Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-04
THE TWO-THIRDS RULE.
Reasons why It Should BE Main
1a1neds

Editor Morning Netes: The Democratic Ex-
ao,,tfva Committee for the State have
nuested the primary meetings called to choose
deIavates to the Gubernatorial Convention to
instruct their representatives on the question
Of the abolition or retention Of this rule in the
saIection of candidates for the various offices
to he filed at the approaching election. The
press. to which we all look for light and ir-
struction on important questions, has given
few opinions and fewer arguments to direct
our minds upon this very grave and it may be
vital matter Will you, therefore, permit me
to discuss the question in your columns!
What shall write is non-partisan, is intend
ed neither to advance nor injure the interests
of any good and true Democrat who is a can
didate for any position, and is not in accord
with the reported opinions of the gentleman
whom prefer rs the Democratic candidate for
Governor in the coming canvass. am 10 favor
of the continuance of the two-thirds rule, how
ever 1t has been and is now the common law
of the party No National Democratic party
had ever departed from it, except the Charles
ton Convention, which first adopted 1t, and then
boiling from it, disrupting the party, destroy
ing The only hope of the peace OF the
country. and paving the way for the
war which followed. With this notable and
suggestive exception, the rule has invariably
obtained in our National Conventions.
1t has been observed in our state ana Con-
XreSSiOndl COnN6UbiOuSs Wlbn OuO OhC CASCp-
ton, We had here. in our last convention, the
rule adopted and then departed from, with
conse quences no good Democrat or good Cit
zen looks back upon with satisfaction, or with
a desire for their repetition, whatever side he
NAV then have espouSed.
With these two exceptions land God forbid
that either of them should be followed as
precedentO, this principle has been sturdily
maintained and adhered TO. The sages and
patriots of the party did not blindly and arbi-
trarily adopt it without reason, nor have they
maintained it merely because they had adopted
it, 1t has been adhered to because its fruits
have been unity, harmony, party discipline and
party success.
This rule protects minorities in the party,
and does not drive them out of it. 1t sup
press personal rancor and bitterness in pre-
liminary contests Men who desire favor for
themselves or their friends may, under this
rule, safely present the strong points on their
side, but, if a sense of duty and regard for the
amenities of life will not restrain them from
bitter assaults on rivals and opponents, sense
of the suicidal policy of the denunciation of
their political brethren so as to irreconcilably
ALLEVIATE them and forever prevent their sup
port, will check many who but for this would
go on to extreme and unwiSe personal assaults
upon their rivals for party honors. When we
cease to agitate the abolition OF the rule, when
its retention is settled as a question upon
which the argument has been exhausted, and
the conclusion reached for good and all we shall
see the bitterness and abuse which has for a
few years past been so prevalent all disappear.
Again, no man should be the standard bearer
of the party, when, from any cause more than
one-thrd of its representative men in conven-
ton are unalterably opposed TO his candidacy
That party is scarce or leaders too poor to
be worthy of public confidence and to hold the
reins of government, which has no members
so emnently wolt thy and popular that they can
not command the confidence and hearty sup
port of two-thirds of their own political asso-
ciates.
This rule is also safeguard against rings
and cliques. and its maintenance is a refuta-
ton of the charge of ''bossism" against the
party. II a large and intelligent, patriotic
and respectable minority feel that they cannot
without loss of self-respect, and party
strength In the sections they represent, yield
their acquiescence in making a nomination
and they amount to more than onethird of the
convention-to override their convictions has
never been beneficial to the party and never
will be. The old rule adhered to has always
either concentrated the party for victory, or
kept them united in the dark days of defeat |
and disaster.
The departure from it in the past in their
results give us no hope for the future, if such
departure hereafter be made the rule instead |
of the exception.
"BY this sign we conquer" Abandon it |
and we lose our 'pllar OF cloud by day and |
our pillar of FIRE by night" Let us then ad- |
here to the ancient landmarks. believe the
abolition of the two-thirds rule will be the
death kneil of the party Let us hesitate long
before we decide to do that which may result |
50 disaStrousy. ORGANIZED DEMOCRAT.
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