Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-02
Exum's Reported Deal.

The deal ExuM, the Third-party candi-
date for Governor in North Carolina. is
said to have entered into with the Repub-
licans Of that State would be very safe
one for the Republicans. The terms are
that IL on November 9Th the chances
should prove favorable Tor the election OF
HARRrsos, the Third-party vote shall be
thrown for the Republican nominee. but
" HaRmsox's election shall appear doubt
full at that time the Republicans are to go
over to WEAVER. This is clearly game OF
heads win tails you lose for the Repuo-
lcsns, and a most palpable erpose Oh tue
influence that is operating with most OF
the Third-party leaders. These men know
as well as it is possible for them to know
anything that there Is not ghost OF q
chance for the election of the Third-par-
ty presidential ticket. They have known
this from the first. Either CLEVELAND or
HARRrsoN will be elected, and ExuM, 1t
wonld seem, only makes open confession
of a conspiracy between the Republicans
and the Third-party shriekers to break the
solid South which has been apparent all
along TO those who have carefully studied
the situation. Tbird-psrtyites of the
stamp OF ExUM recognize that they
cannot expect to get anything by
the direct vote OF the people; but
they hope by aiding in the re-estao-
liehment OF Republican sway in this sec
ton 70 catch few of the crumbs that
will fall from the Republican table when
the debauchery of the reconstruction pc
Rod commences again. They would sell
their birthright as freemen for a'mess OF
pottage.
And a very poor mess it will be If mea-
sured on the basis Of the votes ExUM would
be able 10 deliver. Owing to the fact that
North Carolina was the home of Colonel
Polka conscientious but mistaken en-
thunast in the cause of reform-the Re-
publicans have regarded that State as pre-
senting the most vulnerable point at which
to drive in the Third-party wedge and
break the solid South. So thorough
w satisfied were they OF this that
they forgot their caution. and even be-
fore the meeting of the Third-party con-
vention at Raleigh showed their hand and
demonstrated that they were the maui be-
hind the wedge. And what has been the
result? Nowhere Is the Third party
wasting away more rapidly than in the
Old North State. The leaders as well as
the masses who were honestly misled
into embracing the movement are repu-
dating it, seeing as they do through the
ha oil
ment did the negroes during the carpet
bag regime and turn their State over to
bayonet rule.
As we have shown above. the deal could
be closed in only one way and that is by
the delivery of the Third-party vote to
HARRISON. and from present appearances
1t does not seem that it would be worth
while for the Republicans to accept the
delivery. However, il such an arrange
ment as has been described has been
entered into in North Carolina it
only emphasizes lesson the situa-
ton contains for Third-party Demo-
Gratis elsewhere in the South. The
Third-party leaders in
the rest OF the southern States are practi-
cally preparing the way secretly to do just
what ExUM is said to have announced
openly he has agreed TO do-and that is
to sell out to the Republicans. A different
course may be followed, perhaps, IN some OF
the States. but the same end will be
reached. The election of the Thir1-party
ticket being impossible, there is no real diff
ference between Third-partylte's voting
directly for HARRISON and his voting for
WEAVER, seeing that vote for the latter
is a vote by proxy for the former.