What it meant to be a liberal or conservative at the time is very different to what those terms mean today.
I'm sure* most conservatives today would oppose invading numerous countries and massacring their indigenous populations, for example. Most conservatives today would be against slavery, against reparations for slave traders, against beating servants, against legalised rape, against institutional racism as an openly stated goal, etc., etc.
*ish.
(
brb Monkhouse Stampede, Fri 10 Feb 2023, 21:05,
Reply)
Publicly, of course
What they think in the privacy of their own head may be another matter
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Invisible Wizard - 12th Level Errorer, Sat 11 Feb 2023, 11:59,
Reply)
i've often felt that small "c" conservatism deserves a bit more appreciation from the left
and sometimes i find myself unusually sympathetic to a tory mp trying to make a case for that kind of conservatism.
rory stewart is a good example, although i could never vote for the muppet
(, Sun 12 Feb 2023, 11:29, Reply)