The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-08

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1899.
RADICAL AND CONSERVATIVE.
synopsis of Lecture Given by Supt H. v. .
Fallor ON nonday Evenlng-.A Thought-
full Address.
The Baptist CHURCH was well filled
last evening and the address by Supt.
IL. v. Failor well repaid the audience.
MT. Failor is student not only of
books but of mon and affairs and his
lecture contained much helpful thought
along practical lines. In the course of
his remarks Mr.. Fai!or said:
The radical is a reproduction of the
child. Whether burning with hatred
toward mankind, or consumed with a
passion for righteousness, he is general
~ narrow. His mind developed by
simple observation and habits OF emo
tional reasoning, fails adequately to
perceive the actual conditions of SO.
ciety. Visionary, dreaming and short
sighted, he forces facts to accord with
his theory instead of conceiving q
theory based on facts. Himself fired
with holy zeal for suffering human
ity he consigns to the class ofhypocrites
all who differ from him. Regardless of
the Intersections of human nature, he
bases his utopias upon imaginary be.
ings. His pictures of a perfect society
presupposes perfect humanity, and
(blind to the facts that the adaptation
OF people to new conditions must be
slow: that advancement cannot be
spasmodic: that external change does
not at once alter the inner life of a ma
ton: that new character must pre-
cede any permanent exterior change,
and that enduring reforms are gradual)
he impatiently cries out for immed late
reform and attempts its execution.
His righteous zeal does not avert the
consequences of his precipitate action.
The radical is one-sided. Prejudice
and bigotry prevent common-sense
Judgment.
Produced by ignorance and egotism,
and nourished by emotion the zealot
works untold harm. Amelioration is q
cowardly compromise. Like Rousseau
he would have no reform, but revolu-
ton. He gives no careful consideration
to consequences: sober thought is
abandoned, unrest and passion rule
him. He destroys, knowing not what
or how to build. No half way measures
with him; he is radical; he would
destroy root and branch-he is destruc-
tive, never constructive; you see him
in politics, religion and education.
/ Truth is many sided, but the radical,
does not know it: he sees ONE thing
and nothing else. Many differences in
opinion are but apparent, presenting
simply different phases of subject.
| The extreme conservative is bound
| by prejudice to the ruts of custom. He
II is an old man, creature OF habit,
clinging fondly to what has served it's
purpose, and is now useless, detesting
change, scorning progress, defying the
inevitable. He resents discovery, in.
vention and advancement-wh whatever
is, and has been, is right.
The conservative is afraid of growth.
Evolution is almost as hateful word
| to him as revolvtion; he prefers devolu-
ton. He does not and cannot re.adjust
himself to new conditions, higher and!
1 broader standards.
| We need conservatism, or conserva-
ton Of what has proved good; we need
stability; no one admires the man toss
| ed to and by every windof doctrine
but stability is not incompatible with
progress.
There are conservative school teachers
and radical school teachers. Teachers
set, blind as batsto anything up-to-date,
content; Others anxious to launch into
anything new-fangled in education,
curiosity hunters, sensationalists, fad
dlsts; infinite energy misdirected; pre-
cious moments lost in foolish expert
ments; .slife in theory even divorced
from the beautiful present, etfulgent
with opportunity.
The anarchist, the demogogue, the
revolutionary reformer, are especially
to be feared at the present. AS abso-
lutism tends to extreme conservatism
so does democracy to extreme radical
ism. Hence, in ademocracy, as in no
other form of government, the people
! must be thought to think. The intel
lect, not passion, must rule. The judy
ment. not emotions, must govern. The
hope for the nation, the salvation of the
church, the future of the industrial life
OF our beloved commonwealth, hinge on
a thinking citizenship.
The surest retrogressions are at
tempts at impossible progress.
Reason should dominate impulse.
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