New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-11
THE TVO-THIRDS RULE.

The Bryanite talk Of abolshing the two
thirds rule In the next Democratic National
Convention is a significant reminder OF the dis
lance the dominant influence of the Dcmoc-
racy has travelled from the old traditions of
that party. The Democratic party has had oil
sorts of principles and always found 1t easy to
reverse itself to suit occasion. but 1t has been
most conservative In matters OF organization
and chung to its early procedure as one OF the
signs of its boosted continuity through all vicis
STUDIES of changing policy. The two-thirds
rule has been in existence ever since the Demo
cratic party had National conventions. and has
been regularly reaffirmed In spite OF periodic
efforts TO secure its abolition for the benefit OF
some individual candidate. To set it aside now
would perhaps more completely thah any COLI
tradiction between successive platforms con-
vince Democrats possessed by the fetich OF
regularity" that the party or their devouoh
has suffered transformation. True, the Two
thirds requirement was only parllamentar!
rule established by each Convention, but the
spirit Of 1t was so instinct In the old Democracy
that under the greatest pressure warning rae
lions did not dare to overthrow II, and even
when. as in 1860. the party split ana held TWO
conventions the regular or Douglas assemDlage
decided 10 nominate on the votes OF two-thrds
of q full Convention, and only abandoned that
plan when. after long delay it was found impos-
sible to gather twothirds Of the regularly elect
cd delegates together so as to comply with the
rule even on a unanimous vote.
In theory the twOthirds rule Is supposed to
give National sanction to the acts or n con-
vention. and prevent the domination OF sec
ton In the old days 1t practically SUD
iected the Democracy to Southern dictation'
and was the chief reliance Of schemers to de-
feat the real preferences of majority OF the
party voters. On one occasion 1t did actually
overthrow the candidate who entered the Con-
vention not merely as the strongest man, but
rs the actual choice Of the majority. or the
266 votes In the Convention of 1874 Mr.. Van
Buren, had JAG, but by the two-thrds rule the
Southern minority were able 10 supplant him
with the first real dark horse Of American pol
itics. and then insult Mr.. Van Buren, with as
suro noes TO him I'm his honorable retirement
of deeply seated confidence and affection. In no
other case yns an actual majority overturned
as in me nomination Of Polk, but on more than
one occasion leading candidates who might
otherwise have secured half convention In
the course Of few ballots lost support from
the first trial Of strength owing to the evident
impossibility Of securing the necessary two
thirds before combinations could he formed
against them General Cass was the favorte OF
1879 but the South In the end named Pierce.
Again. in 1868, Pendleton had the party SEN
timent. and was near enough majority vote
10 have been surely nominated had no more
been required. In that same Convention also
General Hancock or Mr.. Hendricks might pos
sibly have secured a majority, but the New
York and Pennsylvania delegations, with nifty