Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-06-27
JUDGE POLAND RETIRES.
He Declines 90 be Re-eIected-ITis
Useful Career in Congress.


Boston Journal
Washington, June 90. Judge Po-
land has decided not to be a candidate
for reelection to Congress, and has
written letter to friends in Vermont
advising them of his decision. Judge
Poland's determination has been heard
by his friends here with great regret.
and they have besought him to recon.
slider. They have said that while ad-
vanced in years, he shows no signs of
advancing age, and has so far been
able to take the laboring oar which
much younger men have declined, but
Judge Poland is OF the opinion that he
has done his share of political work
and performed his duty, and that it is
wise for him to retire when he is in
full vigor. No one will be missed from
the New England delegation more
than the genial Judge Poland. Com
ing back in this Congress after an alb
sence of few years, his ability and
experience were remembered, and the
Democrats at once assigned him to q
responsible position upon the Judici-
airy Committee. The opinion of no
member of that committee has been
more respected than has been that of
Judge Poland. He is always looked
to by the young men for counsel, and
he generally has preceded them in &C.
ton. His new Vermont district may
send younger man in his place, but
it will be difficult to find in the roll of
Vermont's aspirants q man who will
bring with him the ability of Judge
Poland, or who can soon succeed to
the position of dignity, honor and use
fulness which he, during his Congress
sional career, has held.
NIr. POIand's Letter.
To the people of the Second Con-
gressional District of Vermont: At
the expiration Of this Congress shall
have entered my 10th year. My friends
flatter me by saying that my health
and strength and capacity for service
are not in the least impaired. If the
service of Representative was con-
fined to the legitimate work of legisla-
ton, do not think l should be at all
overtaXed. But the course of events
has been such as to throw vast
amount of outside work upon MEM
Der. The principal source of this is in
the Pension Office. Since the COM
mencement Of this Congress l have
looked after nearly three hundred
pension cases. The labor aud cor res
pondence growing out of this has been
very burdensome. | do not speak of
this to complain of it, for it was the
only effectual way my constituents
had to reach the department, and |
have performed the service cheerfully
and willingly and as faithfully as |
could. Some of you know that my
whole life has been one of incessant
and industrious labor, and do not
feel that what of health and strength
| have left ought to be expended in
such service, but that am entitled to
devote it to my own affairs and the
interest of those who may be depend
ent upon me. | ain quite aware how
seldom it is that old men who have
held much public Office willingly quit
public life, and even when obliged to
give way to younger and more vigor-
Gus men, how apt they are to be soured
and to feel that the people are IN
grateful. l am troubled by none of
these feelings. | have had large
share of the honors and burdens of of
fetal life. l feel deeply grateful to the
people of my native State for the trust
they have shown and the many hon.
ors they have conferred, and feel that
have received all that / have merit
ed. | know better than you do how
often L have failed to accomplish
measures ] desired in public; but |
can truly say that | have faithfully
endeavored to fulfill every duty and |
humbly trust that the work of my
public life has not been without bene-
fit to the State and country and good
to my fellowmen. / do not think you
will find q successor who will be more
faithful and diligent or more watchful
of your interests than / have been.
You will easily find one of greater abil-
ity. The residue of my years, whether
few or many, hope to spend quietly
among the people of the State where /
was born and with whom my life has
so far been spent. | have delayed this
announcement until the holding of
the Republican National Convention.
If the results of that had been exactly
what was desired by the Republicans
of Vermont, i might have felt it my
duty, subject to your approval, to
have remained in Congressf for another
term. LUKE p. POLAND,
Washington, June 20, 1884.
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