National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-27

CoNKLING aud Mrs SPRAGUE have been
close and intimate friends. Last week an
event occurred in this city which showed
the world how wicked were the calumnies
that had been heaped upon these distin-
guished families. Mrs. KATE CHASE
SPRAGUE on Wednesday evening last gave
to her friend Mrs. ROSCOE CoNKLING u din
ner party, which she attended. The par
ticulars of that entertainment have already
been published in one of the society journals,
and theroupon the scandal and its mongers
have beat hasty retreat. Prominent
among this class we find the Democratic
organ of this city, which has fairly gushed
with bitterness and calumny over the Cam
orchet affair. 1t now eats its dessert of
humble pie in this wise:
When the SPRAGUE.C oNKLTNG scandal was
the absorbing topic of interest last fall the
Post, in its character of n newspaper took pains
to print all that was said about it on both
sides, and, thstanding what was charged,
absolutely without prejudice toward either.
Mr.. CoNKLING refused to talk, however, and
his story was only guessed at. 1t was claimed
at one time by one OF his most trusted friends
that the Senator held in his possession letter
from Governor SPRAGUE inviting him to his
house on the occasion of the visit which gave
rise to the great scandal and that Whenever
this letter was given to the public mountain
of obloquy would be removed from the dis
tingushed New Yorker, The Post volunteered
to do this job Of reparation, but its good ser
vices, If not declined were at least not brought
into requisition, and so the nine days wonder
cooled and died to ashes.
The SPRAGUE.C oNKLIN5 scandal" oc-
CURED last summer and if we had the files
Of the Post we feel confident that from the
date of that event down to the hour when
the dinner party alluded to was given, its
editorial columns would show that it did
not confne itself to the sphere of news
paper but repeatedly transcribed those
limits by indulging in remarks alike preiu-
diced, bitter, malicious and scandalous
We have a copy of that paper of date Of
August 20, from which we clip the follow
ing editorial on the subject:
Mr.. SPRAGUE now manilests a disposition
to hold Senator CoNKLING to further account
ability for his sayings and dongs with refer
ence to his wife. Still, at the point of the
shotgun, he now proposes to demand certiii-
cate of good character for Mrs. SPRAGUEat the
lehllNb hOSCOEb own uNlluS' lutIS NNulh
seem to be no reason why Mr.. CoNKLING
should not seize this opportunity to crawl out
of his sad dilemma with some little reputation
| left, with eagerness, except that of natural
aversion to the somewhat peremptory manner
| in which the chance is presented him, Yet
as he has played the coward in the most con
| spicuous way twice already this year, there i,
really no excuse to doubt that he will event
| ually decide to enact the same role in the pres
ent instance. If Mr.. SPRAGUE insists. Mrs
SPRAGUE will probably be furnished with the
necessary vindicaton.
Now would seem to be the accepted time fol
those of the Radical newspapers who have had
the dcCency not to attempt to defend Mr.
CoSKLING in his disgraceful connection with
the SPRAGUE scandal to rise up aud admit that
| Senator LANfAR's recent official description OF
the New York miscreaut was pretty nearly
correct.
Does the above wear the sembance of ;
news item that found utternnce "without
prejudice toward either of the parties ii
that unfortunate affair? If So then on
cotemporary has partaken of its dish OF
crow in sincerity and humility, and SHOULD
be graciously forgiven under its plea 70
mercy. But if it assumes a virtue, though
it have it not, it has added hypocrisy to it
other offenses, and its retreat is nethe
graceful nor creditable to its franllness o
sincerity. 1t is simply wanting in man
hood and bravery.