the conservative movement of the 1980’s there are men andnwomen of doubtful reputation and dubious education whonhave clawed their way to the top by means that LyndonnJohnson would have approved of Real scholars, like M.E.nBradford and Paul Gottfried, are viewed with barely concealednresentment and contempt: if they’re so smart, whynain’t they rich?nThis contempt for learning and principle has beenncommunicated to the younger generation of conservativesnwho are hardly out of school before they have managed tonwrite books on vast subjects that it would take an educatednperson several years to master and a “third generationnconservative” at least a decade.nFar more serious than their lack of information on churchnfathers, fundamentalism, the American Constitution, ornnuclear physics is their more basic educational deficiency. Ancollege graduate in the 1980’s probably has learned verynlittle worth knowing of history, philosophy, literature, andnforeign languages. Without these basic tools provided bynliberal education, a “journalist” — for that is what theynaspire to being — has no sense of proportion, no standardsnby which to measure the experiences of the present. Sincenvirtually none of the aspiring Buckleys have done postgraduatenresearch or apprenticed themselves to a decent newspaper,nthey are in the comfortable position of being able tonadopt any opinion that is handed to them by their masters.nSo far from displaying the impudence and arrogance ofnyouth, they are pathetically eager to ingratiate themselvesnwith the influential editors and foundation executives whondecree the rule on what is acceptable opinion. Onlynignorance, vast and deep, explains the conservative aboutfacenon globalism, immigration, the congressional role innforeign policy, free trade, and the welfare state.nA similar judgment might be passed on most youngnAmerican Fiction – May 1989 – A celebrationnof American fiction writing that includesna lengthy excerpt from George Garrett’s newnnovel Entered From the Sun, about the lifenand death of Elizabethan playwright ChristophernMarlowe. Plus novelist Walker Percynon the writer as diagnostician, and a shortnstory by Fred Chappell.nRevolution: The Legacy of 1789 in France,nEngland and America – June 1989 -nRevolutions around the world: GeoffreynWagner on Grenada and the Caribbean, LeonRaditsa on South Africa, Don Feder on Israel’snreligious revolution, and Michael Warder onnglasnost and the USSR. Plus George Watsonnon the English and French Revolutions, annupdate from Paul Hollander on politicalnpilgrims, and Jack Neusner reviewsnProf scam.njournalists — a class of men that has never been noted fornintelligence, learning, or probity. But these kids may benamong the best and brightest. They could easily have gonenon to graduate school or learned the not-entirely-contemptiblentrade of the newspaper reporter. Instead, we haveneducated most of them so rapidly that they do not evennknow what they have missed. They write books on “globalndemocracy” without knowing any history and criticize thenstyle of St. Augustine without bothering to learn Latin.nThey offer to write reviews sucking up to conservativencelebrities — one of them tried to bribe me into taking hisnimpudent attack on Harry Jaffa by promising to write anfavorable review of The Conservative Movement (which Inco-authored). Fortunately, there are other young conservativesnwho have lagged behind in pursuit of celebrity andnwho, like the proverbial tortoise, may begin to win the racenin the 90’s. That, at best, is my pious hope. If not, thenrapidly closing conservative mind may slam shut, doublelockednwith deadbolts.nThis will be no earth-shattering event. For one thing, thenso-called conservative movement is still less rotten, morenidealistic, and more exuberant than its leftist analogues. Innaddition, there has always been a gulf separating thenordinary, instinctive conservatives of Middle America fromnthe various leaders that have risen up to speak in their name.nSometimes they have fallen for rank imposters like HueynLong, Father Coughlin, or George Wallace. But they havenalso found more responsible political spokesmen — fromnWilliam Jennings Bryan to Jesse Helms. If they are divorced,nas I believe they are now invisibly divorced, from thennortheastern establishments — conservative as well as liberaln— it will not take too long for another intellectual/politicalncoalition to arise.nGREAT TOPICS, GREAT ISSUES!nThe Burden of Liberalism – July 1989 -n1988 Ingersoll Prize winner, sociologistnEdward Shils, on the varieties of liberalism;nhistorian George Watson on postwarnBuchenwald: for the Soviets it was also andeath camp. Timothy Ashby reviewsnHernando de Soto’s plea for unfetteredncapitalism in South America, T/je Other Path.nThe 60’s Thing – August 1989 – Vice AdmiralnJames Stockdale on why we cannot putnVietnam behind us; Thomas Fleming gives anshort history of rock and roll; Chris Kopff onnthe vision of Clint Eastwood; KatherinenDalton on the late 60’s in New York. PlusnGeorge Garrett reviews the Sam Goldwynnbiography, Art Eckstein gives high markes tonCollier & Horowitz’s “Destructive Generation,”nand Janet Scott Barlow plumbs thendepths of Real Guyhood in “GQ” andn”Esquire.”nBACK ISSUEnORDER FORMnEach issue $2.50 (postage & handlingnincluded)nTitlenQty. CostnAmerican FictionnRevolutionnThe Burden ofnLiberalismnThe 60’s ThingnNamenAddressnnnTotal Enclosed $nCitynStaten_Zip.nMail with check to: Chronicles*934 N. MainnStreet, Rockford, IL 61103 CB489n1nSEPTEMBER 1989/13n