Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-12
ARE THEY CONSERVATIVES

The ''od wing" gentlemen who ostensibly
support Mr.. Bell for the presidency, while
they seek union with the democrats, usually
call themselves conservatives" We do not
question their honesty in assuming this appel.
lation. Most of them intend TO be conserya-
tives, but without having in thought the actual
meaning OF this term. They may not be will
ing to confess it publicly but they must, now
and then, have interpretive moods which
show them that there is an awkward mistake
about their conservatism, and that their pres
ent political position is due more to personal
preiudices, personal dslikes, and failure TO
read truly the "signs of the times" at the right
moment. than to actual convictions. If these
gentlemen were really intent on maintaining
true conservatism in politics., there would be
nothing in the country SO repelant to them as
the democratic party, and nothing more I'M
likely than their union with it. True consery-
atism does not lead in that direction.
There never was, and probably never will
be, in the country, another political organ
ization SO destructive in its influence as the
democratic party has been for some years.
Since 1850, it has introduced brood of start
ling and revolutionary doctrines which break
down the old policy of the government and
change the federal constitution itself. They
have brought infuite disturbance into the
country by repeating the Missouri compro-
mise. Democratic administrations have en-
couraged tibusters like Walker who has just
whose business is piratica invasion OF peace
able communities. And these things are none
the less dangerous for having been done in
favor of a barbarous institution which aims to
rule and transform the republic. With the
repeal of the Missouri compromise restriction,
there came an eruption of dangerous doctrines
and purposes which every honest conservative
should regard with adherence. Compare
them with the old doctrines and policy of the
country compare the doctrines put forth in
Judge Curtis decision in the bred Scott case,
with those proclaimed by Chief Justice fancy
and the later democratic platforms then con-
slider the position of those old wing "conserva.
tives," who are seeking political fraternity
to oppose and denounce but the republican
party which aims to turn back this tide of rev.
dictionary doctrines and influences. Conserv.
atiyes, indeed
True conservatism would deal more justly
by the republican party, which was organized
to rescue from destruction the constitution and
the old policy of the country on the slavery
question. 1t proposes no startling innovations.
Abraham Lincoln, our candidate for president,
has nothing to recommend him TO those who
would upset the constitution and change the
government On the slavery question, he is as a
republican very much what he was in the
days when he was Henry Clay wing He
believed then that the old policy of excluding
slavery from the territories should be sustain
ed, and he believes it now. All the new, de-
structive theories and doctrines on the slavery
question come from his political opponents,
whose bedeyilments, since 1850, have been so
many and so frightful, that even Daniel Web
ster's Seventh Of March Speech will scarcely
pass muster among them as national doc
ument. In fact, according to the national
standard of orthodoxy now in vogue, that
speech is full of incendiary heresies. Slave
democracy is progressive it constantly seeks
the lowest deeps Of the blacklist darkness in
politics it would hurry everything away into
"Chaos and Old Night" and yet old wings,
protesting to be conservative seek to Join
these destructives, and work with them.
against the party tia. proposes true converse
tism and makes Mr.. Lincoln its leader,-the
only party that aims to preserve the ideas and
the policy of the men who framed the govern.
ment.
There is another consideration which shows
protested by the men of whom we are speak
ing. Sooner than vote for Mr.. Lincoln, they
would subject the country TO the hazard and
peril of throwing the presidential election into
the house of representatives. Mr.. Lincoln is
the only man who can be elected by the PEG.
pie. No man in the country will undertake
to say that he is not able, honest, patriotic,
and conservative in the noblest fashion. De-
feat him, and the next thing must be a long
and violent strife in the house, attended by
great excitement and serious danger. True
conservatism will seek earnestly to avoid that
danger by securing an election of president by
the people. But this false conservatism is
earnestly at work in such states as New York
TO defeat Mr.. Lincoln, preferring fearful agita-
aon' danger, anything, TO the success of the
ony man whose election is possible. Are
sney conservatives who adopt this polcy9
MOI happily they are few in number, and
the smaliness Of their party should not sur.
PRISE them Narrow prejudices and inconsis
tent professions can not secure nohle resul,s