Identifier: mirrorsofdowning00begb (find matches)
Title: The mirrors of Downing street; some political reflections
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Begbie, Harold, 1871-1929
Subjects: Statesmen -- Great Britain Great Britain -- Politics and government 1910-1936
Publisher: New York and London : G. P. Putnam's sons
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image:
on the whole it is prob-
able that the political fortunes of this great and
beautiful country are committed for many years to
hands which are not merely over-rough for so precious
a charge, but not near clean enough for the sacredness
of the English cause.
Only by indirect action, only by a much more faithful
energy on the part of Aristocracy and the Church, and
a far nobler realization of its responsibilities by the
Press, can the ancient spirit of England make itself felt
in the sordid lists of Westminster. Till then he who
crows loudest will rule the roost.

LORD FISHER


BARON FISHER, ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
(JOHN ARBUTHNOT FISHER)

Born, 1841; entered Navy, 1854; took part in i860 in the Capture of
Canton and the Peiho Forts; Crimean War, 1855; China War, 1859-60;
Egyptian War and Bombardment of Alexandria, 1882; Lord of the
Admiralty, 1892-97; Commander-in-Chief, North American Station,
1897-99; Mediterranean Station, 1899-02; Commander-in-Chief, 1903-
1904; 1st Sea Lord, 1904-10; 1914-15; died, 1920.
Text Appearing After Image:
© U. & U.

BARON FISHER

CHAPTER III

LORD FISHER

" Look for a tough wedge for a tough log."
PUBLIUS SYRUS.

No man I have met ever gave me so authentic a feeling
of originality as this dare-devil of genius, this pirate of
public life, who more than any other Englishman
saved British democracy from a Prussian domination.
It is possible to regard him as a very simple soul
mastered by one tremendous purpose and by that pur-
pose exalted to a most valid greatness. If this purpose
be kept steadily in mind, one may indeed see in Lord
Fisher something quite childlike. At any rate it is
only when the overmastering purpose is forgotten tha
the can be seen with the eyes of his enemies, that is to
say as a monster, a scoundrel, and an imbecile.
He was asked on one occasion if he had been a little
unscrupulous in getting his way at the Admiralty. He
replied that if his own brother had got in front of him
when he was trying to do something for England he
would have knocked that brother down and walked
over his body.
Here is a man, let us be quite certain, of a most

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