The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-01-27
WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
AN ANALYSIS


{. .<.<. 1000 ..1.T.11.. .r.l.l.l.I.1.2%
and color. Many so-called Socialists
have fallen headlong into this obvious
trap.
Had social solidarity developed in
equal measure with the broadening
of mems real interests, it would now
be universal in character instead of
national. The wholesale mixture of
races, and the economic interdepend.
ence of the whole world, show that
Inationalism is now a barrier, and
patriotism, as we know it, a curse.
Only the whole world can now be
rightly called the land of our fathers.
Only in the service Of the people of
the whole world, and not against those
of any part Of it, can the instinct of
social service find its highest and
complete expression. The great So
cialist has pointed the way. He did
not call upon the workers of Germany
alone to unite. He appealed to the
toilerS of the whole world to join
hands; to whole world of labor
whose only loss could be its parti.
colored chains. And in this alone lies
the consummation of that tribal in.
stinct of social solidarity of which
patriotism is the perverted descend
ant.
Something Better Than Patriotism
Capitalism, therefore, stands as the
barrier the destruction of which will
not only set free the productive forces
of society for the good of all, but
will also Iiberate human solidarity
and brotherhood from the narrow con,
fines of nationality and patriotism.
Only victorious labor can make true
the simple but pregnant statement:
Mankind are my brethren, the world
is my country" Patriotism and ma
tionalism as we know them will then
be remembered only as artificial re-
strictions of mems sympathy and mu.
tual help; as obstacles to the expan.
sion of the human mind as impedi-
ments to the needful and helpful de.
velopment of human unity and coop
GRAFTON; as bonds that bound men to
slavery; as incentives that set broth,
ers at each others threats.
Despite its shameless perversion by
robber class the great impulse to
human solidarity is by no means dead.
Economic factors give it an ever firm.
er basis, and in the Socialist move.
ment it develops apace. Even the
hellish system of individualism, with
it's doctrine of every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost, has
been unable to kill it. And the great
class struggle of the workers against
the drones, of the socially useful
against the socially pernicious, in this
of humanity from wage slavery, the
great principle of human solidarity
based upon the necessities of today
and impelled by the deep-seated in
stincts of the race, will come to full
fruition and win it's supreme histori
cal battle.
That is our hope and inspiration
For the present, however, we are sur
rounded by the horrors of war added
to the horrors of exploitation, anC
subjected to the operation of OpeI
repression as we'll as to the arts o
hypocrisy and fraud, With the weak
ening power of religion to keep tn,
workers obedient, the false cult o
nationality and patriotism is beini
exploited to the full. Like religion
patriotism has it's vestments, it's cere
monies, it's sacred emblems, it's sac
red hymns and inspired music; all o
which are called in in aid of the elias
J interests of our masters and utilize
. desperately to lure millions to tn
shambles for their benefit. Thus
! an heroic and glorious social impuls