ABSTRACT
A clear view of the nature of conservatism is difficult to reach because of the changing character of immediate issues. The primary or fundamental conservatism is broad in its nature, though it is constantly intermingled with the secondary or non-essential features of change. One of the primary values of conservatism is belief in the wisdom that has emerged from the past; nor can the conservative admit that changes accelerated to the point of revolution can ever be of substantial value in the future. Conservatism is weak in its statement of purpose, except on the most general lines, and in such a statement there is no basic difference between conservatism and critical thinking. Conservatism in its forceful moments is never separated from the actuality of experience, while radicalism hangs always over the abyss of utopianism. The more intelligent conservatism becomes, the more able is it to foresee what is going to happen.
