MacDonald was very human—no one can doubt that who has
read his moving biography of his wife—both in his weaknesses and his virtues, and the vicissitudes of his career meant the breaking of many friendships. There was a time when his association with Sir Oswald Mosley was close and constant. I was one of a small company who met at Sir Oswald's house in Smith Square the night before the first Labour Government was formed. I asked MacDonald then what a man who joined the Labour Party was committed to in the way of Socialism. The answer was instructive. " Well," he said, " it's like this. You ask a man whether he's a Christian. Yes,' he tells you at once, certainly I am.' Do you believe in the Sermon on the Mount ? ' you go on.
Er—yes. Yes, I do,' he replies less confidently. Do you believe in putting it into practice ? " Ah, well,' he explains, You have to remember that this is a practical world and we've got to live in it in a practical way.' That," said MacDonald, " is the position of the Labour Party in regard to Socialism today."
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