The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-04
The 9ailr Argas,
concluded from second page. J

the feeling of all men. even the miserable
dependents who run whooping after this
creature for the moldy bread his political
favo: gives their families. 1t was The
Capital that first gave printed circulation
to story that had long been whispered
with mods and winks about corridors. lob
bies, clubs. hotels and sample rooms. We
did not mean it. We had reference to
quite another and harmless affair. But
the misdirected spark fred the magazine,
| to even our own surprise and sorrow. But
ii the information of scandal connecting
his name with that of this poor lady had
not reached the ears of the male anima al
before, it struck his eyes then. For the
newspapers, that be searches daily TO find
mention OF himself, were spiced with the
gossip. A right'thinking. healthy hearted
man would have accepted the warning.
and by his conduct given the lie TO the
abuser. Not he. The poer. vain creature
delighted. nay, reveied in his shame, To
have it said that be had fascinated such
| brilliant woman of the world, such a queen
OF society, filed him with delight, and be
FASTENED to affirm. through his conduct.
all that had been limited or charged The
people of Washington, the brother mem
bers OF the senate, the very messengers,
| servants and hackmen can bear us out in
this. If there was ever doubt before of
coNKLINGS CRIMINAL INTERCOURSE
with the wife of William Sprague. Conk
ling fastened to solve that doubt against
the poor lady. He wrote adulteress upon
her seat in the gallery of the senate. along
the walls OF the dimmest lit corridor, on
her carriage, on her home, and smiled in
vain delight when he saw the evil tongued
mob fasten upon and read the loathsome
word. William Sprague has sbeen over
taken by cruel mistortunes. He has
fallen. through no fault of his own, from
his high estate, socially politically, and
com merelally. He lost his seat in the
senate. He lost his fortune, and, blindly
striking out amid the wreck, saw bis
palaces. equlpages servants, all disappear
and the sunshine sycophants of the hour
fall away, he gathered his family and
their poor remaining together, placed
them in the rude house his creditors could
not touch, because left his wife by her
honored father. and went out 10 battle
With tate, This was the home Conklins
entered. These were the pitiful circum
stances that smoothed his way, and this is |
the man. the chosen leader of great |
faction. the owner of a state, leading |
laWmaker 10 the senate, who could invade |
such a dwelling. and bring shame and |
misfortune Oh such a family
The Chicago Times, commenting on the
feeling ip Washington over this matter
says: =.
A learned Judge IN commenting upon
his terrific editorial 10 night said: Il do
not see how Coakling could remain silent
lnder that editorial. II we're The sub
eet OF that editorial | would kill The
writer or never expect to hold up my head
among decent men" An Ohio Official
holding high position said this evening:
You have no idea of the feeling in our
tate against Conkiing On account of this
,prague affair, We all feel that he has :
Ira gged down one of the most honored
ames in the state aud degraded in thu
lie slough of his society the fame of one
t our social queens. His pursuit of Mrs.
prague. when he knew that bis attentions Y
My made her the laughing stock of "
V Washington. has had much to do with te
1r Hayes dislike of Conkling and his s
esire to break down his political power in fir
lew York. | know that Gen. Garfield =
as the same feeling of indignation. We
DhIo people, who were so proud of the
base family, feel Mrs Sprague's degre-
alton almost as mach as if she had been :
mem Der of our families" This is given
} a mere incident of the gossps Of the
az.