My Life

My Life - Oswald Mosleyfor the manner of it; they applaud because they are in agreement with its contents.Few are as capable as Mr. Asquith of appreciating the merits of a performance whichentirely contravenes their opinions.The reception of this speech by Lloyd George, Churchill and other speakers in thesubsequent debate is well known, but a selection of letters I received from membersof all parties may add something. They have never been published before, thoughnone of them was marked private. They reveal the welcome from all sides of theHouse to an effort at action after years of drift.'Your speech was the best I have ever heard in the House, and I imagine must be oneof the best of parliamentary performances.'—Brendan Bracken.'It was much the best speech I have heard in Parliament since the war . . . with L.G.'sassistance you will now put your policy through ... gratitude from us all... it wassuperbly done. I cannot put into words what I think of its skill and power.'—PhilipNoel-Baker.'The best and most constructive speech I have heard in the House. It was fair and itwas splendid.'—Clement Davies.'It was, I suppose, the greatest parliamentary tour deforce this generation will hear.'—Robert Boothby.'A really great parliamentary performance ... I was enormously impressed by it... Idon't believe there is anyone else in this House who could have done it.'—VioletBonham-Carter.'May a great admirer express his great admiration.'—John Simon.Finally, the letter which pleased the speaker most came from his mother in the gallery,saying that 'people of all shades of opinion' thought it 'the finest speech heard in theHouse for twenty years'.It was possibly this experience which contrasted more strikingly than any other withthe later course of my life, and provided the high test postulated by Kipling: 'If youcan meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same', aphrase, like much of the writing of that notable author, verging on the grotesque butcontaining also in the manner of genius something of a noble truth. Eulogy pelted mewith the rose petals of praise like wedding guests a bridegroom, when no one knowswhat foreboding of future felicity or sorrow time already holds. To present thecontrasts which have been the essence of my life it is necessary to show both sides ofthe medal, the praise and the abuse. During these recent years the view has beenmostly of one side, and to give a balanced picture I depart from the usual practice, towhich we English rightly adhere, for reasons I gave in Chapter 10; the whole requiresan occasional immodesty. Certainly my life was abruptly changed, at least for a happyinterval, by the effect of that speech. I had now moved from the left to the centre ofBritish politics, where in underlying though sometimes unrecognised truth I haveremained ever since. The sunshine of almost universal approval dispersed for a timethe encompassing shadows.207 of 424