BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Certainly, the Primrose League participated in these ventures,
distributing over 110,000 leaflets and pamphlets in November of 1899
alone.
cause.51
They focused particularly on the moral sanctity of the British
Special meetings were held, resolutions passed, and efforts
made to carry out Salisbury's appeal for the establishment of local
rifle clubs as a means of ensuring "Home Defense."92
A number of
members volunteered their services "at the front" while others
contributed time and resources toward the provision of goods for
soldiers and their families.93
However, these measures merely underscored the contributory,
rather than the initiating role now performed by the League.
Like its
leader Salisbury, the chief distinguishing feature of League efforts in
91 The Primrose League Gazette, 1 December 1899, p. 8.
Typical of these publications are two housed in the political pamphlets
collection at the London School of Economics. "Why Are We At War With
The Boers?," No. 221, and "Complaints of Transvaal Boers Outside
Pretoria," No. 219; vol. 9, JF2(42C)/420-464.
92 The Primrose League Gazette, 1 November 1899, pp. 3, 6, 10;
1 January 1900, pp. 3-6, 9, 15; 1 May 1900, pp. 5-7; 1 June 1900, p.
12. The Whitehaven Habitation in Cumbria was particularly active in
promoting meetings devoted to the war efforts. Primrose League
Whitehaven Habitation 2055 Minute Book, 1888-1902, 1 November 1899; 3
March 1900; 20 April 1900; 2 January 1901; 12 April 1901; 13 November
1901. Cumbria County Council. Lowther Family Archive, DL0NS. More
typical perhaps were the Huddersfield and Nailsworth and Hosley
Habitations, the former recording its last official minutes in 1898
while the later discontinued records in 24 May 1900, after passing a
resolution in support of the formation of rifle associations to promote
Salisbury's program of Home Defense. The Huddersfield Habitation
Minutes, 1886-1898; Nailsworth and Horsley Habitation, 1887-1899.
93 Robb, The Primrose League, p. 213. The Primrose League
Gazette, 1 January 1900, p. 18; 1 February 1900, p. 6; 1 March 1900, p.
9; 1 August 1900, p. 4; 1 August 1901, p. 11. The Scott Habitation, 14
February 1900. Garstang Minute Book, 1894-1911, 28 August 1901;
Lancashire Record Office, DDFZ. The Preston Harold, 26 October 1899.
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