The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-08
Joseph Poland.

dom and slavery, which engaged all the
forces of this nation and enlisted the
sympathetic interest of all the world,
was almost as fiercely carried on among
the Green Mountains, on the outposts
of Liberty, as on the fields where the
main armies of the conflict were con-
tending. In the story Of the anti
slavery contest here in Vermont the
name of Joseph Poland was conspicu-
GUS as a pioneer, and he was one of
the veterans who fought the good fight
to the end and was mustered out of
service when, under Abraham Lin
coins leadership, the "irrepressible con
fict" ended in the triumph of the hosts
of Freedom.
A summary of the life and activities
of Mr.. Poland is published in another
column. 1t is the story of the life of
useful and patriotic citizen. The love
of freedom and devotion to its princi-
Piles were in his blood. They found
expression in the impulse that moved
him, in early manhood, to engage in
newspaper work, and in the titles
he devised for his publications. The
"Voice of Freedom" the "Greex Noun
tain Fireman." the names he gave to
the papers he published, were not the
products of an aimless fancy; they
were the visible expressions of an
earnest purpose, of well-grounded con.
victions, of a zeal that burned in his
young blood and was seeking vent in
action. 1t was in no holiday enterprise
the young publisher embarked. 1t was
for the advocacy of no cause 30 popular,
even among these freedom-inspiring
mountains, as that which, generation
later, became the distinguishing mark
of the Vermont people. The cham
pions of freedom for the African were
in small and despised minority, and
riotous violence was sometimes in
voked to disturb or dispense their pub
lie meetings. It is high tribute to
the ability and general character of the
men who early lifted up the standard of
anti-slavery agitation in Vermont, and
whose courage and resolution carried
it from victory to victory till it foated
on every hill and in every valley, that
the State became the pioneer in the
formation-and the most conspicuous
member - of the great party whose
corner stone was opposition to slavery,
which under the gallant Fremont
fought its first national battle, which
elected Lincoln to the presidency and
for generation administered the Ma
tional government, freeing four mil
lion slaves and with firm hand putting
down the shareholders rebellion and
restoring the union of the States. To
have been pioneer, and, by his pen
and speech and labors, prime factor
in the achievement of such mighty and
glorious results, was the pride and
solace of Mr.. Polands life. No fact of
the long anti.slavery contest, no circum-
stance of the part Vermont played in
the formation of the Republican party,
escaped his memory or notice, and he
jealousy guarded Vermont's claim to
priority of distinction in the early
movements that made America in fact
as we'll as name 'the land of the Free"
Mr.. Poland's activities did not end
with the abolition of slavery. Through
life he was consistent and uncom-
promising opponent of an unrestricted
traffic in Intoxicating liquors, and he
carried his opposition into the years
when bodily lnfirmities began to weigh
him down, and when less jealous and
tenacious disciple of reform might have
pleaded exemption from its labors and
responsibilities. In all public enter
prises, in all charities, in all good
works, in all Christian labors, Mr.. Po-
land was an active leader, wise coun-
sellor, and to all he was liberal con-
tributor.
In speech, in the days of his prime,
he was fluent, earnest, clear in his lines
of reasoning, persuasive and concila-
tory in temper, but when evil-doing, or
wrong, or outrage arousd him, his
power of Characterization lacked no
quality Of terse and effective utterance.
This was his distinction, also, as an ed
itorial writer. But back of clear and
forcible diction, were clear thinking and
the wisdom of serpent, if there was
not always-when an enemy or oppo-
nent was commemorative harmlessness
of dove. He was facile in expires.
sion, and the CLEAN of bright humor
or trenchant saying often enlivened
his speech and his written discourse.
In the political affairs of the State, and
in its moral and material concerns, Mr..