Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-08
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 8, 1891.
The Third Party.

Ap III "a 4 tNA ~
The possibility that q third party may
enter the field next year and interfere with
the usual orderly proceedings of the two
old parties IL recognized by many OF the
shrewdest politicians in the Union. MIR.
EpMUSps. Of Vermont. and Mr.. PETER, of
Kansas. living more than u thousand miles
apart, are among the prominent men who
have expressed themselves 10 the effect
that the third-party movement has already
begun TO take shape.
The fact that IL the electoral colleges of
the several States fail 10 elect President
the election Of that officer will fall into the
hands Of the House of Representatives,
and the representatives from each State
cast only one vote, encourages the friends
of the third-party movement TO hope that
in such an event new combinations might
be entered into which would resultto their
benefit. A few States might hold the bal
ance Of power. In fact there is no telling
what consequences might not follow the
throwing of the election of President into
the House of Representatives. And if the
House ofRepresontatives should fail to elect
President of the United States before the
9Th day OF March next succeeding tho
November election, then the Vice-President
would become President. In word. the
third-party movement has many possible
ties 10 encourage its friends in the belief
that it has in it 1.-THE power and potency
of success.
Mr.. EDMUSDs says that "a tbird-party
movement does now exist in the Farmers
Alliance enterprises or undertakings. He
rather intimates than affirms that the Demo-
Gratis will not antsgonIze that movement,
because they expect to profit by the throw
ing Of tho presidential election into the
House Of Representatives. However,
emitting to speak of their other Objects
he says he does not not think that either
the Democratic or the Republican party
will make the free coinage Of silver an is
sue in the election Of President. But he
may be mistaken in this The bimetallists
are terribly in earnest, and their party is
not yet old enough TO waste away and die.
On the contrary, the year 1892 will proba-
bly, be the very time when it will
show its greatest strength-that IS,
of course, il it is destined to perish
without having accomplished the object of
organization, as persisted the Greonback
party of 1873 and the American or Know
nothing party of 1855, and we might
add the grand old Wing party. II it is not
destined so TO perish it will DO stronger
after 1892 than previously. Certainly there
is much room for speculation on .thes G
points.
Mr.. PETER declares that the Farmers
Alliance will put an independent ticket in
the field in 1892 in opposition to both the
great political parties. He tells us what
the new platform will be-namely, declara-
lions concerning land, labor, transporta-
ton, and money. This is formidable list.
The laborer will be declared entitled to
good living and fair share of the
profits which result from his work.
The Government will be called upon
TO take charge of all the railroads. It
will also be called upon TO substitute
greenbacks for bank-notes and TO coin sill
yer tree Of cost TO the owner thereof. In
this connection Mr.. EDMUNDs's one plank
looks narrow. Mr.. PETER says the ALI
ance will also demand service pension
not civil-sorvice pension, as some of the
papers state; but this last demand will not
strengthen the new movement in the south
ern section of the Union, which is already
most wrongfully taxed TO raise money TO
be expended in the North-the worst kind
of absenteeism--the curse of Ireland.
We need express no opinion at this time
in regard to this third-party movement.
In fact, whatever anybody says on the SUBJ
ject is speculation rather than opinion.
The two old parties are both somewhat di-
vided on the free-coinage question.
Among the prominent aspirants to the
presidency in the Democratic party may
be counted one or more opponents OF the
free coinage of silver. Here is a STUN
bling block. So as TO all the other planks
IN Mr.. PEFFER's platform. Neither the
Republican nor the Democratic party is
unanimous either in favor of or in opposi-
ton TO any one of these.