Posted on 09/09/2015 2:22:26 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp
Robert Lewis Dabney on Conservatism in 1897:
"It may be inferred again that the present movement for women’s rights will certainly prevail from the history of its only opponent: Northern conservatism. This is a party which never conserves anything. Its history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save its credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation. What was the resisted novelty of yesterday is today one of the accepted principles of conservatism; it is now conservative only in affecting to resist the next innovation, which will tomorrow be forced upon its timidity and will be succeeded by some third revolution; to be denounced and then adopted in its turn. American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward towards perdition. It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near its leader. . . . Its impotency is not hard, indeed, to explain. It is worthless because it is the conservatism of expediency only, and not of sturdy principle. It intends to risk nothing serious for the sake of the truth, and has no idea of being guilty of the folly of martyrdom. It always when about to enter a protest very blandly informs the wild beast whose path it essays to stop, that its “bark is worse than its bite,” and that it only means to save its manners by enacting its decent role of resistance: The only practical purpose which it now serves in American politics is to give enough exercise to Radicalism to keep it “in wind,” and to prevent its becoming pursy and lazy, from having nothing to whip. "
(Excerpt) Read more at americandigest.org ...
"No doubt, after a few years, when women’s suffrage shall have become an accomplished fact, conservatism will tacitly admit it into its creed, and thenceforward plume itself upon its wise firmness in opposing with similar weapons the extreme of baby suffrage; and when that too shall have been won, it will be heard declaring that the integrity of the American Constitution requires at least the refusal of suffrage to asses. There it will assume, with great dignity, its final position."
It seems that some things haven't changed. The Liberal ratchet effect continues, and "conservatives" supine response to it is just as energetic as ever.
Sad but true.
Interesting historical find. He could be writing now about the GOPe.
That’s an interesting issue to use to call attention to conservative impotence.
When I first started reading it, I thought he was. Then I noticed the "1897" and I thought, Whoa!
That’s what I was thinking.
What about the Personal Liberty Party!
Spot on post you contributed -
Lack of conviction and passion for what’s right, is a sure fire way to lose, and further our world’s misery, ie: evil prevails, when good men do nothing.
Ya gotta wonder when and what the tipping point will be...
I would like to think that conservatism will be remembered for more than failing To stop liberal progressivism on a predictable basis. My hopes aren’t that high.
Fantastic find, btw.
I don't know if you read "American Digest" regularly, but it is well worth doing so. The guy that runs it, Gerard Vandelune, is a former Liberal who grew up. I believe he's from San Fransisco and went to Berkley in the 1960s. He was very much on the left in the 1960s and 1970s, (says he took pictures of John Lennon the day he died.) but he eventually realized that their ideas lead to social chaos and destruction.
He is now an advocate for Conservatism with a heavy dose of Libertarianism mixed in. He is also highly creative, writes poetry and essays, and finds the most interesting stuff to post on his website.
His writing is excellent. First class.
Yeah.
I know.
They couldn't even stand up for slavery.
What was wrong with those guys?
Well if Degenerate says it it must be true.
*rollseyes*
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