Orleans County Monitor

WELL DONE, EARLE!

The following frank and magnanimous statement from A. A. Earle, once a very firm friend, but afterwards a strong enemy of Gen. Grout's, is creditable to the writer, and deserves amende honorable from Gen. Grout:

"While we are expressing our opinion on the Senatorial question we may as well free our mind as to Representative. As astonishing as it may seem we shall advocate the return of Gen. Grout to the seat he now holds. We do so because he has by his labors, his diligence in attending to the wishes of his constituents, clearly earned a continuance. We do it also, because there is no more suitable man than he who is likely to ask for his place, or whom any considerable number of his fellow citizens desire or will endorse. We do it, also, because the old time virus that once took such complete possession of us has disappeared, and we hope that the heart that once knew it shall know it no more forever."

In making this declaration we do not wish to be understood as taking anything back that we have ever said regarding our past troubles. We do not. We only wish to say by it we forgive while we do not forget, and if we can do that no one of his constituents need hesitate.

Our paper at Barton was the first in the whole state to name him for congress. We do it again after an estrangement of some fourteen years. We do it now as honestly as we did then, lacking somewhat from our love, though our respect for his ability is none the less now than then. He is a man of good talent, earnest of purpose, a man who knows no tire. All these qualities eminently fit him for a faithful representative and we shall work for his return. Four years ago if any man had told us we would some day say what we are now saying we would have knocked him over. We are surprised at our own remarks, and so is Grout.