Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-08-31
PERILOUS RIDE
IN THE AIR.
CONSERVATISM
TRUE AND FALSE

One OF the great American parties
Is about to acclaim the return of n
man whose name has long been a
SYNONYM for radicalism of the de-
struCtlve sort, and the hearts OF mil
lions of political opponents viii echo
the welcome. Barely decade has
passed since Mr.. Bryan led his fol
lowers to overwhelming defeat. The
verdict then registered was reaalrm-
cd | nthe most decisive manner In
the election OF 1900 and it was quite
reasonable 10 suppose that the young
Nebrassan was thenceforth To stand
In the category of Webster aud Clay.
as one who might aspire to any
office 1 nthe gift OF the people -ex-
cept the highest
But time has wrought wondrous
change during the interim. and IL
begins 10 be perceived that he was
the truest conservative who was bold
enough TO sound clarion not against
plutocracy and plutocracy's works
To-day no courage Is needed to take
up arms In the battle that is already
hair won. Indeed. the main merit
Just now consists In refusing to be
carried away ythe clamor OF DEM
agogues who are unable or unwilling
TO grasp the tremendous problems
the nation WAS TO solve The case
is. of course, familiar TO All students
OF history. Everybody knows how
John Bright led the movement for
tho emancipation OF the British
masses and how the evening OF his
life was spent in the shadow. merely
because he could not accept certain
consequences OF the original propa
ganda. Mr.. Gladstone. despite the
continuous growth OF his mind.
could never have fallen I'm with the
Idea OF disestablishment witch Is
bound to be victorious IN the not
distant future. Leon Gambetta was
stricken down In his prime. but had
he lived long enough to see that a
struGPle with the ultra rapublicans
drew near Abraham Lincoln woulI
have been bound TO challenge the
fanatics OF his party. n the assass-
in's bullet had not laid him low nt
the zenith Of his fame. Prince Bis
mark frettcd ont his old age IN half
silent revolt against the ao"olutism
he had so sedulously preached and
practioed. while the reins rested in
his clutch.
Happy Is the statesman who holds
the respect uf his countrymen
through all the vicissitudes Of opin-
ion. Still happier Is the people who
can rightly appraise it's heayen-sent
leaders. II was the curse OF reyolu-
tionary France that the path from
the tribune to the gulllotine was so
terribly short IN this respect, Rome
gave q saving example To- the world
when she thanked the consul who
had borne her eagles to disaster at
Cannae
Conservatism and radicalism are.
after all. but relative terms. He is
the true conservative who, noting
that the ganRrene has begun 10 prey
upon some limb OF the common
wealth advocates the timely use OF
the knife. Per contra he is the real
radical who stands for the sancity Of
all institutions and forms which have
come down from long past IN
the one case. comparatively simple
act OF surgery is found TO suffice. I'm
the other the Caesarcan operation
becomes essential 90 the birth OF the
new order Looking backward e Is
clear as the MONDAY that the repub-
lic could not have survived perma-
nent sway Of the financial autocrats
and the trusts New Orleans Times
Democrat