DISRAELI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 February 1933, Page 7

DISRAELI

ASSOCIATION WITH WYCOMBE TORY IN DISGUISE Tlio appended article on Disraeli, written by Francis CoJmer, is taken from The “Ducks Free Press” of 25th November,- 1932: — Disraeli’s attempt to secure bis return as the Parliamentary representative ol Wycombe is usually associated in the minds of most of us with tbe notable speech which ho. delivered Irom the portico of the “Rod Lion ’ on 13th June and the election that followed on the 26th of the same, month. We are apt to forget that some six months later he made a still more determined attempt to carry this Whig pockctborough under conditions which were much more favourable to him, and in. which his success seemed almost assured, although in the end the result was the same. On this occasion the. Reform Act was in operation and the number of electors was therefore greatly increased. Disraeli in his endeavour to make himself the popular candidate, decided to adopt an independent political attitude and shake himself free from the trammels of party, lie decided that his aim was to bring into being a party that should be the sole party —National' in name as well as in spirit—a scheme that still- awaits its fruition upon the knees of gods, though in our own day a Government has been formed which pretends to something of that character. He was no doubt sincere in hoping fqr such a consummation, but the Whigs with much truth declared that Disraeli was “only a Tory in disguise.” He therefore stood as an independent candidate, and the line that he took in the address that ho issued to the Wycombe electors on Ist October was to attack the deficiencies of the Act, and to point out the measures which he thought were still needed to perfect the scheme of Parliamentary reform. One of the most necessary of theso was the ballot “which will preserve us from that unprincipled system of terrorism with which it would seem we are threatened even in this town.” He also wished to restore the old system of Triennial Parliaments and abolish the Septennial Act which he considered a revolutionary measure devised by the Whig tyranny. And he further desired to bring education within the reach of all by “repealing the taxes upon knowledge.” If such a policy marked him out as a Radical he reminded them that they had been advocated by the leading Tories. DINNER TO DISRAELI On 30th November a dinner at which two hundred and twenty persons sat down, was given to Disraeli at the Guildhall. A little fly-sheet, called the “Wycombe Sentinel,” was published during the electoral campaign, which gave a full report of Disraeli’s speech on this occasion. A few extracts from this will give us a glimpse of the manner of his oratory and his opinions as he expressed them at that time. The chair was taken by Mr John Carter, and among those present wore Mr Charles Du Pre, of’ Wilton Park, and Mr Henry Young, of Stone Dean, near Jordans. . The chairman introduced the candidate as “an unshackled man, unconnected with party, but relying on his merit, and who would go to Parliament to aid in the formation of a new party, which will be the best friends of the country.” In electing him “they would not be sending a cypher to Parliament, but a man who would make Wycombe famous for its patriotism.” By so doing they would -“establish the independence of Wycombe, and the prosperity of Britain upon a rock.”

Disraeli, in reply, spoke Jor over an hour-and-a-half and kept his hearers in a state of delight at the merciless way in which he held the Whigs up to derision. He asserted that ■ whatever he might be called—whether “a destructive Radical” or “a disappointed Tory”—his opinions had remained unaltered. He declared that “the two wings of convenience which lie desired to add to the ornamental centre of our constitutional fabric” were Triennial Parliaments and Election by Ballots. The first measure was not revolutionary, but “a recurrence to the best practice of' our Constitution.” As to the Ballot, he advocated it as “a conservative measure which tends to' maintain order and preserve property.” “The moment you would have a veracious constituency, that moment it was necessary to provide for the freedom as well as create the function of election.” (But England had yet to wait forty years for such a measure). “He was "for relief without robbery and succour without spoliation. Ho belonged to no faction. He rejoiced that the Tories had joined the popular party in this town. He looked fprward to the speedy formation of a great party. . . Their standard was unfurled. Its motto was, “The greatest happiness for the greatest number.” As to foreign affairs, he said that “peace was now the policy of England. We had gained everything. Now it was our duty to preserve.” He though that with respect to the Corn Laws it would be 'Unwise to make any alteration. If they did they might say “farewell to the county of Bucks—farewell to the beauteous and flowery Chilterns—farewell to Wycombe Market.” “They would ask, is bread then always to be dear? By no means, but it was surely better to have dear bread, than have no bread at all. Reduce the burdens that so heavily press upon the farmor, and then reduce his nrotection in the same ratio. That was the way to cheap bread.” SLAVERY Touching on the burning topic of Slavery, he said that he considered jts abolition certain. “He was not one of those precious politicians, who wished to deliver the Colonics of England to the United States of America, but he hoped that he was as sincere a friend to the slaves as any Colonial Secretary who sent out an order that every planter should supply his slaves with razors, quite forgetting that they had no beards.” "The attention of the nation was drawn to the issue of the Wycombe election : he could have no greater pride than to be returned as Member for Wycombe, to fight for them the good battle, and obtain for them the rights desired.” Such was tho substance of the speech delivered by Disraeli at Wycombe a century ago, and, though throughout his political career he was often under the necessity of trimming his sails to meet the exigencies of circumstances, he remained true, broadly speaking, to the principles he then expressed. And that party which came to revere him as its loader, though there were times when it broke away in open mutiny, may claim with some truth that under the guidance of Mr Chamberlain, they represent liis chief ideals to-day. It formed the very text of Mr Baldwin’s commentary at the Jubilee of tho Primrose League- the other night. “The Tory Party,” he said, “to-day agreed with all that Disraeli said about the dangers of Free Trade ”

"He always showed an astonishing sense of what was due to the people of this country,” and the health of the people and the dwellings of tho people was the policy he impressed upon his party when he got the upper hand in 1872. “Let us keep to ' the

ideals and spirit of Disraeli,” he declared. “In the main it is because we have followed them that we as a Party to-day are alive.”