Middletown transcript., 1896-01-04
JINGoIsM.
The word is OF British origin and
comes from London music hall song,
which had the refrain:

1--WE don't want to fight,
But, by lingo, If we do,
We've got the ships, we've got the men,
We've got the money, too"
The word indicates spirit and pol
icy quite prevalent in Great Britain,
very characteristic OF France, too
much observed in Germany, and far
from unusual in the United States. II
is confined t'' no nationality, but is to
be expected wherever there Is nation
strong, jealous of her rights and quick
to express popular passion.
The meaning of jingoism is patrot-
ism writ large, writ too large. It in
dicates desire to maintain the honor
and glory of one's country, not
simply by fair means, but by foul
means as well. It is the sentiment
which makes one desirous to get wealth
or honor without regard to others,
even by trampling upon their rights.
A jingo in politics is one who has a
great deal to say about the glory of the
nation, and thinks very little about the
duties of the nation, who is willing to
carry point for what seems to be the
glory of the nation, or its strength or
success, by brow beating and crowding
other nations with threat of war, es-
pecially if they are weaker. 1t never
stops to ask what is the justice of a
cause, but only what is the inter-
est of ones country. Jingoism
loves the country no more than patriot
ism does, probably not no much, but
it is noiser, more blatent; not more
ready to die, but more ready to talk;
quick to get into quarrel, quick to
assume that our side of quarrel is
right, and unwilling to wait for ex-
planation or apology. The lingo is
ready to take Every means to extend
the territory Of his country, no matter
at what expense of blood or treasure or
right. He is an Orlando Furioso when
be is not Don Quixote or Falshaff.
A man is not lingo because he de-
sires to have the territory of bis
country enlarged and its influence ex-
tended. He may desire it because he
believes it may be better for the terri
tory annexed as well as for his own
country; he may be actuated by the
purest patriotic motives, the most un-
selfish, the most benevolent. But in
that case he wishes the extension of
territory by righteous means. He may
be ready to go to war. but be does not
love war; he detests it, and will only
go when driven to it. The patriot
sees no glory in war except it be a
righteous war. Success is an un-
righteous war is disgrace. He can
repeat with John Quicy Adams:
And say not thou, My country right or
wrong,
Nor shed thy blood for an unhallowed cause.
II then thy country trample on the right.
Furl up her banners and avert the sight"
But there are righteous wars, wars
of defence. wars of protection, and
one can engage in such wars and be no
jingo.
1t is not jingoism to te earnest to
protect ones citizens against abuse by
foreign power. 1t would be jiDgo-
ism to hasten to do it before the facts
we're known; but when the facts are
known and it is clear that the citizens
of nation have been injured or killed
is right to require reparation by force
if necessary. Especially is this true
in the case of a barbarous power that
will not listen to argument or cannot
give protection. If Turkey cannot
protect our American citizens residing
in her empire it would not be jingoism
for us to protect them by no matter
what exercise of force.
Neither is it jingoism to put down
bloody barbarism that is perpetrat-
ing massacre anywhere. The English
were not jingoes when they dethroned
King Thebaw; the leaders of the Cru
sades were not iingoes, for what they
did was with no view of the extension
of national power. They believed they
we're engaged in the service of human
ity and the protection of Christeudom.
If England should now step in and
prevent the massacres in Turkey that
would not be jingoism; it would be
We are glad to hear good deal said
nowadays in condemnation of jingoism.
Everything of the sort that is said, SO
far rs it does not misrepresept the
facts by illustrative examples, is
healthy. But it is probable that there
has never been period in the history
of our country, or in the history of
Great Britain, when there was as little
j,ugoism rs there is at the present
init. 1t is noticeable how unwilling
Engltna is new To enter upon any war
for ibe purpose Of territorial expan-
sion. Tie United States could not |
possibly be persuaded to lift finger to
secure possession of Canada or Cuba
against the will Of the people. Ii the
lingo spirit were rampant nrw we
should be rushing In to help the Cuban |
Insurgents; but it would be impossible |
10 get from any representative body
anything more than academic express
,ions of sympathy. The great COM
plaint which the annexationists in Cam
ada make OF the United States is that
We have no jingoism among us. The
absence of this spirit was notable in
.he discussion Of the Hawaiian revo-
luton. While the overwhelming senti- |