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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2009
This article is a byproduct of a large-scale research project on the politics of Salford since 1830. In a sense, it shows what can happen to an historian when working amongst political scientists, for the article attempts to apply a few of the latter's concerns, and ways of looking at the world, to a specific historical situation. Though the raw material for the article is almostentirely historical, I hope that its themes will be of interest to people in both disciplines.
1 Between 1967 and 1972 a multi-disciplinary study of Salford politics was undertaken, based on the University of Salford, directed by M. J. Goldsmith, and sponsored by the SSRC from 1968 to 1970.
2 Modern political parties (Chicago, 1967), p. 405.Google Scholar
3 The terminology of ‘mass parties’, etc., is largely that of Duverger, M. in Political parties (London, 1964).Google Scholar
4 The Social Democratic Party of Germany (New Haven, 1964).Google Scholar
5 See Duverger, , Political Parties, Book 1, chapter 2, esp. pp. 11632.Google Scholar
6 Where ward, and parliamentary district boundaries were not identical (as they often were not until the mid-seventies) the formation of ward associations seems to have lagged behind that of polling district associations.
7 From 1832 to 1868, Salford was a single parliamentary borough with one M.P.; from 1868 to 1886, it possessed two M.P.'s on the same basis.
8 A pattern of middle class control. See Beer, S., Modern British politics (London, 1969)Google Scholar, ch. 11; Hanham, H. J., Elections and party management: Politics in the time of Disraeli and Gladstone (London, 1959), pp. 91–154Google Scholar; Ostrogorski, M., Democracy and the organization of political parties (London, 1902; reprinted New York, 1973), 1Google Scholar, 161ff.; Emy, H. V., Liberals, radicals and social politics 1829–19144 (London, 1973), pp. 71f.Google Scholar
9 Though there were, on the Liberal side, a number of candidates who claimed to be ‘to all intents and purposes working men’ by virtue of being self-made men.
10 Chairman, Ordsall Constitutional dub, Salford Weekly Chronicle [hereafter S.W.C.], 18 Mar. 1871, p. 3. The Conservatives tended to emphasize spontaneity more than the Liberals – perhaps primarily because Conservative clubs seem to have been less opulent than their Liberal counterparts. It was thus natural to accuse the latter of being the ‘hothouse creation’ of the ‘Radical plutocracy’.
11 S.W.C. 6 Aug. 1870, p. 3.
12 Trinity Ward Liberal Association, Salford Weekly News [hereafter S.W.N.], 19Apr. 1884, P. 3.
13 Mr Slater, St Phillips District Liberal Association, S.W.N. 23 Jan. 1869, p. 3.
14 Annual Report, Salford Reporter [hereafter S.R.], 27 Feb. 1905, p. 5.
15 W. T. Charley, M.P. for Salford, at and Annual Soiree of Pendleton Conservatives, S.W.C. 4 Feb. 1871, p. 4.
16 Reverend Hyde, John to Broughton Liberal Association, S.W.N. 17 Feb. 1872, p. 3.Google Scholar
17 S.W.N. 7 Nov. 1874, p. 3. The Conservatives actually claimed a complete complement of ward dubs by 1872.
18 Report of Pendleton Constitutional Association, S.W.C. 7 Aug. 1869, p. 4.
19 Broughton Liberal Association A.G.M., S.W.N. 17 Feb. 1872, p. 3.
20 S.W.N. 23 Jan. 1869, p. 3.
21 S.R. 3 Mar. 1888, p. 5. This concert was also ‘honoured by the presence … of a reverend gentleman who seemed to take a great interest in the proceedings’.
