American Conservatism Today

For all whose concern with politics probes deeper than personalities this is an extraordinarily interesting book. A dozen intellectual leaders thunder eloquently from the Right on or around the issue of conservatism. Their barrage leaves the question of its essential nature unresolved, in spite of the valiant effort of editor Frank S. Meyer to prove the contrary. But that failure itself makes the often conflicting viewpoints in this symposium the more thought-provoking.

In his introductory essay Mr. Meyer freely admits that two distinct “streams of thought” are found “among the opponents of collectivism.” He hopefully believes they can merge into “a single broad conservative political theory” since (shifting his metaphors) “they have their roots in a common tradition and are arrayed against a common enemy.” Then, in a brief epilogue, editor Meyer maintains that this book demonstrates consensus amid divergence, “of the same quality as that which united those who created the Constitution and the Republic.” He does not remind us that within three-quarters of a century this consensus was dissolved in blood.

FM

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Felix Morley

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William F. Buckley Jr.

For all whose concern with politics probes deeper than personalities this is an extraordinarily interesting book. A dozen intellectual leaders thunder eloquently from the Right on or around the issue of conservatism. Their barrage leaves the question of its essential nature unresolved, in spite of the valiant effort of editor Frank S. Meyer to prove the contrary. But that failure itself makes the often conflicting viewpoints in this symposium the more thought-provoking.

In his introductory essay Mr. Meyer freely admits that two distinct “streams of thought” are found “among the opponents of collectivism.” He hopefully believes they can merge into “a single broad conservative political theory” since (shifting his metaphors) “they have their roots in a common tradition and are arrayed against a common enemy.” Then, in a brief epilogue, editor Meyer maintains that this book demonstrates consensus amid divergence, “of the same quality as that which united those who created the Constitution and the Republic.” He does not remind us that within three-quarters of a century this consensus was dissolved in blood.