Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1877)
1" 1 w OoN'SKltVATISM. hold tho institution, They did as wo arc doing, so let things remain as tlioy are." On tho othur hand wo should not bo too ready to accept every theory that is broached, but, before accepting or reject ing, bo absolutely assured of its truth or its fallacy. Our minds should not ci.n tinuo to lluctuutc with public opinion, which so often covers, not the sea of rea son and truth, but the shallow waters of inconsistent and unpractical theories. The idea of maintaining existing institu tions is surely a good one and conserva tism has sometimes been the only support of a nation in its hour of peril. Hut, if an institution now exists, which, though at one time an honor to its sup porters, is now In its decline, tho time when it -was a means of culture and im provement now being passed, it is wise to consider its existence unnecessary. But hero the spirit of conservatism shovs it self in some, who maintain that It will ere long revive its former excellence, and strive with all their feeble might to resist the building up of new institutions, more appropriate to the times. Though a per son willi too much chivaliy and exhnlta tion who moves from place' to place and Insists on tearing down old institutions and building now ones, or if ho bo of im perial authority and spreads his domain from country to country, isulng edict over land and sea, soon plays his game and dis appears from the field of action. Con servatism lias been a great hindrance in the advancement and civilization of nations and in founding institutions of learning because in the rapid advancement of man kind dining the last few centuries great changes have necessarily taken place in the minds, in tho habits and customs of men, and as it is of the utmost impor tance to any nation or institution that the paople should be of one mind, and more, as one mass. The conservatism of the church, insisting on maintaining the old religion and laws, thus divided the opin ion of the people; tho factious thus raised made tho time one of strife and turmoil. So long as lliorc was one relig. ion, and the people believed in an infalli ble popo and his doctrine, the people moved in the light of the dim taper com paratively smoothly. "Wars of church and slate were unknown. Hut when the depravity und injustice of tho times bo came apparent to a few, who spread their doctrine both by example and precept, which raised the indignation of the intol erablo conservatives to its height, church and stale, they said, could not be separa ted; one could not exist without the other, and the idea of two rel'gions was an ab surdity, an impossibility. To be tolerable tlioy must bo intolerable, and the wars that devastated the European continent were the result of the conservatism of the church. It was this that led Charles the FilXh to abdicate his throne. This that made the reign of Chailes the First, of England, one of confusion, that caused the revolution, and the death of the monarch. This that led to the licentious murder of tho puri tans, and forced thorn to seek an asylum in America. A conservative boars about him the styles and customs of the past, and con ducts himself not according to the views of public opinion. Throughout the laud, in religion, and society, and education, there is visible a great mark of improve ment, and in these there is found r. vestige of the old stamp, who intrudes himself upon one class of people and protests an adherancc against their plans and opera tions such as in the management of the schools. In the United States, where we have tho great free school system, and in almost every school an opportunity is giv en for obtaining a foundation for an edu cation, which is alluding great results, equal opportunities are given to all for educating, thinking, acting, and search ing. The impiirivs naturally made 13' an educated man lead to various conclusions concerning tho best method of religion. And some, either from loo much knowl edge, or not enough, come to the conclu- rt WWWWBBMIIIMIMI
