he does two things he holds the
fort and keeps quiet; but he IS OF
the opinion that Mrs. sprague's main
endeavor is to shield Senator Conk-
ling, and, in Mr.. Sprague's opinion,
the Senator needs shielding indeed.
The Ex-Governor is not impressed by
Mrs. Sprague's statement that Senator
Conkling came to Canonchet 10 influence or
shape any policy in regard to the manage
mcnt OF the bankrupt estate, with which
the Ex-Governor has nothing whatever to
do. Practically, the whole Sprague prop.
erty is in the hands ana under the control
of the trustee, Mr.. Zachariah Chafee. The
trustee is not interested in Mrs. Sprague or
her worldly fortunes. Like all the hard
headed and cool-hearted businessmen of
Providence, he deems her extremely eN-
travagant, and. as one OF the Sprague cred
| itors says, neither the males nor the females
of the Sprague concern were decided to Mr..
Chafee. The latter has no objection to the
Ex-Governor occupying Canonchet with or
| without his wife, but he objects to Mrs.
Sprasue bcius Ia charge, Oh being there
alone. Nor does he allow the Ex-Governor
| to sell anything belonging to the estate
not even q basket Of fruit or load OF hay.
Should the Ex-Governor undertake to do
ANYTHING Of the kind, both he and his fam
| ily would be removed from Canonchet, and
their relations With the Sprague estate
would terminate until the day OF final set
tlement, when they would receive the
portion which might be due them.
This statement, which is authorita-
tive, disposcs OF Mrs. Sprague's story
that Senator Conkling visited Canonchet
to help solve legal or executive ques-
tions connected with that or any property
formerly or now held by the Sprague family.
Ex-Governor Sprague comedies in this
view. Practically he has nothing to do with
the estate now, and it is not certain that he
will in the future. He is living at Canon
| chet on sufferance. Senator Conkllng's
presence at Canonchet has not been ac-
counted for, aud he is known to have wait
ed at Newport until it was certain tue eX-
Governor was absent. Then he went to
Canonchet. He was received at the land.
ing by Mrs. Sprague, and how he installed
himself at Canonchet is testified to by the
German teacher, by the children, and by
the servants. Ex-Governor Sprague has
shown by his actions how he viewed
this intrusion. The opponents OF Sena-
tor Conkling do not charge him with crimi-
nality, but with ungentlemanly conduct,
) impudence, and cowardice. Ex-Governor
Sprague does not consider the affair ended.
He thinks himself outraged by the Senator
and demands satisfaction. 1t is freely stated
among responsible people thar Senator
Conkling has compromised Mrs. Sprague's
honor, not criminally, but socially, and that
he ought to restore her good name and fame.
A statement is therefore expected from
Senator Conkling, and it is hoped that be
will restore to Mrs. Sprague what he has
taken from her--her domestic peace and
lher good name as wife who may have been
wronged by her husband, but who has re.
NAMED faithful to her VOWS.