Although he opposed reform that drew its political ideas from the French Revolution, he recognized that his government could not profit from stagnant policies. Unwilling to be speculative in theory, Canning was liberal in the application of principles. His concerns were not so much with reform as reflected in thoughtful change, but with what he felt was often mindless reform based upon wild theories of unproven value. It was in this context that Canning opposed Jacobin philosophy and what he considered its negative social and economic effects. Through his writing and oratory Canning was a leader in this regard, a counterrevolutionary whose message was framed in conservatism and founded upon the belief that balance among monarchy, democracy, and aristocracy was best for a country. No one worked harder at convincing his colleagues, as well as the populace, of the importance of continuity in governance and the dangers of revolutionary ideologies. Finally, Canning believed that criticism of Jacobin politics was secondary to discrediting the "moral influence of Jacobinism." His reform is a plea for change, but a change that does not appeal to the masses, an appeal tempered by wisdom, learning, and taste--in short, an appeal for aristocracy and time-tested values and political constructs.
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