conservatism

[Eng. conservat ( ive ); -ism.] 1. English Politics: The political tenets advocated by the Conservatives-viz., the preservation of the present British constitution and the institutions of the country, especially the monarchy, the House of Lords, the Established Church of Eng land, and, as a buttre to it, that of Scotland. There may be also a religious conservatism, a doctrinal conservatism, an ecclesiastical conservatism, . 2. Favorable disposition toward established institutions; opposition to radical innovations or me as ures. IMG:content-0665.png:[blocks in formation] 1069 origin: the term Tory [TORY] came originally from Ireland, and Whig [WHIG] from Scotland. It was inevitable that sooner or later these names should be exchanged for others of a more complimentary character, and accordingly the "Tories" called themselves "Conservatives," and the "Whigs" as sumed the title of "Liberals." For the first employment of the term, see Conservative Party. It was suggested that their opponents were the Destructive party, but the name was unjust and was soon forgotten. Lord Beacons field attempted to revert to the old name Tory, but his followers did not take kindly to it, and the word was left to his opponents to use. Constitutionalist was also proposed as a substitute for it, but the use of that new term did not long continue. The first French revolution being in the earlier stages everywhere welcomed with enthusiasm by the party of progre , the reign of terror so discredited that party that it placed power in the hands of the Conservatives for about forty years. The strong Liberal movement which produced the first Reform Bill terminated its rule for the time. During the next sixty years it was in office for the following periods: Under Sir Robert Peel, from December 26, 1834, to April 18, 1835, and again from September 6, 1841, to July 6, 1846; under the Earl of Derby, from February 27, 1852, to December 28 of the same year; from February 25, 1858, to June 18, 1859; and again from July 6, 1866, to February 27, 1868; under Benjamin Disraeli, afterward Lord Beacons field, from February 27, 1868, to December 27th of the same year; from February 21, 1874, to April 28, 1880; under the Marquis of Salisbury, from June 24, 1885, to February 6, 1886; and again from August 3, 1886, to August 19, 1892. At the close of the United States civil war, 1860-65, IMG:content-0666.png:[blocks in formation] *2. The act of compounding or preserving. "Phisique of is conserve Maketh many a rest aura cion." Gower , iii. 22. *3. A conservatory or place where anything is kept. set the pots into your conserve, and keep them " the people of the South were divided into two great parties the conservatives, who were anxious for the restoration of the old order of affairs, and the radicals, who were in favor of a thorough regeneration and reconstruction of political institutions. Upon the enfranchisement of the negro, it is hardly dry." nece ary to say that that race at once aligned itself with the radicals, while the whites were as a unit conservative-afterward reproachfully called Bourbon . (1) Conservative Club : A club founded in London in 1840. The mansion in St. James street which it occupies, was opened on February 10, 1845. (2) Conservative party : Political Hist .: The name given by Mr. John Wilson Croker in 1830 to the great party in England previously known as the Tory party. [B, 2.] [See also TORY.] we are now, as we always have been, decidedly and conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Con servative party."- Qu . Rev. , vol. xlii., No. 83 (Jan., 1830), con-ser-va-tõr, con'-ser-va-tõr, *con-ser "The movement against the last king of the House of Stuart was in England conservative , in Scotland destruc-va-tour, s. [Lat. conservator .] tive."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. xiii. B. As substantive : 1. Singular : (1) Gen.: A person or Being who conserves or preserves anything; a preserver. life "The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new "-Jeremy Taylor: Of Confirmation , fol. 32. (2) Spec.: One belonging to the party described under 2, or holding similar convictions in any other state. 2. Pl . ( Conservatives ): One of the two great political parties in England and in some of the states of the Union. In every society which has ever existed one large section of the community has been led by mental constitution, by its position in society, or by other causes, to deprecate change, unle where the nece ity for it can be proved by irrefragable evidence. Others, from the same causes, tend to become a party of movement, and on much le proof of its nece ity than that which the first would deem sufficient, advocate change and what they deem reform. Though both parties are needful to the healthy political life of the country, yet each is disposed to regard the other as its mortal foe. Each has a central organization, besides an immense number of local societies scattered over the country. The prominent long I. Ord. Lang.: Any person appointed to conserve, preserve, or watch over anything. "Like conservators of the public health." Cowper: Conversation. IMG:content-0667.png:[blocks in formation] London Daily Telegraph. 