New-York tribune., 1886-07-29
THE PRIMROSE LEAG UE.

The Primrose League Is behind Lord Ran
JoIph Churchill and enables him to dictate
terms TO the veterans of the Conservative party
II he orasps the coveted leadership OF the Com
mons expels his seniors in service from their
,eats ON the Treasury bench, and recruits the
Ministry with new men, who have not YET
.c,ined reputation in debate or in civil admins
tation. il il because he is the working executive
of this new and powerful political organization:
The Primrose League deprived Dir Stahoid
Northcote of the leadership OF the Commons
wear ago and placed him on the retired Ist OF
Tory WORTHLESS in the House OF Lords. 1t Is
stroneer now than it was then, and may elect a
complete reorganization of the Treasury bench
This remarkable organization WIS projected
by Sir Henry DrummOnd Wolf In October,
683. and was converted in the course OF a
single year into a working organization through
the energy OF Lord Randolph Churchill. Inc
original plan contemplated the enlistment OF
young men of various classes as voluntary can
yassers in elections. In practical operation the
League Is a network of political clubs formed
for the purpose of aiding the Conservative asSo-
ciations in the registration of voters and OF ed
ucatng and invigORtng the party. Lord
Beaeonstied's favorite flower was taken az the
symbol of an organization whose object was
proclaimed to be the maintenance of religion, OF
the Constitution Of the reslhn, and of the im-
pelial ascendancy Of Great Britain. The ser
yices of men and women alike are welcomed,
and the success of the League dates from the
time when the principle of the cooperation Oh
the sexes was recognized. Sir Algernon Borth-
wick states In The hineteeRh CeHtHy that
there are now $4,000 Knights, $4,000 DANES
and 100000 associates banded together In the
League for the promotion of Conservative prin-
,iplea and that thousand q day is the average
entry of new members. Its treasury Is steadily
replenished, for every Knight and dame pays a
tribute of half crown yearly and tho Grand
Council having a large fund at it's disposal L.
enabled to issue millions Of popular tracts and
leaflets and to send lecturers and speakers
throughout the United Kingdom whenever pub
lie opinion is to be influenced.
The Primrose League works hard at election
time and provides the Conservative associa-
tons with an efficient staff of volunteer can
vassers for purposes of registration and OBJ
tanning a full party vote at the polling. But
its labors are not confined to periods OF political
excitement Meetings of the habitations,'
or local clubs, are constantly held and Radical
fallacies are exposed. and matters of Ministerial
policy are expounded by lecturers authorized by
the Grand Council to do educational work. The
clubs are local centes of political discussion and
activity, and Knights and DANES attend the
meetings and speak and vote on equal terms.
Sir Aleernon Berthwick describes it as ono OF
the chief duties Of every Primrose centre 70 com
bat the tllacy that classes are antagOnistic In
modern pontcs and to this end social gather
ings are frequent and the members meet on
footing Of absolute equality. The first badge OF
honor conferred by the League, he adds, was
given to o wordngwoman in the West Of Eng
land who earned her bread by daily toll and
devoted her spare time 10 the public welfare
The methods and aims of this powerful Con
servative recruiting agency are thoroughly dem
ocratic. Undoubtedly Dir. Gladstone's elOquen:
appeal to the masses against the classes would
hove exerted greater influence in the recent
elections if the Primrose League had not done
20 much to counteIact its effects.