Preamble

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 4 February 1919.

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Photo of Mr Bonar Law Mr Bonar Law , Glasgow Central

Mr. Speaker-Elect,—In the unavoidable absence of the Prime Minister, it is my privilege to congratulate you on the honour—the highest in their power to bestow—which has again been conferred upon you by your fellow-Members in selecting you, to use the old-time phraseology of the Royal Message which we have just heard, as "a proper person to preside over our deliberations." I remember well the first occasion when you were elected as Speaker in this House. The duties of your position are so responsible and so difficult—they require a combination of so many rare qualities—that, however great may have been the success of a Speaker-Elect in other fields, there is always some, if not anxieties, some uncertainties, as to what his success will be in his new sphere. Before you were chosen for this office you had long filled the post of Chairman of Committees. In that position you had so won the confidence of the House of Commons that in your case there was little, if any, of the uncertainty to which I refer. I express, I think, the opinion of every Member of the House who has served under your Speakership when I say that the high expectations which were then entertained as to your success have been more than justified by the event. As you have pointed out, the position of Speaker would be impossible unless he could rely always on the unswerving support of the House of Commons; but the wholeheartedness and enthusiasm with which that support will be given must depend always upon the personality of the occupant of the Chair, and must depend on the extent to which he succeeds in securing and maintaining not only the respect, but the good will of the Members of the House of Commons. That respect and good will you secured at the beginning, and every succeeding Session has made that feeling more marked on the part of Members of the House.

As has been pointed out, you have had a long and varied experience. My right hon. Friend behind referred to the body, which you have not only to guide but to control, as an animal. I have had some little experience myself of that animal. I know that there is never anything vicious about it, and I am sure, at least I think, that it is hardly possible for it to develop any tricks to which you have not already been accustomed. None of us can doubt, as was indicated in the speech which you have just delivered, that if you had consulted your own wishes you would have been glad to be relieved of those duties. Is there anyone who doubts that you have earned that relief? But, Sir, in this, as I believe in your whole public career, you have obeyed a higher law than that of your own wishes. You have presided over one of the shortest of our Parliaments. You have presided also over the longest except one—over that Parliament which saw the beginning and the end of the War, a Parliament which year after year reflected in its every phase the hopes and fears of the masses of the people of this country, a Parliament, too, which in its own person shared the suffering and anguish that were necessary to win that struggle. It is but natural that you should desire to preside over it when the final Peace Treaty is signed, and of this I am sure, that the longer you occupy this position the more shall we feel that it is not a case of congratulating you, but of congratulating the House of Commons, and of expressing on behalf of the House of Commons our gratitude to you that you have found it possible still to continue to fill the great office which you have occupied so long and with so much distinction.