ocialists is to educate the people
to understand what their present position is and what their future
might be, and to keep the principle of Socialism steadily before
them; and whereas no Parliamentary party can exist without compromise
and concession, which would hinder that education and obscure those
principles, it would be a false step for Socialists to attempt to
take part in the Parliamentary contest.'

"I shall not attempt to describe the debate, in which Morris, Mrs.
Wilson, Davis, and Tochatti did battle with Burns, Mrs. Besant, Bland,
Shaw, Donald, and Rossiter: that is, with Fabian and S.D.F. combined.
Suffice it to say that the minutes of the meeting close with the
following significant note by the secretary:

"'Subsequently to the meeting, the secretary received notice from
the manager of Anderton's Hotel that the Society could not be
accommodated there for any further meetings.'

Everybody voted, whether Fabian or not; and Mrs. Besant and Bland
carried their resolution by 47 to 19, Morris's rider being subsequently
rejected by 40 to 27."

A short contemporary report written by Mrs. Besant was published in
"To-day" for October, 1886, from which it appears that "Invitations were
sent out to all Socialist bodies in London," and that the irregularity
of the proceedings alluded to by Shaw was intentional. The minutes of
the proceedings treat the meeting as in ordinary course, but it is plain
from Mrs. Besant's report that it was an informal attempt to clear the
air in the Socialist movement as well as in the Society itself.

In order to avoid a breach with Mrs. Wilson and her Fabian sympathisers,
it was resolved to form a Fabian Parliamentary League, which Fabians
could join or not as they pleased; its constitution, dated February,
1887, is given in full in Tract No. 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
m