Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-02

ton OF the twD-tnlruS RUE. ~ SiySi
has carefully weighed all the con-
siderations involved in the retention
or abrogation of the practice, and de-
cides in favor of the two-thirds rule.
The Post, of course, has reasons for Its
faith and action, and they are COM
prised In the following sentences:
While 1t Is INCIDENTALLY true that the dark
horse feature OF that dhe two.thlrdC rule
is a dangerous one, since 1t has given tho
country many n president who was, by far,
not the best the people could afford.wc hold,
on the other hand, that In state conventions
the main thing that is 10 be looked to Is the
most complete expression OF n partys opin-
ion. The larger the vote In favor of can
dlinte, the greater the confidence OF the peo-
pleat large In the wisdom and discretion OF
the party. That is strong point, we
think. aud one that deserves due consicra.
tlon. one.thlrd minority can DO over.
come, but when the half OF a convention, less
n few individuals, expresses dissent IT is I'M
safe to rely implicitly upon popular conf.
dencc. Hence mt the risk OF being ranlsd
with the fossils, the Post votes for the two.
thirds rule, and means 10 stand by 1t.
Why distinction should he drawn
10y the Post between national and
state conventions, is q puz2ler. II the
two-thirds rule is desirable in state
nominations, it should be equally
valuable as TO national ticket. The
same principles or considerations APP
ply to each case. The Post says II
''one-third minority can be overcome,n
but does not vouchsafe information
how it Is to be done. The evidence
Of observation /, that the dark horse
is the ouly means of overcoming
minority. Oar contemporary, how
ever, has right to iits opinions and
we shall not call it u fossil, either. 1t
invites tho risk, though, Of
being considered somewhat ar
rogant and egotistical. 1t Is just
about week ago that the Post gave
up It's fifth page TO what it called an
exposition of the Democratic sentiment
ofTexas. II had sent to one or more
prominent and representative Demo-
Gratis in every organized county
of Texas n list OF
| printed interrogatories, asking for
Information ms to Democratic sentiment
on certain points. One Of these was
the abrogation Of the two.thirds and
the substitution of the majority rule.
II did not seek, so it said, iHliriduoi
expressions of opinion, but fair state
ment of the preponderance of Demo-
cratic sentiment in each county. The
responses poured in and the Post pub
lished them. with great flourish OF
trumpets. 1t sald, editorially, that the
aggregate OF opinion, as illustrated in
those replies, represented the views
1 and desires of Texas Democracy. Thii
was Il broad assertion, but we propos,
= to concede its accuracy. The figure
thus presented showed the stronges
= kind of sentiment for the abrogatol
9 OF the two-thirds, and adoption of tn
. majority rule. The ratio was NOR
u than two TO one. Now what Is tn
&c Post going TO do about this? 1t ha
At presented, according to its own claim
'e the aggregate of Democratic sentimeu
J In Texas, and that sentiment is ovel
u whelmingiy against the twO-third
IL rule. To be consistent and Democrat
le the Post should bow TO the Verde
{, thus rendered and accept II. But
~ says it will not do anything of III
u kind, IL is going to hang on to the twr
III thirds rule. Perhaps our contemp,
'' rary thinks the Democrats of Texas M
Y deluded about what they believe an
70 desire. They want the two-thirds rul
L. abrogaled, rs the Post has lust shown
~ they believe 1t does the party MOI
10 harm than good, But the Post Is e,
70 ing to convince them that they are n
~ wrong and they must cling on to tn
old rule. This is the logic, In nu
M shell, of the Posts position. Eth,
" this, or its trumpeted exposition
vi Democratic sentiment was such onl
40 in name, and hence the Post does n,
" propose to be guided by 1t, 1t can tai
W either horn OF the dilemma, IL mn
Us be remarked, however, that it is
Nv Democratic practice, older than IL
as two-thirds rule, to accept the unmi
taxable voice of the party. The G.
Nv zErrE fayors the majority rule, aud
~ so doing believes thati it Is en- rdppo
~ with Democratic sentiment In Texa
:" But II the GAZETTE, desiring TO asce
~ tain the true status of the party on III
y, question, had pursued the method n
W. Gently adopted by the Post; had sougl
Nv and received information las the Po
'H' claims Il did from really intelligel
- and representative Democratic source
~ and the verdict had been two To on
'h against the majority rule--then III
w GAZETTE, MS n consistent and 10y,
~ exponent OF Democratic sentimen
~ would forego the advocacy of its ow
~ views, subordinate its own preference,
=, To the voice OF the people, aud urge I'll
~ retention of the two.thirds rule. An
~ 1t could do this without any sacrin,
~ OF principle or lack OF consistency.
~ Dallas aud Fort Worth.
lie Dallas Is getting frightened. Sh