BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

estoration of British supremacy and the avenge of Gordon's death.86
The importance placed on these events was underscored by the League's
sponsorship of lantern lectures on the subject over the next two to
three years.
The focus of the presentations was indicated by the
Gazette's suggestion in 1900 that Habitations link the issues Egypt and
Ireland to deliver popular lectures on "A Double Desertion—Gordon and
Ulster."87
Despite the constant effort to maintain levels of activity
through the continuous espousal of Britain's threatened imperial
interests, support for the Primrose League, like the Conservative
party, began to flag by the 1890's.
Ironically enough, the Boer war,
in theory the sine qua non of League principles, marked its transition
from the preeminent conservative association in Britain to a
significant, if no longer key focus of political activity. The
fortunes of the League declined significantly.
In terms of the
Knights*
and Dames' Tributes received this was represented by the
modest returns of £3,215 and £3,019, respectively, for the years 1900
and 1901 as compared with the £5,690 figure achieved in 1890.
At the
local
level, flagging energies were indicated through the decreasing
number of meetings held.88
86 The Morning Post support for a memorial to Gordon was
perhaps typical of the strong nationalist fervor sparked by events in
the Middle East. One of its captions read, "General Gordon's Memory.
Lord Kitchener's Appeal for a statue at Khartoum." With added emphasis
the article noted, "where presently an empty pedestal stands in the
desert." The Morning Post, 3 May 1900, p. 7.
87 Robb, The Primrose League, pp. 187-88.
88 The Primrose League Gazette, 1 June 1900, p. 8; 1 June
1901. p. 5; 25 May 1890, p. 10; 1 November 1899, p. 6; 1 February, p.
5.