The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-02-16
True |
Patriotism |
By REV. DAVID F. EYGREN
Pastor of Swedish Baptist Church
HinsdAle. Ill

a strenuous attempt on the part OF
many to resuscitate their sleeping pat
riotism, which they express IN great
measure by fire and smoke, the her
ltage of our warning ancestors.
l would first say that this ought and
ought not be so, all depending on
what we mean with patriotism. II
patriotism be of the right kind, we
would indorse it. If to be patriotic
means to be loyal, not to mere sell
fish cause, but to a general high and
noble cause, then we indorse it. Our
dear ~. 8. A" though large, is not
large enough. We would have the
whole world, nay, more, all the
worlds; yea, the heavens, too AS
true servants we would be interested
in all the possessions of our Master.
Christianity does not encourge par
icular patriotism in opposition to gen
eral benignity. If 1t did, it would not
be adapted for the world" The du-
ties of the subjects Of one state would
often be in opposition to those of the
subject OF another, and men might in
iict evil or misery upon neighbor ma
lions in conforming to the Christian
law
Christianity is designed to benefit
not a community but the world" The
promotion Of the interests Of one
community by injuring another-that
Is, patriotism in opposition to gem
eral nignity"-Christiani utterly
rejects as wrong.
Still would not a doctrine of gen
eral patriotism be rational? We would
answer in the affirmative, And Chris
tIanity does not appear to encourage
the doctrine Of being a Citizen of the
world" and Of paying no more regard
to our community than to every other.
That opposes to the natural and virtu-
Gus feelings.
If 1t were put in practise, it would
destroy confined benlgnity without eff
fecting counterbalancing amount OF
universal philanthropy. Who indeed
shall support and cherish and protect
a child if its parents do not?
That speculative philosophy is vain
which would supplant these dictates
by doctrines Of genera philanthropy.
1t cannot be applicable to human af-
fairs until there is an alteration in the
human. constitution Not only religion,
therefore, but reason and nature, re-
ject that philosophy which teaches
that no man should prefer or aid an
other because he is his countryman.
| his neighbor or his child.
This is an idle system of philosophy
which sets out with eXtinguishing
those principles of human nature
which the Creator has implanted for
wise and good ends.
He that shall so far succeed in prac-
Using this philosophy as to look with
Indifference upon his parent, his wife
and his son, will not often be found
with much zeal to exercise kindness
| and beneyOlenCe to the world at large.
But to cherish and support our own
| children rather than others; to do
| good to our neghboTs rather than to
strangers; to benefit our own country
rather than another nation does not
| lure other nations, or strangers, or
their children, in order to do good to
our own. Here is our point of dis
| elimination which we will enlarge
upon presentIy-a point which vulgar
patriotism and vulgar philosophy have
| alike overlooked
! dare not stop by saying that the
right kind Of patriotism would be to
do good to my nation, and by doing
this, not to do any menace to other
nations. That would Just simply be
| changing the Golden Rule to nothing
By having this kind of an idea
would say: DO nothing unto others"
| Then a person in order to be a gen
| eral patriotic" would need do moth
| ing"
No, our Christian way is better; It
is the best. do unto others, etc"
That makes man take off his coat,
turn up his sleeves and go to work!
Not only so good that one does no
harm; but so harmless that one must
do good! Not only a negative in re-
gard to not doing harm; but so strong
negative that one becomes posi-
tive.
In the second place, l would say,
not that it ought, but positively that It
ought not be so, in regard to the way
we show our patriotism. AS we have
mentioned this expresses itself in a
great measure by fire and smoke, by
noise and a general disturbance; this
being the heritage of our warning an
cestors.
The spirit OF true patriotism does
not hnd its expression in boosting Of
success in wars which were fought be-
fore we were born.
Reason and experience both forbid
US" said the father of our country,
ito expect that national morality can
prevail in exclusion Of religious prin-
ciple"
To be true patriots is to bring the
gospel to every creature, beginning in
Jerusalem, our own land, and then to
the uttermost parts of the earth
| 1t is related that when Columbus,
on his historic voyage, was approach
ing the shores of the western world.
pickering light was dimly seen
1