It’s a cheap sneer to ask how long the same Government ever exists in Republican France! Nevertheless, sooner millions of changes of Government and Peace than a stable Government with War! _A Republic is always Peace-loving!_ except when righteous fury in a gust of popular rage sweeps it into war, as lately in America; but it took four years to move them! The People pushed the President. We are going to have Bolshevism unless we foster these German Republics, and it will spread righteously to England. These Leagues of Nations and Freedoms of the Seas and all the other items are all d--d nonsense! When War does come, then “Might is Right.” “La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure!” and every treaty is a Scrap of Paper! The Essence of War is Violence. Moderation in War is Imbecility. You hit first, you hit hard, and keep on hitting. You have to be Ruthless, Relentless and Remorseless. It’s perfect rot to talk about “Civilised Warfare!” You might as well talk about a “Heavenly Hell!” FROM LORD FISHER TO A FRIEND. MY DEAR ----, I wrote to a distinguished friend to note (but not to congratulate him) that he had been made “a Companion of Honour” (what that is I don’t know!), and told him one of the disadvantages of even a “Limited Monarchy” was the making of us all into Christmas Trees to hang Decorations upon! He replied he had declined it, as he did not wish “to be regarded as a dab of paint to camouflage this new Order instituted for Labour Leaders!” Haven’t I always told you we are a Nation of Snobs, and that even the Labour Leaders don’t resent being kept hanging about on the door mat? My dear friend adds: “I feel sure your conception of Democracy will be realised.” (I had sent him my Paper on Democracy that you didn’t like!) “_Liberty means a Country where every man or woman has an equal chance._” “The race of Life in a civilised Country is a race carried out under a system of handicaps, and the people who do the handicapping are the people of the least brains. “The prophecy you send me is wonderful.” I think the words of this my friend will interest you, _though perhaps not convince you_! Yours till death, F. 9/6/18. THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC.