The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-07
The Two-Third Rule.

The TwO-Third Rule.
THE Democratic National Convention at New
York adopted the report of the Committee on
Organization, recommending the adoption of
the rules which governed the National
Convention Of 1864. Subsequently the gues-
tion arose whether this action made the two
third rule binding, aud no less an authority
than the notorious Valandigham declared that
it undoubtedly had such an effect. The Presi-
dent Of the Convention announced that he
would investigate this question, but he ap-
pears to have arrived at no decision
before the adjournment yesterday, and
meanwhile it seems to be understood
that if the two-third rule has not been
already adopted, in the manner indicated, it
will be passed as distinct proposition, for the
discussion to which we have referred arose on
this State, that "no gentleman shall be de-
clared the nominee of this Convention for
President of the United States unless he shall
receive two-thirds of all the votes cast" which
was temporarily withdrawn for the purpose of
enabling the presiding officer to ascertain
whether it was not unnecessary. The nearest
approach to a rejection of this old "landmark
of Democracy" was a proposition offered by
one of the delegates, that the opinion should
be expressed that no future Convention should
adopt it. The real reason for the two-third
rule has been substantially destroyed. 1t was
invented and sustained mainly to enable the
Southern Democrats to prevent the nomina-
tion of any candidate supposed to be unsound
on the slavery question, and it admirably
served this purpose by perpetually warning
all Democratic aspirants to high national
honors that the cSnciliation of the South was
indispensable requisite of success. The
ground on which the two-third rule was openly
advocated was that it was inherently wrong to
permit the States in which the Democratic
party was in a clear minority, united with a
few States that usually chose Democratic cleo
tors, to dictate nominee to the Democratic
States, and that the most certain and just
method TO prevent the latter from being bur
thened with an obnoxious candidate was to
enable one-third of the members of every
National Convention to interpose virtual
veto upon the decisions Of their associates.
This rule has surrounded the nominations of
Democratic conventions with great uncer
tainty. 1t is difficult enough for a prominent
candidate to obtain a majority of votes, and
almost impossible to secure a two-third en-
dorsement. The rule has already led to the
nomination and election of two candidates,
Polk and Pierce, who had never been Sc
riOusly sustained as Presidential aspirants
fo ba Of fha
which gave an unexpected stamp to their OBJ
scure claims. But on the other hand it
prompted Van Buren,, smarting under sense
of injustice, to resort to the Free-soil
movement of 1948 which defeated
General Cass, and it gave the boilers at Charles
ton in 1860 fair pretext for their continued
opposition to Stephen A Douglas which led
to the election of Abraham Lincoln, and thus,
while the Democracy won two victories by the
two-third rule, it was equally powerful indi-
rectly if not directly, in causing their over
throw on two memorable occasions, and in
changing the whole current of American poll
tics. Its tendency to bring to the surface OBJ
sCure and undeserving men has had
damaging influence upon the welfare of
the country. 1t has practically disseminated
the lesson far and wide that true services and
spendid abilities are rather an obstacle than
an aid to the attainment of the highest
hOnOrs of the Republic, and that Presidents
may be chosen not for what they have done or
are capable of doing, but on account of the
obscuTity of their records, and because they
have mingled so little in the turmoils of pub
lie life as to have awakened no jealousies,
and to have made no active enemies
From present indications the Convention
now in session in New York will be guided in
its selection of a nominee by this narrow rule.
1t is probable that after passing over the few
candidates who have been prominently named,
it will finally descend to the low level of medi-
ocrity in search of some accidental parsonage
who is in no respect better or worse than
thousands of his fellOw-D Democrats. The ac-
tiOn OF the Republican Convention at Chicago
presents proud contrast with this system.
Although it was bound by no two,third rule, it
found a candidate worthy of unanimous sup.
port, because he had centred upon himself the
affections of the nation by resplendent ser
vices. General Grant and the Republican
party were alike honored by this nomination,
the former by the magnificent endorsement
from the patriotic men of the country it i'm
Piled, and the latter because its aims
and purposes were such that the
great deliverer of the nation from
1NH aF n