The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-09-13
"Iy&'E ,,GE.s.
!. CONSERVATISM.

:" am a conservative, and, do not be.
liove in a fanatical radicalism. Il
Such is the oft repeated expression
used by many in our midst with refer
ence to tho conflicting sentiments .of the
day. A conservative what, is pop;
ularly understood by the torn conserya!
tive, is one who holds tenaciously to tho
old and tried customs! of the past, to the
old doctrines and old theories, while the
radical is an investigator, an innovation
always reaching after. the new and lun-
tried, and o reckless radicalism is that
which dashes.. aside the old because it is
1Rd ne srSss 'hS iadsss% RsS sPnEE nsEEoSaas Sc
condemned equally with that conserva.
tism which holds to the old simply be-
cause it is old-tbe son must 60 to mill
with the gristi 10 one end Of the bag and
the stone in the other because the father
did. But the philosophy Of conserva:
tism and:radicalism as thus set forth is
not attached to tho words as now used
in political parlance. A conservative is
agenteol and polite term to cover doubt
full loyalty. :. r..
Now conservatism means holding to
opinions and principles Of the past:
And. do they? or. rather, do they not :!
Every paroled rebcl will tell you he is
not in favor ofnew' ideas and new opin-
ions, but hangs on to his old ideas, h's
old principles, and if be dare to, histoId
practices. g., .,.. s,r i 81. - j..
If this is not a correct definition Of
conservatism, as tho term is applied, We
ask whore it can .be found7% :. ! - -. -
Conservatives opposed the war-that
is, very few conservatives ever werc in
the army, a few Were drafted in, few
were scared in, and few. went in with
mercenary motives, or to purchase the
empty honors Of shoulder.straps.
Conservatives met at Chicago and de.
clared the four years of war a failure,
yet threw out q tub 10 the whale, in the
shape Of thanks (?) to our soldiers for
the failure. Some Of the conservatives,
however, got into Chambersburg, and
trre to the spirit Of conservative ehivalry,
set FIRE to the heart of that beautiful
city and soon laid hundred peaceful
homes in ashes. Gen. Early with twenty.
three thousand conservatives, a year age
last July, armed and equipped, drove the
handful Of Federal troops ont of>thit
valley, and advancing mensted the very
gates Of the Federal Capital. We know
this, for some Of them in this town and
coyqty yafe ejabef7snvaKs vaKs@rna11s'! they
I hang to tho old ideas, dogmas, principles
passions and prejudices Of the past
they do not believe in radicalism, I
change for tho new, but arc the Same il
feeling, sentiments, and opinion, they
we're when marching through the valley
On Saturday last conservative was
arrested and thrown in Jail hero fo'
reasonable language; be let off hi. con
servatism by saying that !" be always
was rebel and always would be J" that
+" the Confederacy would be established
| in less than; fifteen years; and that
when necessary, be would fig ght tor IT,.
This is the most satisfactory declaration
rof conservative principles We have, me,
with, and shows bat conservatives WILL
stick to their old opinions. How beau
tifully conservatism mauifests Itself: IL
our community Berkeley Union. ~,