Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-27
Tbe second DIstric,.

The Second District.
The letter of Judge Poland, elsewhere pub
lished, declaring himself not q candidate for
reelection to Congress, is not altogether a
surprise to his friends in this section. For
some time II has been understood that dec
laration Of this sort might be forthcoming
before the time Of the Second district conven-
ton. It is undoubtedly true, as he says, that
Judge Poland finds much Of the outside work
which has come to devolve on q Member of
Congress entirely distasteful to him, and It is
also true, without question, that he remem-
bers the feeling which his canvass aroused in
the district two years ago, and does not care
to take the uncertain chances Of contest for
denomination. Nobody doubts Judge Po-
lands eminent ability, and his touch Of self
oomplacent sarcasm, when he suggests that
the district will easily find q representative
''of greater ability" will therefore be duly ap-
preoiated and readily excused. There is no
doubt that Judge Poand's letter was written
in good faith and means what it says, but
many Of his friends will prefer, nevertheless,
to believe II TO mean that he will not enter into
any contest for a denomination rather than
that he would not accept a denomination if 1t
came to him without effort of his own, and
many of them will still cherish hope that
events may take such turn in the conven-
ton that the Judge will be returned to Con-
gress.
The withdrawal Of Judge Poland opens up
the question of the representation of this dis
trict in the next Congress and forces it into a
prominence which it was bound TO acquire
within the next fortnight in any case. 1t has
been understood for some time, and within a
few days has been officially announced, that
Gen. w. w. Circuit of Orleans county and
member for one term from the old Third dis
trict, is candidate and is making an active
canvass for the nomination. Since the state
convention was held last week it has been
known that ex-Gov. Farnham Of Bradford
has congressional aspirations and hopes to re-
ceive support enough to secure him the nom
ination. In Washington county Hon. VIM.
p. Dillingham;, son of ex-Gov Dillingham;,
and rising young lawyer, has many warm
friends who urge him to take the field and
promise him the solid support of his own
county and q strong following in Orange
county. Whether Mr.. Dillingham; will con-
sent to be candidate is not yet known. In
Windsor county Warren @. French of Wood
stock is again a candidate with perennial
hopes of success In this county Col. G. W.
Hooker's friends announce him as being &C.
lively in the field and will make strong push
to secure his success in the convention.
With so many asprants for congressional
honors and the outcome OF the contest an un-
certain one, the time is peculiarly one when
the people of the district ought to take care
full heed as to whom they will send to Con
gress as their representative. And when We
say "the people" we mean the people, and
not merely the few men in each town who
usually make themselves active in political af
fairs and practically take the management oil
things into their own hands One thing is
certain. If the Republican voters in the
several towns in the several counties in the
district would for once give this matter
thoughtful attention, attend the cducaSes, ant
elect fair-minded, independent mon as dele
gates, they might have a really deliberativt
convention on the 23d of July which would
look the situation in the face, comprehend
its duty, and select the best man as its candi
date.
One thing more should be borne in mind
The man who is this year elected to Congress
from the Second district ought to be a mar
whom the district means to keep there as it
representative to grow up to keep good, il
possible, the distinguished place which Yer
mont has always held in the councils of the
government. The line is an illustriods one
with Foote, Collsmor, Edmunds, Morrill,
Willard, and Poland standing out as names
which the state and the nation will always re-
call with pride. In choosing who shall enter
into the succession no question of personal
favoritism, of individual claims, or of re.
ward for services rendered should have in
fuence. For the good of his district and Of
the state the man who goes TO Congress from
the Second district this year should stay
there, and he should be man of ability, of
integrity, and of capacity for craftsmanship
and public affairs.