Editing Take Ionescu (section)

===Split with the Conservatives===
He broke away from the Conservative Party and founded the [[Conservative-Democratic Party]] (''Partidul Conservator-Democrat'', PCD) in early 1908.<ref name="giurescu"/><ref name="calafeteanu">{{in lang|ro}} Ion Calafeteanu, "Titulescu către Take Ionescu: 'Ne iubim, ne stimăm, dar nu ne înţelegem'" ("Titulescu to Take Ionescu: 'We Love Each Other, We Hold Each Other in Esteem, but We Do Not Agree'"), in ''[[Magazin Istoric]]'', July 2001</ref> This followed a move by mainstream Conservatives to marginalize the pro-Ionescu faction.<ref name="dobrinunompolitic"/> The Takists organized themselves at a congress in Bucharest in February of that year and, especially through their section in the capital, were successful in several consecutive elections.<ref name="giurescu"/><ref name="ornea1"/>

Upon the separation, Ionescu stated: "I have the deep conviction that Romania needs a conservative party, [[Democracy|democratic]] in its makeup, [[Progressivism|progressive]] in its tendencies, but firmly representing the ideas of [[Social conservatism|social conservation]]. This party must be strong, in order to form a counterbalance to the [[Left-wing politics|Left]], which, fatally and as indicated by the times, will move more and more to the Left".<ref name="dobrinunompolitic"/> He stressed his principles in opposing [[Socialism]], indicating that he mistrusted its ability to reconcile with "maintaining freedom".<ref name="dobrinunompolitic"/> Additionally, Ionescu made mention of reforming the census suffrage enshrined in the [[1866 Constitution of Romania|1866 Constitution]], and expressed support for a single [[electoral college]] to replace the three wealth-based ones in existence at the time.<ref name="ornea1"/>

The PCD was soon joined by [[Ion Luca Caragiale]],<ref name="vianu"/><ref name="esimion"/> who characterized Take Ionescu as "An indefatigable and wise [[Patriotism|patriot]]",<ref name="arimiasimidan"/> by the future diplomat [[Nicolae Titulescu]],<ref name="calafeteanu"/><ref name="arghezidinzilele">[[Tudor Arghezi]], "Din zilele lui Luchian" ("From Luchian's Day", 1939), in ''Scrieri. Proze'' ("Writings. Prose"), Editura Minerva, Bucharest, 1985, pp. 617–618</ref><ref name="scurtuprab">{{in lang|ro}} Ioan Scurtu, "Prăbuşirea unui mit" ("A Myth's Crumbling"), in ''[[Magazin Istoric]]'', March 2000</ref> by the doctor [[Constantin Istrati]], the writer [[Barbu Ştefănescu-Delavrancea]], the journalist [[Nicolae Xenopol]], the former mayor of [[Iaşi]] [[Gheorghe Lascăr]], the landowners [[Constantin Cantacuzino Paşcanu]] and [[Alexandru Bădărău]],<ref name="ornea1"/> as well as by Xeni, who left a eulogistic account of his mentor.<ref name="arimiasimidan"/> It became the target of attacks from both the PNL and the Conservatives, and was faced with the reticence of [[King of Romania|King]] [[Carol I of Romania|Carol I]].<ref name="xeni"/><ref name="ornea1"/> Nevertheless, Xeni contended, the new grouping profited from Ionescu's popularity with the lower strata of Romanian society, being identified as "one of their own".<ref name="xeni"/> In this version of events, mainstream politicians allegedly convinced Carol that the PCD had an agenda to depose the ruling [[House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]], and had depicted Ionescu as "a '[[Beelzebub|Belzebuth]]' who was supposed to be removed from public life".<ref name="xeni"/>

The PNL notably accused the Conservative-Democrats of having been instigated and financed by [[Mochi Fischer]], one of the main leaseholders, whose land in [[Flămânzi]] had been the original center of agitation during the 1907 events.<ref name="ornea1"/> Among the points of contention between the PCD and the PNL were the 1908 expulsion of the socialist activist and ''[[România Muncitoare]]'' leader [[Christian Rakovsky]] (based on an order which the PCD considered illegal) and the unsuccessful 1909 reform advanced by [[Ministry of Education, Research and Youth (Romania)|Minister of Education]] [[Spiru Haret]] (which, among other things, prevented academics who taught Law from practicing, and created new university chairs, raising suspicions that these had been purposely designed to accommodate PNL members).<ref name="ornea1"/>

At the time, he became known as an [[Anglophile]], and according to Xeni, adopted [[British culture|British manners]] in his private life, while being one of the few speakers of [[Fluency|fluent]] [[English language|English]] in his country.<ref name="xeni"/> As a model for his own party, Take Ionescu cited the precedent set by [[Lord Randolph Churchill]] and his ''[[Tory Democracy]]'' in Britain.<ref name="dobrinunompolitic"/>