Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-28
THiRD-pARTY TICKETS.
Bubbles that Have Fioated for WINE
on tho Political Sea.

on tho POLITICAL Sens
fsan Francisco Areonautl
Third parties are the tramp ships on the
ocean of poIitics. Many become derelicts:
and most OF them sink 10 the profound
depths of that ocean deeper than ever
pltimmet sounded. The first in the United
States 10 hold convention and nominate
presidential candidates was the ap anu.
Masonic party of 1882, with William Writ
for President. The organization had bare
Iy one object-the ostracIsm OF masonry
and ID carried the electoral vote OF one
State (Vermont) out of the twenty-four
States which comprised the Union. Ihat
one campaign was its beginning and Its
end. and it passed into history.
Since that time Of third parties there
bave come and disappeared the ADO
Htion party, the Fiee-Soil party. the
American party. and the GreenDack
party The American, party was the
only one of them that had votes IN every
State. and il carried the electoral vote OF
one state. The Abolition party caused
the defeat of Henry Clay for President by
running the Birney ticket in New York,
which drew away from Clay over l5.OO0
Wing votes aud gave the electoral vote OF
the State TO Polk. To rebuke Henry Clay
on account OF his slavery sentiments they
in effect elected Polk and put IN power
the Democratic party, devoted 70 slavery.
The Free-Soil party WAS founded ana or
canized bv Democrats. who had become
dissatisfied with the party. In 1913 the
movement was made to defeat General
Cass for President by carrying New YORK
against him. II was not expected 10 pre-
vail in any other State. With the Demo-
cratic vote divided between Cass and Van
Buren, the electoral vote OF New York
was cast for the Wing nominee, General
TAYLOR, and made his election sure.
The Free-Soil party wrought the defeat
of General Cass and the Democratic party
in 1913. lust as the Abolition party had
effected the defeat IN 1874 OF Henry Clay
and the Wing party. In each instance 1t
was the work of men who had become dis
affected with the party in which they had
before held fellowship. In 1874 1t was re-
solute rebuke: in 1s43 II was partisan
revenge. Neither the Abolitionists nor the
Free-Soilers obtained the electoral vote Of
q single State, whereas the ant'-MasoDs
and the Americans each carried the cleo
toral vote Of State--the antl-Masons, OF
Vermont the Americans. of Maryland.
In 1880 the Greenback party and the Pro-
bibition party entered the field with
presidential candidates. Neither of them
carried an electoral vote of the thirty
eight States. Their candidates for Presl-
dent, Weaver of Iowa and Dow of Maine.
were both former Republicans-the one
disafected, the other crank on his CHIEF
hobby.
Again, in 1884, the two organizations put
up candidates for the presidency-Butler
Greenbacker st. John, Prohibitionist.
The Prohibtionlsts had again, In 1883, a
presidential ticket IN the field and this
wear General Bidwell. of Chico, is their
candidate for President. He is pioneer
of California-an honest, upright. con
scientious man. He was formerly Demo
crat: has since been Republican men,
Der of Congress and an independent can
didate for Governor. He is farmer OF
great wealth and is too sensible TO mag
inc that he will be elected President. His
candidacy is to attest his devotion 10 tho
cold water cause. The Union Labor Party
is in the list of organizations OF the period
which can never expect direct wealth.
The Farmers Alliance or Peoples party
is the most recent of the third-party or
carnations. 1t started with local, widely
segregated, phenomenal sweeps. IL elected
nine members of Congress in lSS0-fve
from Kansas. two from Nebraska. and one
each from Minnesota and Georgia. IL
displaced ingalls,, United States Senator
from Kansas, and chose PETER In his place,
and KYLE Senator from South Dakota. 1t
caused the defeat Of Senator Wade Hamp-
ton in South Carolina, and raised the
nuch-inferior Irby to the exalted station.
it made Tlllman Governor OF south Caro-
lima, and, with the ProhiDitionlsts, Boles
Governor of Iowa. On this coast, In Ore
gon, it has elected several members 10 the
Legislature. but 1t did not succeed IN the
election of any State officer.