The Republican., 1937-03-04
SAYS US. IS CONSERVATIVE

shows that they are inherently con-
servative, according to Finley c. Hen
erickson, well known Maryland attor-
ney, writing in the current issue of the
National Republic under the caption
"Does the U. S. Need a New Party?"
Mr.. Hendrickson says that the present
display of radical strength in the
United States is due to the fact that
the radicals themselves have pene-
trated both parties and that they may
force new political alignment. In
part Mr.. Hendrickson says:
"What is the inherent character or
spirit of the people of these United
States? Taking the whole period of
our political history one must conclude
they are conservative, and that all the
radicalism which now envelops US is
but passing show if the conserva-
tives show it the door.
"The background Of this view fol-
lows:
"When the colonists had won their
independence, instead of flying off to
an opposite extreme, they chose form
of government lying midway between
the extremes. The golden mean of a
federal republic was chosen as best
suited to the genius and aspirations
of the American people.
"This conservatism had been mani
Tested in the several states even be-
fore the formation of the Constitution,
through parliamentary forms. Powers
were divided into legislative, executive
and judicial branches. Those divisions
do not belong to radicalism. Radical
ism demands the breakdown of checks
and balances.
Turning to the early efforts to erect
a national branch it is to be noted that
under the Articles of Confederation
the American people were SO conserva-
tive they were unwilling to place in
the national branch powers which could
only belong to that branch and which
the states could not exercise.
Then came the Constitutional Con-
vention with its conservative plan of
the Constitution. That original instru-
ment could never be called radical. The
idea of erecting government 'on the
consent of the governed was called
utopian, impractical and even impos-
sible, but no one declared it radical
venture.
GAS further accent to this view,
the anti-Federalists demanded a Bill
of Rights, trying to prevent Congress
from acting in radical manner. The
Federalists had been So conservative
in drafting the Constitution that they
had set out with particularly the
seventeen matters upon which Con-
gress could act. The anti-Federalists
wanted to make those boundaries fixed
and certain. The oath of every officer
was designed to bind all in authority
to protect and defend that conserva-
tive plan, and there was a special oath
embodied in the Constitution itself
which the President-elect had to take
as qualification to his high office,
preserve, protect and defend the Con-
stitution.' So here we may reflect
that the two fundamental schools of
political thought in. these United
States, Federal and anti-Federal,
sounded only in conservatism. Radi-
caGsm belongs to neither fundamental
school. ..., ra
Next, and somewhat in chronology
cal order, let us note that under that
conservative plan of a federal repub-
lie the American people lived up to
the time of the Civil War, without
shifting a power without a single
change in the structurs. of government.
Had the inherent, character of the
people been radical; great changes
would have been demanded and carried
out, almost from the first.
Coming to the secession movement,
which candor demands be taken into
account, if we must class. secession as
radical, we must also. note that the
Southern Confederacy adopted for it's
form of government almost word for
word the conservative plan of the
original Constitution.
"Indeed, if we are to compare all
socities of men over long period,
despite some radical amendments to
the Constitution, it may still be main
tained that the American character,
as reflected in our institutions, sus-
tains the view. tRa6.tHe United States
is the most conservative nation on
earth if we are to take into account
the progress which the world accords. -