The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-04
Wonderful Growth and Strength
OF the Pcpuiist Party.
AlsronY or pRorislTIoNlsTs
every National eiecton Since 1882 Has
Shown More ! han Two Ele-
ments in the PresIden-
tial Race.

With a new party just entered in the
field of politics, one naturally turns
back to the history Of such movements
70 learn whether any Of them have
made the running successfully. Those
who are engineering the Democratic
sound money organization do not pre-
tend that they have any chance to win,
| and II they be right they VIII SIMPLY
| be no worse nor better than their fore
runners. for no third party has ever
elected a president.
Third parties began with the very
| first National convention in 1882, When
| Jackson was nominated for the second
time by the Democrats, and Clay by the
| Wings. The anti Masonic party nom
mated William Writ and actually car
ried the state of Vermont. In New
York. where this single idea party
originated, it held an important pollti-
cal influence for some years, but II
disappeared in other parts OF the cotm-
try soon after the canvass of 1882.
The abolition party reached condl-
tion of organization in 1910 and nom
mated James G. Birney, but in the cleo
ton OF that year it polled but 1869
votes. In 1914 the abolition party be
came dissatisfied with Mr.. Clay's Ala
bama letter of July, on the annexation
of Texas, and ran a third ticket, which
polled 63,300 votes, and defeated Clay
by giving New York to Polk.
In 1848 conventions in opposition to
the nomination of General Cass were
held at Utica and Buffalo, and nomin-
ated Mr. Van Buren, and Charles
Francis Adams. They called them
selves ''free soil Democrats" the lead
ers being Samuel Tilden, Preston King,
Governor Young and other Barn
burners" who were refused seats in
the Democratic conventions of 1874 and
184S. The liberty league" abolition
ists) nominated John p. Hale for the
presidency, but he declined in favor of
Van Buren,, and the canvass was fought
under the banner of free soil, free
speech, free labor and free men," the
ticket polling 291 PCS votes.
In 1852 the free soil Democracy met
in convention at Pittsburg. All the free
States were represented, and delegates
were sent from Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia and Kentucky. The conven-
ton nominated John p Hale for Presi-
dent and George w. Julian for Vice
President. The Democrats had nomin-
ated Franklin Pierce and the Wings
General Scott. The third party polled
very large vote, but the defeat of
General Scott was caused principally
by the refusal of the South to vote
for him. A letter bitterly antagoniz-
ing him, signed by Meredith p. Gentry,
of Tennessee; Alexander Fl. Stephens
and Robert Toombs, of Georgia, and
other prominent Wings, rendered his
election impossible.
The Republican party was organized
before the next presidential election
and in 1856 absorbed the abolition par
ty and in it's ranks all shades of opposi-
ton to slavery fought.
The native American party (know-
Nothings) organized in 1874, but was
successful principally in the cities. Tt
elected James Harper mayor of New
York, and several Congressman in that
State and in Pennsylvania. 1t was re-
yived in 1928, and for time had a
large following. It was really the
most formidable third party ever or
ganlzed in this country. 1t met its
Waterloo in Virginia, where Henry A.
Wise fought it in every county in the
State and defeated it. It was too wide
spread, however, to be crushed in one
battle, and in 1856 it met in convention
at Philadelphia and nominated Mr..
Fillmore, or rather adopted the nomin-
ations made by the Wings at Baltimore.
The Democratic party had nominated
James Buchanan at Cincinnati. The
contest was exceedingly bitter The
American party held the balance of
power in Pennsylvania, but for want of
means was about to withdraw their
ticket, leaving the party to vote as it
pleased. Louis G. Levin was chairman
Of the National committee of the Ann
orleans, and John w. Froney was in
charge of the Democratic State COM
mittee. Learning of the intention of
Levin to close the American headquar-
ters, he met that gentleman and ar
ranged for the continuance of the
ticket in the field, and for that pur-
pose obtained from Mr.. August Bel
mont, chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional committee, the sum of 100000
to pay expenses incurred by Levin in
the canvass. That move gave the State
of PENNSYLVANIA to Buchanan and de-
feated Fremont.
The Acknowledging, !" in 1856 polled
874, 1874, and carried the State of Mary
land. At the State elections of 1857
it carried Maryland and Rhode Island,
and electedf rom fifteen to twenty
members of Congress and two United
/ States Senators. In the thirty-siXth
4 Congress it elected United States Sem
ators from Kentucky and Maryland,
and twenty-three members of the
4 House of Representatives 1T soon lost
/ it's power, however, and in 1860 the re-
mains of this once powerful organiza-
! ton met in convention at Buffalo, and
abandoning its oaths of secrecy, and
taking the name of the American un-
ion party, nominated Bell and Everett.
This ticket carried three States, Ten
nessee, Kentucky and Virginia. They