patriotism — something which has nothing in common with the patriotism we all know, and from the results of which we all suffer so severely.
It is generally said that the real, good patriotism consists in desiring for one's own people or State such real benefits as do not infringe the well-being of other nations.
Talking recently to an Englishman about the present war,[1] I said to him that the real cause of the war was not avarice, as people generally say, but patriotism, as is evident from the temper of the whole of English society. The Englishman did not agree with me, and said that even were the case so, it resulted from the fact that the patriotism at present inspiring Englishmen is a bad patriotism ; but that good patriotism, such as he was imbued with, would cause Englishmen, his com- patriots, to act well.
'Then do you wish only Englishmen to act well ?' I asked.
'I wish all men to do so,' said he ; indicating clearly by that reply the characteristic of true benefits — whether moral, scientific, or even material and practical — which is that they spread out to all men. But, evi- dently, to wish such benefits to everyone, not only is not patriotic, but is the reverse of patriotic.
Neither do the peculiarities of each people constitute patriotism, though these things are purposely substi- tuted for the conception of patriotism by its defenders. They say that the peculiarities of each people are an essential condition of human progress, and that patriotism, which seeks to maintain those peculiarities, is, therefore, a good and useful feeling. But is it not quite evident that if, once upon a time, these peculiari- ties of each people — these customs, creeds, languages — were conditions necessary for the life of humanity, in our time these same peculiarities form tlie chief obstacle to what is already recognised as an ideal — the brotherly union of the peoples? And therefore the maintenance and defence of any nationality — Russian, German^
- ↑ That is, the South African War of 1899-1902.
