The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-02-23 00:00:00

EDINBURGH CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.

The Edinburgh Evening Post of Saturday contains an inter-
esting article on the rapid and yet steady progress of conserve-
tive principles in Scotland, and an account of the first anniversary
dinner of the Edinburgh Conservative Association, which took
place on Wednesday last, Robert Ritchie, Esq., in the chair.
" At this dinner," says the Edinburgh Evening Post, " every
class of the consinunity, from the highest to the humblest, was
represented on this auspicious occasion; the landed proprietor,
the wealthy resident, the professional man, the merchant and
the tradesman, all joined in the celebration of their common
principles."
Among the company present were Sir J. S. Forbes, Sir John
Oswald, Major Pringle,, Cut Macdonald, of Pewderhall, Mr.
Boner, of Ratho, F. Irvine, Esq., of Shivas, A. Urquhart, Esq.,
advocate, H. G. Bell, Bsq., advocate, and other members of the
learned professions; William M'lntosh, Esq., W. H. Brown,
Esq., of Ashley Hell, and W. Marshall, Esq., croupiers.
The Chairman, in giving I' Prosperity to the Edinburgh
Conservative Association"—a toast drank with great enthu-
-.
siastn—in describing the objects fur which they were associated,
said, " Gentlemen, this association has no secrets—no oaths to
bind—no other object than the extension of conservative prin-
ciples. Our simple declaration is our determination to main-
tain the tried and ancient principles on which the constitution
of our country is established—to, support the dignity of the
'crown—the independence of the lords—the freedom of debate
of the commons—to defend our national church—and our motto
is the old watchword of Church and King.' (Loud cheers.)
The day has been, gentlemen, when such associations were in-
deed useless, when loyalty was no virtue, when the monarchy
was respected, when the King was considered the father of his
people, when reverence was paid to the established religion of
the laud, when the gradual amelioration of the institutions it
the country satisfied the rational demands of the people, when,
in truth, the different estates of the realm had each their value
in a nation's eyes.' (Cheers.) Now things are differently coi -
.stituted; we- are daily a&lstoined to hear and read all that was
once respected unsparingly condemned. Every institution is
said to be behind the march of the age. Reckless innovation
rears its hydra head, aiming, by the efforts of its infatuated de-
votees, to alter, but not to improve, to demolish at one fell swoop
every landmark of the constitution, to destroy the balance in
the state, and substitute the schemes and crude absurdities of
selfish, interested, or unprincipled men. (Loud cheering.)
To carry their plans into effect we have unions of every kind;
with their tricolour emblems of republicanism, to their sedi-
tious emblems of a degraded monarchy. Political and Reform.
Unions have corrupted our towns and villages, and broken
their peaceful society. Loyalty, once the pride and boast of
Scotsmen, has indeed sunk ninny degrees—and such is almost
the savage assailmetit that rank, station, and worth meet with,
who openly avow their conservative principles, that we almost
blush for our land, "when stript of halt her charms." Loyalty,
once considered our boast, is now made the subject of sneer,
taunt, ridicule, or intimidation; and it now requires courage
for the humble man to openly avow "that he fears God and ho-
hours his king. This loyal association, emanating from the
middle classes of conservatives in this city, was formed some
time ago, and with pride I now look to it as already number-
ing many hundreds of our respectable townsmen—and we cor-
dially invite all our fellow-citizens who love the institutions of
the country—who love peace and the continuance of social order
—who wish to cultivate kindly feelings to each other, to join our
ranks."
The pre-occupation of our space prevents us from noticing
the other speeches delivered on this occasion. From this and
other manifestations of the increase of conservatism in all quar-
ters we are iuduNd to hope, and indeed to believe, that its
spirit will in the end prevail throughout the British empire. If
its that empire is to be preserved in present state of greatness
it can only be done by the universal dissemination of conserva-
tive principles among the people.