Disraeli's Rule

In 1874 there came to Disraeli his true opportunity of power. Perhaps, when history has had time to settle her final verdict, she will decide that his chief contribution to British life was the renewed prestige which he gave to the monarchy. In our day even the strongest enemies of the established order, such as Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. Lansbury, have, in defiance of consistent principles, to go out of their way to express their esteem for the institution of monarchy. And those who are not read in the journalism of the time can hardly form a picture of the disrepute into which the monarchy had fallen in the early years of the 1870’s, owing to Victoria’s prolonged seclusion after the death of the Prince Consort. As Lord Morley truly records, “A deep and universal feeling of discontent at the Queen’s seclusion found voice in the journals of the country.” ¹⁷⁸ An offensive pamphlet, entitled What Does She Do With It? criticized the alleged vastness of her fortune. The creed of republicanism was growing rapidly.