The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-03-10
Conservatism.


proposes to put up with the ills we have
rather than attempt reforms and the
destruction of evil by the adoption of
new measures. Or, in other words, one
who desires to continue old forms, even
though great evil is attendant upon
them, rather than change the form in
order to suppress the evil.
AS an example in point: the Gazette
is as much opposed to Legislative cor
ruption as we are. We favor Constr
tutional Convention, which is the only
means of destroying the evil-the Ga
zette opposes such Convention because
1t is an innovation upon "what Is estab-
lished."
We want to take from the Legislature
the power to pass what are called pri-
yate bills and compel all legislation to
be general. Tho only way to effect this
is by an amendment of the Constitution.
The conservative course is to oppose
Constitutional amendment and thereby
sustain the basis Of Legislative corrup-
tion.
We would have only general laws to
control Railroad and all other chartered
companies, we would restrict their rights
and define their duties by Constitutional
provision, and give the Courts full
power to enforce these, but this Is not
conservative.
We want-and it is the great want of
the times-such reformation in elections
as will prevent cheating and give to
every party and every voter due voice
| In the Government. To accomplish
this the motive to cheat must be taken
away. A Constitutional convention
alone can do that to the full extent.
The conservative is against altering
Constitutions and against change. He
would therefore continue the evils COM
planned of. We therefore object to con-
| servatism and demand that these evils
| be remedied.
The Constitution was good for its day.
So was the Legislation of old. But by
frauds under this Constitution, the Ga
zette well knows, nearly one half our
voters have no voice in the Government
it knows that in '63, '66 and '69, the
| Democrats elected their candidates for
Governor in this State, and that NC
| CLELLAND carried the State for Presi-
dent in '64, but the counts of the votes
were made to tell different tale-it
knows too, that millions are spent to
carry elections, and that fraud and bri-
berry are applied to all elections, as well
| in small as in great offices, that the evil
prevails every where, that the excite
ment attenda 1T upon elections prevents
cool reasoning and the exercise OF COM
mon sense-and ii knows, further, that
our Legislature has become wretchedly
corrupt, and that money buys legisla-
ton that is an outrage on the rights OF
the people and Is dangerous to liberty
itself. Yet it would have every body
sit on their conservative hunkers and
brook all this public wrong rather than
sooth, because be'thei the institutions We have
once answered good purpose-contin-
ued to answer good purpose until
rogues multiplied and learned how to
perpetrate rascality under them.
+ In this world new wants are constant.
ly occurring and new measures of gov
ernment become necessary to meet
them. The Republican party has so
debauched the country that new meas.
ures must be adopted to restore it to
pristine purity. We must do as our
Fathers before us did, when they found
that the existing institutions defeated
their will or oppressed their rghtsthey
altered or abolished them, and remod.
led old arrangements or adopted new
ones as the purpose they had in view
demanded.
We want as much as any to sustain
, the spirit of old institutions, but we
want measures that will vigorously ac-
, complish that end. We recognise that
there is such thing as progress, and
that laws and institutions must keep
, pace with it. If good reasons can be
offered against proposed measures, we
, are willing to hear them and give them
, due weight, but we have no regard for
him who stands in the way of every re.
form with the naked objection that it
, never had been adopted before.
al Our nation exhibits all the character
| istics of growing youth and vigor. En-.
, ergetic blood flows hotly through its
| veins, and the fountain of circulation
y must have strength, power and activity.
!. Conservatism is palsy of the heart or al
{ the heart. Laws that are good for the
: lad of 10 or 90 are worthless when ap
r piled to the vigor of 80 to 20. Nations
A grow as men grow, and laws mustadap
n themselves to the growth. The men o
/. thirty years ago We're not surrounded
i anil combined by Railroads and othel
IS powerful incorporationsas as they now arr
@ space was not then annihilated as it i
now by lighting telegraphs--all busines
Is srevolutionized, and manners and Gus
ID toms, as well AS modes of action ar,
p constantly undergoing rapid change, o
IS course new evils constantly arise, 1.-THE
y devil is ever busy new energies are O
,e daily development, new wants are O
lie constant occurrence, and conservatism
ID can never meet the demands of these,
ID The public wants therefore deman,
Of enlightened and energetic Statesmen
l. Another JEFFERSON is wanted tomar
out more perfect paths for the freest es
s. ercise OF popular rights-other JAcE
Is SONS are wanted to throttle the finar
1t cial monster robbers of the day-grei
n Democratic statesmen are wanted las
y old) to whom the people will look {
g guiding stars to lead them on to untro'
n den paths of prosperity, happiness ar
'g peace-whose genius will give the
ar simple laws that will protect all the
< rights and crush every wrong. 1t is n
u. the office of conservatism to do this
ID any part of it, and although those wi
al steadily hold back and clog the whee
y of progress may do about as much go'
~ as harm, they are not now the men +
re the times. As with men SO with partie