I was speaking with a friend of mine (who is still a friend) who asserted that he was planning to vote for Donald Trump “because he’s a conservative.” I decided not to explore what he meant by that but I ponder it now, assisted by Heather Cox Richardson’s book “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.” Her book was published in 2023, before the recent election. Chapter 1 discusses Conservatism in America.
Conservatism seems to be contrasted with Radicalism, so let’s think about that. Are conservatives focussed on maintaining the status quo? keeping to the rule of law? the constitution?
History may provide some guidance. During the days of slavery it was hard to tell what was conservative. President Franklin Pierce claimed in 1855 that the Founders had believed in a hierarchy of races, in which “free white men” ruled over The subject races….Indian and African.” The editor of the Chicago Tribune was outraged and claimed the word ‘conservative’ for the cause of equality – “…Pierce’s message cannot fail to arrest the attention and shock the feelings of the most conservative among us.”
Yet Stephen Douglas tried to portray his political opponent Abraham Lincoln as a “radical abolitionist.” Lincoln of course hammered that Douglas and his supporters were the radicals. Lincoln claimed to be fighting against slavery on “original principles.”
Isn’t conservatism about sticking to the old and tried, against the new and untried?
I fear that people are clinging to such labels to defend their political positions. Those who vote Republican do so thinking they are voting for conservative values, accusing their political opponents of radical liberalism. Yet the old values of “all men are created equal” and “give me your tired, your poor.” seem to be conservative values.
It seems to me that ‘conservative’ refers to a reluctance for change, and sticking to old values and ways. That’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just sense of values. Radicals seem to want change, sometimes for the sake of change, and they challenge conservative values. Both labels have now taken on purely political meanings and those in the USA or UK who believe they are “conservative” use the lable to defend themselves against radical liberals.
It’s all so tiring. I am going to read on in Richardson’s book…
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