22 S.W.N. 17 Mar. 1879, p. 3.
23 S.W.C. 2 Aug. 1873, p. 2. Ward branches often organized their own separate picnics.
24 S.W.N. 30 Aug. 1879, p. 3, and 6 Sept. 1879, p. 3.
25 S.R. 1 Sept. 1900, p. 7.
26 Leake, Robert to Trinity, and Greengate liberals, S.W.N. aa Jan. 1870, p. 3.Google Scholar
27 President of Salford Liberal Association, S.W.N. 28 Jan. 1871, p. 3.
28 S.W.N. 19 June 1869, p. 2.
29 Binns, George to Blackfriars Conservatives, S.W.C. 2 Oct. 1869, p. 3.Google Scholar
30 Chairman, Salford Liberals, S.W.N. 10 Aug. 1878, p. 3.
31 Verdict, St on Thomas, ' Ward Liberals, S.R. 13 June 1891, p. 8.Google Scholar
32 At opening of St Stephens liberal Club, S.W.N. 18 Apr. 1874, p. 3.
33 Letter, S.W.N. 25 Feb. 1871, p. 2.
34 Hough, William, A.G.M. of Salford Liberal Association, S.W.N. 23 Mar. 1878Google Scholar, p. 3. The Conservatives also hoped the dubs would be a means for ‘working men…to extend their influence amongst their own class’. Cawley, C. E., S.W.C. 30 Apr. 1870, p. 3.Google Scholar
35 See Blake, Robert, Disraeli (London, 1966)Google Scholar, ch. xxi; Briggs, Asa, Victorian people (Penguin, 1965), esp. pp. 340–71Google Scholar; Cowling, Maurice, Disraeli, Gladstone and revolution (London, 1967)Google Scholar, for example pp. 23,29,34,48, and 50–67; Himmelfarb, Gertrude, Victorian minds (London, 1968)Google Scholar, especially ch. XIII; Smith, F. B., The passing of the 1867 Reform Bill (Cambridge, 1966), pp. 114, and elsewhere.Google Scholar
36 ‘Some Difficulties of Parliamentary Reform’, Historical Journal, x (1967).Google Scholar
37 Annual Report, St Stephens Liberal Club, S.W.N. 11 Mar. 1876, p. 4.
38 Annual Report, S.W.N. a8 Jan. 1871.
39 S.W.C. 3 July 1869, p. 3.
40 At inaugural tea meeting of St Matthias Constitutional Association, S.W.C. 27 Jan. 1872, p. 2.
41 To inaugural meeting of Greengate Liberal Club, S.W.N. 17 Mar. 1879, P. 3.
42 S.W.N. 27 Feb. 1875, p. 3. Prizes of £10 and £5 were offered for the two best essays. The topics were historical.
43 S.W.N. 22 Jan. 1876, p. 4.
44 Annual Report of Liberal Council, S.W.N. 17 Feb. 1872, p. 3.
45 S.W.N. 11 Mar. 1876, P. 3.
46 A.G.M., S.W.N. 19 Nov. 1881, p. 3.
47 Arthur Arnold to Crescent Ward Liberal Club, S.W.N. 20 Dec. 1879, p. 3.
48 Lee, Henry to Crescent Ward Liberal Club, S.W.N. 23 Jan. 1875, p. 3.Google Scholar
49 S.W.N. 15 Apr. 1882, p. 3.
50 Councillor Hewitt, S.R. 20 Apr. 1889, p. 5.
51 See, for example, lecture by Southern, G. to Pendleton Liberals, S.W.N. 29 Jan. 1870, P. 3.Google Scholar
52 Snape, Joseph to Broughton Constitutional Club, S.W.C. 22 Mar. 1879, p. 3.Google Scholar
53 To Pendleton Liberal Club, S.W.N. 17 Nov. 1877, p. 4.
54 To Crescent Liberal Club, S.W.N. 16 May 1874, p. 3.
55 S.W.N. 17 Mar. 1879, P. 3 (my italics).
56 S.W.C. 2 Jan. 1875, p. 3.
57 Cawley, C. E. to St Matthias Constitutional Club, S.W.C. 27 Jan. 1872, p. 2.Google Scholar
58 To Broughton Constitutional Club, S.W.C. 12 Nov. 1870, p. 3.
59 To St Phillips Constitutional Association, Annual Soirée, S.W.C. 23 Apr. 1870, p. 3.
60 To Crescent Constitutional Association, S.W.C. 30 Apr. 1870, p. 3.
61 Barrett, J. L., S.W.C. 30 Jan. 1875, p. 2.Google Scholar
62 Binns, George to Blackfriars Conservatives, S.W.C. a Oct. 1869, p. 3.Google Scholar
63 Letter, Bailey, W. H., Manchester Examiner 15 Dec. 1881, p. 3. Amongst other things, he seems to have meant tolerance.Google Scholar
64 Wigley, J. to St Stephens Liberal Club, S.W.N. 11 Mar. 1876, p. 3.Google Scholar
65 Hough, William to Greengate Liberal Club, S.W.N. 17 Mar. 1879, P. 3.Google Scholar
66 Councillor Mather, William, to Crescent Liberal Club, S.W.N. 16 May 1874, p. 3.Google Scholar
67 Stockport Advertiser 25 June 1875, p. 5.
68 Rochdale Observer (hereafter R.O.) 7 July 1877, p. 7.
69 Bury Times 30 Jan. 1869, p. 7.
70 S.W.C. 19 Feb. 1870, p. 3.
71 Annual Report, R.O. 15 Nov. 1873, P. 7.
71 MrOsborne, , R.O. 9 Dec. 1871, p. 7.Google Scholar
73 R.O. 29 Nov. 1873, p. 8.
74 Bolton Chronicle 16 Apr. 1870, p. 7.
75 Bolton Chronicle 23 Dec. 1871, p. 7.
76 Bolton Chronicle 3 Feb. 1873, p. 2 (also for evidence about possible Liberal activities in this respect) and 6 Apr. 1872, p. 7.
77 S.W.N. 5 Aug. 1871, p. 3.
78 McKerrow, W. S.W.C. 27 Feb. 1875, p. 2.Google Scholar
79 Charley, W. T., M.P. at Annual Picnic, S.W.C. 2 Aug. 1873, p. 2.Google Scholar
80 Holland, W., arguing that the party should' endeavour … to better the lot of the people amongst whom they lived', S.R. 1 Feb. 1890, p. 5.Google Scholar
81 MrSnape, , proposing formation of Salford Constitutional Association, S.W.N. 7 Feb. 1867, p. 3.Google Scholar
