BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

44
Bartley for approval. 66
The League also gave its assistance to
Conservative candidates in Hackney, Brighton, and South Warwickshire. 67
The nomination of Salisbury and Northcote as trustees of the
League had been considered by Wolff in January when he proposed it to
Churchill as a means "in order to attract subscriptions and
consequently funds." 68
The plan had been scraped in the wake of the
National Union controversy.
However, in November Salisbury took the
initiative, offering himself and Northcote as official dignitaries of
the organization.
Northcote and I agree that there is no objection to our
becoming Patrons of the Primrose League if it should be
thought desirable. But I suppose we shall have no such
commonplace name. What do you say to Vavasours? 69
In December an official delegation of the League waited on
Salisbury and Northcote presenting both with diplomas.
The following
year both were designated "Grand Masters," the titular heads of the
organization. 7 0
Thus, by the end of 1884, the Primrose League was no longer
exclusively promoting Churchill's interests.
A number of actions had
66
Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 12
September 1884, 5 November 1884, 12 November 1884, 26 November 1884.
67
Robb, The Primrose League, p. 40; citing The Morning Post,
22 December 1884.
68
Foster, Lord Randolph Churchill, p. 134.
69
H.D. Wolff, Rambling Recollections, vol. 2 (London:
Macmillan and Comp., 1908), p. 271. Also cited in Robb, The Primrose
League, p. 40, and James, Lord Randolph Churchill, p. 127.
70 Robb, The Primrose League, p. 52, 40, citing The Morning
Post, 22 December 1884.