I think it's part of it. It makes it feel Traditional - and thus Right, because nothing must ever change or else society would collapse.

But it also shows it's Important.

I wonder what German or Japanese conservatives do for emphasis? Shout and wave their fists, maybe.

Funnily enough, the phrase 'conservative with a small 'c'' is very common in the UK, to mean cautious, traditionalist, but not a member or supporter of the Conservative party.

I guess you get the same with the concepts of 'republican' and 'democrat' in the US, since you would expect most citizens in a democratic republic to be both.