Year: 1859

Conservatism.


In these latter days of radical extremes.
when the widest ideas are boldly ad-
vaaced, and the most ultra theories ca
gerly embraced, the virtue of conserva-
tism, like the brightest of jewels, is valu-
able by the reason of its rarity. Not that
there are not those who profess to be
guided by its calm suggestions, but that |
they are only comparatively 50, and claim |
a wondrous heap of credit because they |
do not follow where crack Drained fanat- |
les would lead. Conservatism is COM |
mon word-it is the professed creed of
every one yet common as it is, as aword
and as faith, it is perhaps the most un-
common and unfrequent of all of our car
dinal virtues. There are few that under
stand its nature, even fewer than the num-
ber of those who follow its simple teach
ings, and whilst we claim no peculiar ex-
emption from the general ignorance, we
propose to give our views upon the SUBJ
ject, even though they serve to illustrate
our position that it is so little understood.
No man can be conservative, unless he
has the spirit of submission to authority,
fully developed in his nature. lie must
premise that his judgment is not infalli-
bic, and that his reasoning faculties are as
apt TO be warped by his feelings as those
OF other men. He must know how to
make the proper distinction between firm
ness and obstinacy, and when superior
authority has stamped the ideas of his
opponents with the impress and sanction
of the law, he must subject his private
opinion to public statutes. This may be
done without abating his original convic-
tions, and if it is not done, cheerfully and
promptly, the refractory individual be-
comes, in our estimation, a radical.


Again he must form his opinion from
deliberate and dispassionate investigation,
and not permit the thought to be offspring
of the wish. This is a common error,
and with an impulsive man is almost in
evitable. federation is also absolutely
requisite in the composition of a conserv-
ative. He must think it possible for 9TH
ers to entertain views Numerically op-
posed to his own, without regarding their
originator as either kDave or fool.


He must be an independent thinker, for
no man can be impartial who pins his
faith to another's sleeve. In fact, such a
person cannot properly be said to occupy
any fixed position.


He must be national man, for section
alism is based upon local and selfish inter-
est and prevents the possessor from taking
that broad and comprehensive view which
justice and equity require at his hands.


To be truly conservative, man must
be Just, sincere and patriotic, for whilst
he may be cool in his temperament, and
rational in his conclusions, yetif he is not
strictly Just and honest he will refuse to
accord to his opponents what his judg-
ment dictates to be their rights.


He must be, to some extent, an incredu-
lous man-not believing every floating
on DIT, but calmly defeTing the formation
of his opinion, until time shall have con-
firned or refuted the rumor, and all par
ties concerned have been fully represented
He should demand proof for all thing:
which his own senses or his own judg.
ment do not at once demonstrate to be
beyond the possibility.


He should be frank and candid in hi.
disposition, as the over suspicious man il
judging others by the standard of his owl
base nature, overleaps the truth more fre.
quently than he attains it.


And above all other essentials, he mus
be kind hearted and amiable, for a mo
rose man, however strong may be hi
sense of justice-however vigorous hi
understanding-is utterly incapable o
overcoming his natural warp sufficiently
to do Justice to his fellow-men.


Applying these essentials to the grea
American staple for thought and conver
sation-to politics-and remembering tha
it is the most absOrSingly interesting
and exciting theme upon which we sove
reigns can dilate, we ask, how many of u
are there who can conscientiously clas
ourselves among those who stand upor
the broad platform of conservatism p
How many are there who can say that tn
interest they feel in the functions of tn
ballot box does not proceed rather fror
partizan zeal than patriotic and unselfis
impulses And in our own believe
Territory, where the wrinkles in the fron
of grim visaged war have scarcely give
place to the serene smiles of gentle peac,
we apprehend the word is scarcely under
stood. Yet all will acknowledge its su
perior claims upon us; all will perhaI
confess their deviations from its path
and still how seldom do we meet me
who have, from deliberate conviction
ceased "to know the right, and yet tn
wrong pursue !' But for the future W
confidently hope a different order c
things.


Time has arrived when the great sec
tional issue is settled upon firm basi
and we must direct our attention to topic
of more immediate and urgent importanc,
Kansas must be developed; her rich a
luvial unfold her hidden treasures to th
light of heaven; her mines of wealth e2
plored till their untold beauties spark
before an astonished world her citit
commence to amass the solid elements
wealth, and the whole body polite
welded with the iron ribs of public in
provement. The work must commend
in earnest and at once, for the tide of TO
tune is upon us, and we must take it
its flood, if we would have it bear us on
fortune. And when the undertaking


vigorously commenced, and citizens of a
shades of politics work side by side fer tt
common good, the paltry abstraction
which separated man from man will sin
into insigni6cance by comparison wit
the importance of the great work
which they are now engaged. PassiC
will cool down-reason regain her swa
and men will laugh over the olden tin
when neighbor's asssyed to cut eat
others throats upon matters in Whit
they themselves were so little intereste