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April 28, 2014

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. This pretended salt bath utterly lost its savor: wherewith shall it be salted? 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. - – Robert Dabney on Conservatism | Mercurius Pragmaticus Redivivus

Posted by gerardvanderleun at April 28, 2014 4:09 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

The money quote:

The only practical purpose which it now subserves 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.
True dat. To this day.

Posted by: goy at April 29, 2014 6:43 AM

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