BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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unstintingly in support of the party cause.
In June, 1886 the
newspaper was renamed England and Primrose Chronicle, reflecting its
increased coverage of League events.
By 1890 the newspaper had once
again changed its format and assumed a modified title England the
Union, and the Primrose Chronicle, continuing publication until May,
1898 when it folded for lack of sufficient funds. The newspaper proved
a continual drain on Bartlett's fiscal resources, involving him in
financial deals which proved damaging to his reputation.
As proprietor of England he had a vested interest in
maintaining his newspaper.
The decision on the part of the League to
establish an independent newspaper led Bartlett to make a series of
strident attacks on the leadership of Grand Council in the pages of
England, eventually prompting a retaliatory strike by the party
faithful Vanity Fair.
In January, 1887 England voiced strong
opposition to the League's proposal to establish its own newspaper.
The objections to such a paper are obvious. In the
first place it is not wanted. The idea that the League
must have a special organ of its own is a purely
sentimental one.37
Bartlett proposed as an alternative the continuation of the existing
practice of sending circulars directly to the Honorary Secretaries of
local Habitations, a cost which he determined to be twelve pounds per
Precept.
Not content with attacks on the proposed newspaper, Bartlett
launched an assault on the elitist character of the executive leader­
ship.
37
England, 29 January 1887, p. 9.