Final answer:
Cushman fears that important principles or issues are being sacrificed in the pursuit of compromise for political expediency. Historical compromises often involved such sacrifices, particularly surrounding the issues of slavery, reconstruction, and civil rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cushman, in the context of various historical compromises addressed, likely fears that fundamental principles or important issues are being sacrificed for the sake of political expediency. For example, in response to attempts at compromise like the Crittenden Compromise during the Civil War period, key figures like Lincoln feared that conciliation with the seceded states would come at the cost of abandoning moral stands against the expansion of slavery. Similarly, later compromises, such as the one that marked the end of Reconstruction, suggest that a sacrifice of African American progress towards civil rights was made in order to maintain political stability.
Compromise is understood as a necessary part of politics, where moderates often must weigh the benefits of unity and peace against the principles that may be compromised. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, this balance was particularly precarious given the intensity of debates around issues like slavery, reconstruction, and civil rights.