BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

A new generation of imperial associations was on the rise,
assuming a growing role in the propagation of leaflets, lectures, and
war promition efforts.
The Imperial South African Association (1896),
the British Empire League (1895), the Victoria League (1901), the
League of the Empire (1901), and the Navy League (1894) featured
prominently in these efforts.
In many instances the Imperial South African Association
effectively assumed the function of a Primrose lecturing agent.89 The
Navy League's activities and even membership intersected with
Habitation efforts.
Both the Navy League and the League of the Empire
spawned their own national commemoration in imitation of "Primrose
day," respectively, "Trafalgar day" and "Empire day."90
Like the annual Primrose day pilgrimages to Disraeli's statue
in Parliament Square or his Hughenden estate, Trafalgar day gathering
at Trafalgar Square sought to honor Lord Nelson and the triumph of
Britain's imperial fleet.
Empire Day, on the other hand, was a world­
wide celebration of Britain's imperial
anniversary of Queen Victoria's death.
holdings observed on the
While neither usurped the
predominance of Primrose day, they nevertheless served as notice of a
challenge from a new crop of political and national associations.
89
Ibid., 1 December 1899, p. 6; 1 January 1900, pp. 4-5.
Scottish Branch Minute Book, Fifteenth Annual Report, 1901.
90
Robb, pp. 205-07. The Scott Habitation No. 271 Minute
Book, 1897-1909, 19 October 1898. Navy League Minute Book "B", 13 July
1896; 21 October 1896; the Navy League. The Federal Magazine New
Series 34, no. 6 (1907), p. 75. A copy of which is kept at the offices
of The League of the Empire, since renamed the League for the Exchange
of Commonwealth Teachers.