2. A standing arbitrator appointed to adjust dif- ferences which may arise between two parties. (1) Conservators of the Peace : Old Law & Hist .: Officers appointed by the Eng. lish common law to see that the peace is kept. They were originally of two kinds. Those who held other offices than this, and aided in keeping the peace in virtue of their po e ing such offices. To this category belonged the King, the Lord Chan- cell or, the High Constable, and other dignitaries. A second kind were those who had no other func- IMG:content-0668.png:[blocks in formation] *4. A Evelyn's Kalendar. IMG:content-0669.png:[blocks in formation] 5. A sweetmeat; fruit preserved or candied. "I shall study broths, plaisters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman."- Tatler, No. 53. con-served, pa. par. or a. [CONSERVE, υ. ] *con-ser-ver, s. [Eng. conserv(e); -er.] 1. Gen.: One who preserves or keeps from injury or lo ; a preserver. "In the Eastern regions there seems to have been a general custom of the priests having been the perpetual conservers of knowledge and story."-Temple. 2. Spec .: One who makes conserves. con-ser'-ving, pr . par . , a . & s. [CONSERVE, v .] *A. & B. As pr . par . & particip . adj.: (See the verb.) IMG:content-0670.png:[blocks in formation] =a conservatory; Ital.conservatorio =a workhouse, a nunnery; Low Lat. conservator i us (a.), conserva- torium (s.).] A. As adj .: Tending to preserve anything from lo , decay, or injury. views. Perhaps one-eighth of the community have pronounced political views, and are able to explain why they hold them; the remainder constitute an inert ma of no strong political convictions, but this swaying, first to one side and then to the other, succe ively puts each party in power. The national obligations entered into by the one are scrupulously respected by the other, even though it may at first P. 143. have opposed their being formed. Both these parties B. As substantive: consented for many years to be known only by nick- names, which caricatured their failings-the party which, speaking broadly, resisted change being stig matized by the nickname Tory, and that which advocated it by Whig. Neither term was of English I. Ordinary Language: 1. A place where anything is kept to preserve it from lo or injury. "A conservatory of snow and ice, such as they use for delicacy to cool wine in summer."-Bacon: Nat. Hist. 3. To have regard or respect to; to take into account. "It seems nece ary, in the choice of persons for greater employments, to consider their bodies as well as their minds,."-Temple. 4. To look upon as of importance. more united at home, and more considered abroad,."-Sir W. Temple: To the Lord Treasurer, Feb. 21, 1678. 5. To look upon in a certain light; to estimate, to regard, to view. "Mr. Montague was too aspiring to stoop to anything below the height he was in, and that he least considered profit."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng . , ch. xxiv. consider ability Followed by as . two leaders, either of whom might, with some show of reason, claim to be considered as the representative of the absent chief."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. xiii. *6. To estimate at its proper value; to requite, to reward. take away with thee the very services thou hast done; which if I have not enough considered to be more thankful to thee shall be my study."-Shakesp.: Winter's Tale, iv. 1. 7. To look upon with pity or sympathy. "Consider mine affliction, and deliver me Psalm cxix. 153. B. Intransitive: 1070 2. Greatly; to a great extent. "In regard to ducks and rabbits, the breeds of which differ considerably from each other in structure."-Dar- win : Origin of Species (ed. 1859), ch. i., p. 19. *con-sid-er-ançe, s. [Eng. consider; -ance.] Consideration, reflection, or deliberation. ."- tion; serious. IMG:content-0671.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0672.png:[blocks in formation] Decay of Christian Piety. Crabb thus discriminates between to consider and to regard: "There is most caution in consider ing; most attention in regarding. The circumstances, situation, advantages, disadvantages, and the like, are objects of consideration; personal character, abilities, and qualities, are objects of regard. A want of consideration leads a person to form a very unfair judgment of others; a want of regard makes them regardle of their comfort, convenience and respectability. We ought to have a consideration for all who are in our service, not to demand more of them than what we may reason--ne . ably expect; we ought at all times to have a regard for our own credit and respectability, among those who are witne es of our conduct." (Crabb: Eng. Synon .) *con-sid-er-a-bil-1-ty, s. [Eng. considerable ; -ity.) The quality of being considerable or capable of being considered.