Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-03
CONSERVATISM.

There are some terms, which, from their liabili-
ty to abuse, should never be introduced into our
political vocabulary. In fact, the meaning of ali
terms used to designate parties and party-policy
must ever be changing and fuctuating 1t is the
great danger of pinning our faith to any party,
that its policy will change while the name under
which it won favor and triumphed, remains the
same Such for instance is the democratic party.
We once rightly looked to it as the safeguard Of
American freedom and the bulwark of the consti-
tuition. We of the South and of South Carolina,
most especially, almost idolized it, because we es-
teemed it the great barrier to consolidationism
and all its attendant evils. We wondered how any
one at the South could affiliate with the Wings,
when their avowed principles would manisestly
place the rights of the Southern peoplc-already
in minority.-at the disposal of n majority in
deed with lasting antipathy for the institutions
and the free trade proclivites of that section
And did we not know the power of prestige and
the deception in names, we would have regarded
it altogether an inexplicabe mystery. But that
party had adopted historic name, baptized in
the best blood of heroes and endeared by associa
tion with all that was great or spendidin the past
Many who could not discriminate between the ten
denotes of the two policies professed to be Wings,
because that had been the title of heroes and he
roic statesmen. And thus for time, party de-
cidedly anti-repubican in its tendency was pop
ularly supported and what is far more surprising
supported at the South, when the success Of its
principles would have been fatal to the patent in
terests of that section. Ultimately, when the de-
ceptiva charm of name wore off, and partisan
warmth subsidized into sober reason, the Democrat
ic party triumphed.
AL men capable of understanding the simplest
proposition, knew that strict construction of the
constitution-the basis upon which the party was
bottomed-was sune1ceptionable, and the only bar
rier to the innovations and extravagances which
has hitherto ruined all republican precursors.
With this avowed principle it triumphed, but so
uncertain is the landmarks Of party organiza-
tions, that it would be difficult to show wherein
that party differs practically from the old line
Wings. Here then we see an illustration Of the
proposition we advanced, that all terms designa-
ting parties are liable to be perverted by the i'm
perceptible transition of the parting from one
platform to another But how much more liable
to abuse is such term as conservatism, when it
impossible to define and apply it satisfactorily to
any proposition. To US of the South, conserva-
tism would signify restoration of the last equi-
librium between the North and the South. In
New York it will have a meaning altogether diff
ferent 1t resembles garment worn by conno-
seurs in the art of dress and known under the op-
probrious title of turncoat, which has different
sides to suit different tastes. 1t is convenient
subterfuge for that intangible class of politicians
around whom the nebul@ of underlined PROPOSE
tions and theories float in eternal chaos. If it
means anything it is something that no neunder-
stands, and consequently, no one can affirm that
it is not perfectly good. 1t an euphemious term
which tickles the pouar ear, and serves as cloak
for pretentious mediocrity. Let the South then
be ware of the boosted conservatism of the Dem
Ocratic Party for it is turncoat that suits both
Iatitudss.