New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
TJPCTNJ4 REBELISN.

The Virginia Democratic platform anu the
nomination of Fitznugh Lee for Governor ht
each other very we'll. The candidate was
nominated because his name was Fitzhugh Lee
and not Fitzhugh Jones or Smith. HIS reia-
tionship to the Confe lerate General was more
important than his personal fitness in the eyes
of the convention. or he wOdld never have been
selected To honor the cause oil the rebellion
was as plainly the object OF this nomination
as of the lowering of the flag over the Interior
Department ut Washington in memory OF the
only chief of that Department who ever prove
a rebel and thief. The candidate Is not an
effective speaker. His committee does not dare
allow him &c meet his opponent III debate, anu
therefore decides that debates are not to be
permitted He is not politically popular with
his party, because he once wrote letter tai KING
extreme grounds in favor of most radical
measures for the payment of the whole debt
the part of West Virginia as well as that OF
Virginia-with interest in full, position which
does not commend him to his own party in
Virginia. But he bears the name anu Is IA
relative of q great leader in re belion, and that
is enough.
The platform accordingly sets up the ghost OF
State sovereignty against the authority Oh the
United States. 1t declares that the question Is
"whether the State of Virginia shall be ar
araigned before the Federal Courts, control led
@by Republican Judges adjudicating upon the
@sovereign rights of the State III the interest OF
the bondholders." 1t does not clearly appear
by what particular revolutionary or rebelous
proceeding the Democrats of Virginia propose
ON this occasion to resist the decision of the
United States Supreme Court. Evidently they
believe that the Democrats will be eager to wei
come any form of resistance, and Will not care
much how it is done, if only the fuTlcd ban
ner " can be in some way unfurcd with Lee
to lead the resistance, and Democratic President
at Washington, the men who appeal to the rebel
| spirit hope for better luck KIT time
| 1t is well to observe at the threshold of a
campaign which may prove of National impor-
| lance, that it is only by Il successful defiance
and defeat of United States laws that the rebels
of Virginia hope to elect Lee. They mean To
Overpower majority of the people OF the State,
to deprive enough of the right of suffrage in
defiance of the Constitution to give minority
| the power, and to nullify acts of Congress de-
signed to protect citizens in the exercise OF the
right of suffrage by means of these acts OF the
| Virginia Legislature which give to partisan
officials unlimited opportunity for the safe
exclusion of voters and for fraud. The Repub-
| icans of Virginia have only this one obstacle to
overcome. If they can uphold and enforce the
laws and the Constitution of the United States,
they are sure to prevail. But the rebellion led
by Lee and appealing to the people to set up
State sovereignty against the United States
authority, will conquer if it can, by putting
down the Constitution which cnfranchised the
negroes and the laws which were designed to
protect all citizens in their rights.