41; here it is only necessary to
quote one passage which describes the policy of the League and of the
Society, a policy of deliberate possibilism:--
"The League will take active part in all general and local elections.
Until a fitting opportunity arises for putting forward Socialist
candidates to form the nucleus of a Socialist party in Parliament, it
will confine itself to supporting those candidates who will go
furthest in the direction of Socialism. It will not ally itself
absolutely with any political party; it will jealously avoid being
made use of for party purposes; and it will be guided in its action
by the character, record, and pledges of the candidates before the
constituencies. In Municipal, School Board, Vestry, and other local
elections, the League will, as it finds itself strong enough, run
candidates of its own, and by placing trustworthy Socialists on
local representative bodies it will endeavour to secure the
recognition of the Socialist principle in all the details of local
government."
Its history is narrated in the same Tract:--
"Here you have the first sketch of the Fabian policy of to-day. The
Parliamentary League, however, was a short-lived affair. Mrs.
Wilson's followers faded away, either by getting converted or leaving
us. Indeed, it is a question with us to this day whether they did not
owe their existence solely to our own imaginations.
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