Conservatism's history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save its credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation.
American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward to perdition.
It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near its leader. Its impotency is not hard to explain. It is worthless because it is the conservatism of expediency only, and not of sturdy principle. It tends to risk nothing serious for the sake of truth. This extended quote, offered over a hundred years ago, aptly applies to our age and day.