ABSTRACT
The Conservative party remains the longest-established major political party in modern British history. This collection makes available 19th century documents illuminating aspects of Conservatism through a critical period in the party’s history, from 1830 to 1874. It throws light on Conservative ideas, changing policies, party organisation and popular partisan support, showing how Conservatism evolved and responded to domestic and global change. It explores how certain clusters of ideas and beliefs comprised a Conservative view of political action and purposes, often reinforcing the importance of historic institutions such as the Anglican Church, the monarchy and the constitution. It also looks at the ways in which a broadening electorate required the marshalling of Conservative supporters through greater party organisation, and how the Conservative party became the embodiment and expression of durable popular political sentiment. The collection examines how the Conservative party became a body seeking to deliver progress combined with stability.
The documents brought together in this collection give direct voice to how Conservatives of the period perceived and extolled their aspirations, aims, and the values of Conservatism. Introductory essays highlight the main themes and nature of Conservatism in a dynamic age of change and how the Conservative axiom, in an imperfect world of successful adaptation, being essential to effective preservation informed and defined the Conservative party, the views of its leaders, the beliefs of its supporters, and the political outlook they espoused. This volume explores teh period 1850-1874.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|239 pages
Conservatism, 1850–1874
chapter 1|11 pages
Lord Stanley, The Speech of the Rt Hon Lord Stanley at Merchant Tailors’ Hall on Wednesday April 2, 1851
chapter 2|17 pages
Edward William Cox, Conservative Principles: Letters and an Address to the Electors of Tewkesbury
chapter 3|9 pages
Arthur Brough, Plain Reasons for Voting for Conservative Candidates for Seats in Parliament
chapter 4|22 pages
A Conservative, An Era in the Life of a Living Statesman, by a Conservative
chapter 5|8 pages
Lord Derby, The Speech Delivered at the Mansion House on the Evening of 1st may by the Right Honourable the Earl of Derby
chapter 6|25 pages
Benjamin Disraeli, Mr Gladstone’s Finance from his Accession to Office in 1853 to his Budget of 1862
chapter 7|38 pages
C. B. Adderley, Letter to the Rt Hon Benjamin Disraeli MP on the Present Relations of England with the Colonies
chapter 8|18 pages
T. E. Kebbel, ‘Mr Disraeli, May 1860’, in Essays upon History and Politics
chapter 9|25 pages
Sir John Skelton, Benjamin Disraeli, The Past and the Future: A Letter to John Bull Esq, by a Democratic Tory
chapter 10|23 pages
The Gladstone Administration: From the Year 1869 to the Close of the Session of 1872
chapter 11|15 pages
The Ministerial Crisis: Speeches of the Rt Hon W. E. Gladstone, MP, and the Rt Hon B. Disraeli, MP
part 2|183 pages
Conservative Government, 1852–1868