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Show THE TWO-THIRDS RULE. Indications are that at the coming National Democratic convention the two-thirds rule (which requires that the nominee must have two-thirds of the total vote of tho convention), will be abolished. The reason is to get rid of a possible obstructive minority which might trouble the reorganlzers, who expect ex-pect to have control of the convention, but who may not have the necessary two-thirds of the vote required under the old rule to nominate. The majority of tho convention can adopt such rules as It sees fit for the guidance of the convention. So that the two-thirds rule Itself is subject to the consent of a majority of the votes. It Is possible that if th'c reorganlzers find themselves likely to be held up by a fraction over one-third, they will abolish the two-thIrd3 rule; but if they have a clear two-thirds vote, they will probably let the rule stand. And it may be that they are using the threat to repeal that rule to quell any minority minor-ity obstruction. The two-thirds rule was adopted and maintained for the purpose of protecting protect-ing the slaveholders of the South. The North was gaining In population and Influence far beyond the rate of increase in-crease In the South, and the latter felt the need of somo means whereby It could protect Us "peculiar Institution," and prevent the nomination of any candidate can-didate who might be disposed tomeddlo with or restrict slavery. The crucial test under this protectlvo rule came in the National Democratic convention at Charleston, South Carolina, Caro-lina, In I860, when Stephen A. Douglas had a clear majority of the delegates, but could not get two-thirds. After a long and heated session and controversy, controver-sy, adjournment was taken to Baltl-l Baltl-l more, where tho spilt In. the party came, Douglas being nominated by the northern north-ern wing of the party, and Breckinridge by the southern. This two-thirds rule in the Dcmo- cratlc convention Is a relic of the old slavery fight. The reason for Its adop-L adop-L tlon and enforcement has long passed ' away. Its mlschievousness from a i National standpoint was evident In the i proceedings above referred to, and . which, with the election of Abraham I Lincoln, ' precipitated the War of the Rebellion. There being no further ' reason for Its existence, the right thing i is to do away with It, and let the pro- ceedlngs of the convention be on the i straightforward, well-understood Arncr-l Arncr-l lean plan of majority rule. |