The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-03-21
TIE TWO. THfRps RrLE.

fE 4 w " dfhDED hCIE.
Events are to-day showing thinking Demo-
Gratis the danger Of tampering with methods
of selecting candidates that have received |
the approval of successive generations OF
statesmen. Those who seek to overturn
rule which has been continuously tested for
almost half century, and which has repeat
edly proved its usefulness, too often know
little about the reasons which caused its in
stitution, or the dangers which would result
from its abrogation. The two-thirds rule has
done the Democratic party good service,
and has never done IL harm. When short
sighted men proposed in 1876 to submit the
question Of its abolition or retention to the
States TO be decided at the Conventions to be
held this year, they did not imagine that at
the very time when this tampering with the
time -honored rule was to bear fruit state
of things would arrive which might make
its retention vital TO the very existence of
the party.
The situation now happens to be such as
TO show the superlative value of the rule
which requires that candidate for the
Presidency must not he obnoxious TO large
minority of the party If we are to be-
lievc the almost unanimous declara-
| tions of the Southern leaders and of
the Southern press, Mr.. Tildcns nomi-
nation would defeat Democratic electors
in several OF the Southern States. Mr.Tilden
has such control Of the party organization in
the State of New York that the votes of 1t.
delegation to the National Convention will
| be cast for him. But the clearest evidence
which 1t is possible to obtain-that of an
election held last November, and in which
this precise issue was distinctly made
proves that Mr.. Tilden cannot carry New
York.
Those who know how ambition can be.
come the mental disease Of age will under.
stand why Mr.. Tilden is unable to renouncc
his candidacy. The last days of great mel
and patriots like Clay, Webster, Chase, and
Greeley have been embittered by the long
ings of unsatisfed ambition. Doubtless Mr.
Tilden meant to stake his fortunes OH the late
election in New York and abide by its result
knowing that the country would accept it Al
final and conclusive test of his availability
But deluded by those personal wishes whicl
will cloud the strongest mind, and persuade,
in the same direction by pretended partisan
who seek to use his ambition to further thei
own plans, and also by those vultures @
politics who play upon his ambition il
order TO prey upon his fortune, he imagine
he can yet overcome obstacles which all COG
and unprejudiced politicians are convince
. he cannot overcome. He imagines that tn
nomination of Grant by the Republicans vii
give him the opportunity he SO earnestl
covets. The Democratic party car
not afford to take risks which an il
dividual, who at the worst loses nothing
a may be eager to take. Mr.. Tilden,
defeated, will be Just where he is now
Not so with the party. If he were not
c man of great wealth he would find no one
!. encourage him in those delusions which III
# balance the minds of the Presidential cand
dates, and which in this case threaten III
only the future of the Democratic party, b,
: of our Republican institutions. But ma
with millions can stir to activity great nun
bers of those mercenaries which can be four
l. In any party, and who are quite willing
g sacrifice the common welfare for person
r profit.
y The danger is that we shall see at the Gil
:. cinnati Convention the representatives.
g the rotten boroughs of the Northeast al
1t Northwest, where Democrats have no chan
n of preferment against the hopeless radio
y majorities which snow them under at HON
ct and who are only too glad to have the
y expenses at the Convention paid, actil
st with the machine which has driv,
eighty thousand voters away from Il
party ticket in New York, repeating L
ID venerable two-thirds rule, and foisting up,
10 the party candidate who cannot by a,
of possibility be elected-not even again
Y Grant