The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-05-30
DANIEL WEBSTER AND THE
TWO-THIR RULE.

TWO-THIR RULE.
The violent struggles for Office oi
little and of respectable men now pro-
gressive in this commonwealth leads
many to recur to the memorable words
of Daniel Webster, who, conscious OF
the undying fame be had won, said at
the close of his brilliant and grand ca
reer that if he had his life to live over
he would never hold an Office. He in
sisted that the people were ungrateful,
and gave those who served them most
honestly no adequate reward. 1t is
also true, since the people honor most
those least deserving it, and those en-
dued with none of the prophetic, states
nanlike genius of Webster, that small
men and those who make office.hold-
ing trade should be avoided by the
people. A giant and pigmy stood
side by side, when Harrison was Presi-
dent and Webster Secretary of State.
Few facts on history's pages constitute
more frghtful picture of popu-5
lar incapacity for tasks of self
government than those which Webster
deplored, and which affect the for
tunes of the people and of party lead
ers, at this good hour, even here in the
capital of Texas. Webster's claims were
postponed to those of good old gen.
tleman who had fought Indians, and
then the profound thinker and admira-
BILE rhetoricisn was made Secretary of
State. A candidates availability"
has not the remotest reference to his
intellectual ability. Wisdom and fit
ness are not considered. He who con-
trolls most votes aud has adopted a
popular caprce or accepted popular
heresy is most sure to win in conven-
tions. Harrisons are nominated every
day AMI Websters as often rejected
by volatile or passionate, unthinking
multltudes. Many a village Webster
will be destroyed and a drlveling
Harrison preferred by those who
propose to designate men for whom the
multitude must vote. If there be no
unseemly enrhities excited or unusual
degree of violence, or If the two-thirds
rule be rescinded, there will be no dis
integration of the party and of con-
ventions, and the strongest party
leaders will be nominated. The safety
of the party depends on this repeal,
and we cannot doubt that the recon-
mendation of the last National Demo-
cratic Convention will be approved
and the rigorous two-thirds rule an
nulled. The integrity of the party
and its triumph may thus be assured.
Until this is done no "Webster" can
be rewarded, and some second or third
choice of the people for the States
chief magistracy must be accepted.
The Radicals, under assumed names,
have discovered in Democratic addict.
edness to second class candidates, as
furnished always by the two-thirds
rule, the possibility of the party's
overthrow, and everywhere even
now, earnest, hopeful Radicals an
nounce themselves as candidates.
They expect to be elected, not
by the people, but by Dem
ocratic adhesion to the two-thirds
rule. 1t will give us more than one
candidate for each office while Radl-
calism will have but one, his adherents
voting solldly. Our party leaders will
be destroyed and Texas remanded to
the tender mercies of plunderers and
destroyers. The Radical National Ex-
ecutive Committee has resolved to make
a fierce contest in every State of the
South. Special party orators and man
ayers will be detailed and sent into
the Gulf States to reorganize the inno-
cent colored Loyal Leaguers under new
auspices, and prepare this pitiabe
in Texas for the mastery of
the majority, and unless the coming
Democratic convention confess the
necessity for the candIdature of
Websters, and for the retirement of the
obscure and weak by resembling the
two thirds rule, we may not only find
Texas governed by the corrupt and in
capable, but large portion of the
State turned over to the tender mercies
Of ignorance and revivified carpet-bag-
sm.