The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-04-08
THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
AND THE TWO-TaIRDS RULE.

AND THE TWO-TalRD RULE.
To-day the Democratic primaries
meet. They are authorized to take ac-
ton in any matter pertaining to the ns-
tional convention, and here their su-
thority ends. Many Of the conventions
are stepping outside Of authority, and
are passing resolutions endorsing Gov
ernor Roberts or Lieutenant Governor
Ssyers, or some other state politicians,
in all of which they are acting rather
previously, and. TO the detriment probs-
bly, of the very men it is proposed to
serve. The purpose Ofthe G .lYeston con.
tention, to meet April 20, is alone to Sc
leet delegates to the national conyen-
ton. It is not even proposed to choose
presidential electors. and there is but
one thing else that this convention can
properly do, and this is to pronounce
upon the two-thiTds rule, as applied,
however, 20 the nomination of ma.
tional ticket, and not to q state ticket.
It is to be simply the initiative step of
Texas Democrats IN grand movement
Of states to free the country Of the rule
Of party exceedingly corrupt in its
practices, and attempting at this time
to subvert popular government and
establish centralizatlon and military
despotism. The work demanded of
the primaries Day Is to select dele
gates to county convention, the
duty OF which shall be to send dele,
gates to the Galveston convention, and
this much "a all that is imperative.
The primaries may consider the fitness
of candidates for the Presidency and
Vice Presidency, though we have not
yet heard OF any one whose aspira-
tions lead him to coVet the second po-
sition. Candidates may be recon-
mended or endorsed for the national
ticket, and yet there is no necessity for
this in the primaries. There is one
thing, however, which, while il is
not imperative, we believe Democrats
In all their meetings should consider
and decide. Events are every day
Transporting which show thinking Dem.
ocrats the danger of tampering with
methods of selecting candidates that
have received the approval of success
siYe generations of statesmen. Those
who seek to sverturn rule tested for
almost half century, which has re-
pestedly proven its usefulness, know
little probably about the reasons which
caused its institution, or the dangers
which would result from its abrogatiop.
The tWo-thirds rule has been OF much
good service to the Democratic party,
has never caused it injury, and
it was narrow-Eghted and selfish
policy which led the St. Louis conven-
ton to open the question for 1880.
An obnoxious candidate like Mr. Til
den, who has been moving forces in
every direction to have the party right
a "wrong" to which no one, submitted
so really as himself, would as certain
ly be defeated ss nominated. This
rule, honored because it has 30 often
been eerviceable in preventing the nom
ination OF Objectionable candidates,
should ct this time especially be re-
tanned. While the New York Democ-
racy ls opposed to Mr.. Tilden. he has
such perfect control of the ma.
chine as to secure the vote of its
delegation, while its members would
know we'll enough he could not carry
his own state. Enough other delega-
tions from Republican states may be
obtained to nominate Mr.. Tilden on
the first ballot, if the old rule be abro-
gated, and the only safe means of Te-
lief from such inf1iction is In main.
tanning the rule. What applies to Mr..
Tllden applies to any candidate, and
secures, when bitterness arises IN COZ
ventions, compromise candidates free
from entsngling influences, and cspa-
BILE of holding the party together. We
are not afraid OF the result in the ma
tional contest unless some trickster or
impure partisan secure the nomination.
We are satisfied that the Democ-
racy, with proper candidate, can
easily defeat even the would-be Cesar,
and Democrats of the South may espe-
cislly be Of service in shaping as we'll
ss deciding the struggle. The South
has 256 voters in the national eonYen-
ton, and, with the two-thirds rule
retained, these delegates may pre-
vent the nomination of any can
didate Of the wire-workers. The
STATESMAN asks but one thing of the
primaries, and this it asks in the inter-
est of official honesty and of our coun-
try's honor. It asks 1t in opposition
to trickery and to shame, and in be-
half of the exaltation of Democracy,
and in the interest of success. 1t asks
that the conventions retain the tradi-
tional rule under which, in times past,
1t has so often achieved victory in na.
tional contests, and by which it has
pl'ced In office patriots and statesmen.
Mr.. WARNER, Of Ohio, Of the House
Coinage Committse. has recently had
conference with the Secretary OF the
Treasury and the Postmaster General
in relation to the question OF carrying