"Gentlemen," said Atkins, when called on for an explanation, "this is an absurd affair from beginning to end. I opposed the proceeding at the outset. I consider the letter perfectly satisfactory; but my readers are tired of these things, and so am I. I must therefore be excused from having anything to do with the affair."
"You will publish the letter, however, as an advertisement?" suggested the committee.
"Not even as an advertisement!"
"Not if paid for?"
"No, not if paid for, gentlemen!" said the imperturbable Atkins.
"Very well," replied the committee, exasperated, "we know who will publish it."
They went across the way to the office of the "Freeman," the "rum paper," as it was called. Harmon, who was of the committee, knew the editor, and took him confidentially aside.
"Atkins," said he, "refuses to print this document; 'twill be just the thing for you, and it will spite him to see it in the Freeman."
"To tell you the truth," said he, "I'm afraid to publish it. 'Twill just suit our moderate drinkers, and I'm not so sure but it would injure our candidate with that class of men. On the whole," said he, "I think I won't print it."
Foiled in this quarter, John Harmon bethought him of the "News Courier," a neutral paper published in a neighboring town, which offered to print communications relating to the approaching campaign, provided they were written in a proper spirit, and did not compromise too much its position as a neutral journal.