The New York herald., 1867-03-13
"CONSER vATISM.n
Lecture By George William Curtis.

george William curtis delivered his popular lecture on
Conservatism" last night st tho Reformed Dutch
church, In sixth avenue before numerous and highly
respectable audience composed largely OF ladies' This
was the last Of series Of vo lectures which have been
delivered fortnightly at this church.
After being introduced by the chairman the lecturer
said that the word seah," which Is Of such frequent
occurrence throughout the psalms of David
comfort to large numbers OF pious old women who have
looked upon exclamation Of triumph or rejoicing
and burst Into paroxysm OF delight when they sjacu
late the word and that . larger proportion OF 'old
women" not our grandmothers venerable matrons
but persons Of the opposite SEX and Of mature age
were equally delighted with the word Conservatism
which seemed TO them to express permanence but was
in reality expressive OF nothing moro definite than the
word seiah. He wished 10 know what was meant by
conservatism, was in religion, in in poll
tics and who tho conservative menS He ud not
mean to that all conservatives stupid but all
stupid persons are conservatives; and he wished TO
know whether conservatism In its political sense
ut present. Justined the name Conservatism might be
applied 10 seed cast into the ground which maintained
and reproduced it. or an instance OF conservatism might
be found in the toad embedded the rock for hun
dred years and stu remaining intact and perfect Take
our government eighty years and then Il seed
cast upon the virgin soil Of this continent possessing, n
1t possessed anything the full budding germ Of liberty
which has since then blossomed fruitfuy. Who he
asked were among the most conservative men
Of the n, last gen generation Y no. Daniel Web
ster Of 1888 the Webster OF 1915 And OF the
Of own day and State he would ask who was
conservative Of that which we intend to leave to
future generatons-our Amerca-than William II. Sew
a.df He would tell them that when William II. Seward
the most conservative was when he carried the
standard of liberty across the country and planting
IN the citadel Of slavery and secession, made such
freedom. And when he was most destructive when
he staggered through aggomerated crowd asked
them whether they would have Andrew johnson FOR
President or king The motto OF the conservatives OF
the present day Blessed the conservatives for
they shall inherit the Custom House and the Execu
fUAh hrn md hnt hirfv- ,a
of England had learned what also have learned In
this country-that whoever is tho master OF his own
labor and its fruit property holder Conservatism
yielded the honor in the reform debate OF 1892
when England was hanging the verge Of civil war;
Then conservatism clntchcd its hands and cried "We
do not to takc the risk Of reforml" But society
advances by the consequences OF taking the risks
friend Of his In England warned not to
stake the risks" but he accepted them and now
ceive intelligence from the Old World in quarter Of
hour and Cyrus W. Field is ranked OF the enter
prising OF ha day. Prussia resolved TO "take the
risk" OF humbng the night and arrogance OF austria
marched Gu. to battle On the rst day after the decn
ration Of war she breskfasted on saxong as s,og
brilliant fis aud dashiug msneuvres achieved ons Of the
mos. M s o y ,snra a % as a
to the 10. Of any nation TO win. II was madness !
But. il was inspiration. Four years ago Mcclellan was
creeping along ihe peninsula, watching and waiting
and calling for reinforcement, but afraid stake
the rsk' The enemy looked across his mind and saw
his hesitation they dashed upon hts fanks and the re-
suit Il well known. Two years later the risk !" was
taken in front Of Petersburg. When "the mnc" :"
to DO sprung front OF that city Burnside waiting,
watch in hand the shock Of the explosion; but
not to bc heard some ono suggested, Probably the
It's truth. and Pennsy snia boy volunteered from the
ranks for tho duty Of retiring the match He had only
the holds such no
low Of his hand; and that boy lived until the follow
n es Ssy.s who
country is the offspring Of British conservatism,
ssssn ssss q Sra'. socs and s' passed ne
Congrcss, and evcry action In Congress- regarding
that Declaration Of Independence was not lis but
that il the truth. Conservatism replied that they
was not crack Of rife the gleam OF bowie knife
In from tho aDoonss; nothing but an appeal 10
20 a. 'e the dsSrs o Congress and said
back wait till the blood Of our brothers has drippcd
from your hands," the spirit Of conservatism became
dated power in the hands Of Congress- instead Of dis
pensing it through the hands of one man. President
johnson" Conservatism counsels magnanmity to our
late foes 1t was human nature that surrendered TO
General Grant, General Lee, and in dealing 80 very
ieuiently with yanquished to suppose that
millennium Of good fellow ship about to be naugura'ed
between the North and South ? EdmundDBurko has
truly said ssTbcre arc few clumsy In busi
fall into the which proved tie ruin Of
the states Of the South and the great cities OF the North
The Northern newspapers which, so Tar as they hougnt
prudent supported the rebellion, were conservative
against the American Union was tolerated we're the
drawing Of conservative occupants, and tue OK
chief Of prize ring Is the conservative representative
in Congress OF New York. Radcalism Is the heroic
moral principle OF the nation acting through its CON-
mon sense and intelligence, and It's principles are gen.
erosty conquered rebels justice 70 the memory of the
doad boys bue and freedom in Its integrity 70 the
whole nation Six years ago the newly elected President
OF the American republic passed through this city Tho
cheers that greeted him were few. He stood on the
steps of the City Hall and confronted Fernando Wood
there were tho representative ideals Of conservatism and
ra icalsm The conservative said. "t necessary, IN
order TO save this Unisn that much shall DO sacri
lced.n The republican replied ''sr ! understand
the ship to be made for carrying the cargo" They
parted each TO his room-the radical 70 summon
brave 10 arms and the conservative 70 hatch COP
perheads to sting them in the heel -Four years later
atisms and greatest victim passed through
New York The great city wrapped itself In its woe,
the banners dropped mournfuIly In the still sad air the
horns echoed soenly the march Of the dead and hep
away lakes and rivers, prares and bills, wound the
funeral rain bearing ts sad freight TO It's resng place
in the West. Funeral train IL was the conqueror
coming home; IL the ono great American who
taught us patient fidelity TO the rights OF al men 10
tho only conservative principle In American poltcA
Al the close Of the lecture, - well as very frequently
during delivery the lecturer heartily applauded
mlccAlnl ccici hTuue