THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
not In sympathy with Ihoir so-called progressive spirit as
"conservative," and think that thereby they have effect
willy branded these unworthy tho consideration of Intel.
li&ont men. Tho word Is thus often appropriately used,
but all unbeknown to tho user his conception of tho
Idea Is so slight as to bo worthless. The words "fossil
llzcd," "antiquated," "fogylsh," "bohliuUhe-timos," and
"conservative" have to liim ono meaning. "While each
of theso words has, to bo sure, its meaning and Its legiti
mate use, they aro by no means synonymous.
Tho more liberal in hulcd champions of radicalism aro
ready enough to admit tho need of a conservative force,
and its use in tho development ol thought and civilization.
Yet even in thorn wo often detect a strange inconsistency;
for they declaim loudly against the evil of an unreasona
ble resistance to change, which lho, call conservatism,
yet tell us that they recognize a need of conserving
forces proportionate to tho aggressiveness of radicalism.
My plea is for a proper definition of terms, and a candid
recognition of good wherever found.
Conservatism wo have hoard unqualifiedly defined as
as opposition to change tho most extreme meaning that
can bo attached to it; while radicalism is, wo aro told, a
belief that many things in tho past arc wrmg, with un
bounded confidence in the future tho most liberal view
possible to lako it. I shall endeavor to use universally
accepted interpretations of theso terms. This I could
not do if my definitions were constructed to suit an idea
of my own, or if they contained or implied an assump
tion to bo used in my argument.
Conservatism extreme may properly bo spoken of as
opposition to any change whatever, or a disposition to
cling to existing institutions for no better lcuson than
that they exist, but this is a very unjust general definitions.
The fair-minded conservative Is ho who Is reverential;
who has respect for experience and for tried customs and
institutions; who remembers that wise men have lived,
and reasons that an inslitutson which has received the
support of wise and good men must contain somewhat
at least, of good, and deserves his consideration. Tho
intelligent radical says, "Tho fact that a thiug has ex
isted is not prima facia evidence of its worth. I nm not
bound to follow tho customs of my ancestors. There
ought to bo improvements. Tho future must have bolter
things in store than tho past has produced." And may not
these two individuals bo one and the same? .Need it bo
paradoxical to speak of a conservative radical? Is it bo
cause human nature is not strong enough, nor tho mind
sufilcontly broad or liberal if you will to combine
these necessary elements that we have bepcrate forces, at
war with each other.
Naturally, tho extremes of both ideas have arisen.
Upon the extreme of one, the radical, as I have said
often dwells, and calls it conservatism. Tho extreme of
the other is that fanaticism, that madness, wliich assails
every time-honored idea, custom and institution for no
other reason than that it is old; and which makes tho
grievous error of 'considering whether intentionally or
not novelty a guarantee of excellence. Here I find my
self in danger of falling into an error similar to that with
which I have charged tho ami conservative, and assail
ing this madness under tho title of radicalism. It is not
radicalism. But what shall wo call it? Suppose we
Jiamc it rantiam for convenience sake. It is ranlism , and
iinrt its i.dvocalcs aro ranters.
It shows itself most plainly in matters of rolgion and
education. Tho ranters aro commonly young men that
aro very anxious to be thought Intellectual and progres
sive. Somollmes its signs appear as early as tho ago of
sixteen years. At this ago wo aro not surprised at il
"Wo regard it tho last of tho children's disoascs, and hope
for a speedy recovery. This, In ordinary casos, and with
proper care, is brought about in from two to four years.
Sometimes, however, il becomes chronic, and clings to the
sulleror during life, occasionally assuming a very ma
lignant type. At first appearance it is not so severe as to
warrant tho name wo have adopted, but tho common ex
pression for it is "smartness." Under this tillo may ho in
clude Mich premonitory symptoms, as contempt for par
ents, and unwillingness to receive advice. Soon a disposi
tion appears lo make light of sacred things, and o'er long
our youth tolls you, of certain matters of faith that ho
"don't , know abcut these things;" ho "used to believe
them, but cannot now." lie may not say, but ho moans,
that his intelligence has so increased that theso conserv
ative and superstitious ideas ofhis parents can no longer
bo accepted by him. From this ho rapidly develops into
a regular ranter. Ho gets hold of tho word "liberal," and
thinks to bo liberal is to donouueo tho Bible, deny faith
an the c'tmli, in i'c ! Q I ai in I eflnito as possible, and
claim to bo governed wholly by reason. Ho also at this
stage makes frequent use of tho word "conservative."
Ho imagines that to bo conservative moans to stand still,
to grow rusty, to cease to think, except in certain fixed
channels, to be stupid and without influence. So, while
a conservative faith is spreading, a conservative gospel
is converting tho world; conservative workcrs(aro elevat
ing tho morals and purifying the minds of men, and
many of bis conservative follows are outstripping him
in tho race for knowledge, our ranter, but would bo le
formor is cutting loose from tho faith of his fathers, and
fancies himself free as he sails an unguidod mariner
upon u trackless sea.
"What then, is my point? "Why this while we would bo
progressive, lot us not suppose that to bo so, wc must
needs discard evcrvthing our fathers have said and done
before us. Lot us remember that the really wise man
tries lo understand why others think as they do, instead
of trcatii'g them with contempt becauso all their ideas do
not accord with his, and in seeking for light, let us bo
careful that wc do not chaso a will-o'-the-wisp in tho
distance.
I have said that the cllbcts of rantism aro most plainly
soon in matters of education and religion. To bo moro
definite for two thousand years there has been a force
at work in the world, bringing light out of darkness
order out of chaos, holiness out of sin. Bad men liavo
been made good, individual lives have been voluntarily
sacrificed for the universal weal, charitable institutions
have been founded, tho sum of human misery percepti
bly diminished. Of all this, conservative, radical and
ranter alike approve, and to it they all love to refer.
But tho conservative is tho only ono that draws conclu
sions irom it. Along witu tins progress ana develop
ment, there has been a co. existent faith. The ranter at
temps to scpcriilo the two, and calls the faith foolishness
Now if wo look candidly at this whole matter, wo shall
find it to bo true that faith and progress have gone hands
in. hand. "Whether ono is tho cause and ono tho eifect
and if so, wHch '.3 which; or whether they might ai
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