The fact of the business is that patriotism is a stage in the growth of loyalty. States and nations are steps in the process of world integration. After families, tribes, city-states, and all the rest, have come nations. Nations must have the loyalty of mankind because they are the largest peace units so far attained, and because they will be the foundations of larger peace units. The next step in the organization of the race seems to be that of internationalism. And the logic of history seems to indicate that international government will come. The tendency of societal organization has been toward larger and larger wholes. “The tendency to the enlargement of the social unit has been going on with certain temporary relapses throughout human history. Though repeatedly checked by the instability of the larger units, it has always resumed its activity, so that it should probably be regarded as a fundamental biological drift the existence of which is a factor which must always be taken into account in dealing with the structure of human society.”[207] The process of enlargement is still carrying on. States and nations have actually grown very close together, and are increasingly establishing official relations between themselves. And the temper of the patriotic spirit has become such that on the whole it will not only welcome but further international government. In this character patriotism shows itself to be a force making not only for the salvation of the one country but of mankind. This is at once its justification and an indication of what there is in it that the morally good man ought to approve and support. If the fundamental justification of patriotism is that it strengthens the principle of coöperation among men and makes for peace, then its continued vindication will be in its further support and extension of the primary principle for which it stands. There is good reason why its relations to war and internationalism are crucial problems of patriotism. The fundamental good of the nation is that it is a peace unit, and if patriotism comes to the place where it stands for war more than for peace, and is in the way of larger groupings of men, it will have defeated itself. The higher patriotism is that which looks toward internationalism.

The practical ethical problem in patriotism is that of separating the good from the evil, and of preserving the former while allowing the latter to fall into disuse. It is fairly certain that nationalism and patriotism could not be destroyed even if one thought that such was the best thing to do. Some form of an organization of men based upon the geographical principle is with us to stay in at least the predictable future. And countries will not consent to extinction. Patriotism is the will to national individuality, and patriots will insist upon that individuality. In view of these facts, it seems that our salvation does not lie in breaking up the units that already exist, but in securing a larger measure of coöperation between them. And it is all the more sure that we should proceed in that way for the reason that patriotism secures things of great value in the world. If we destroyed it, we should lose the good along with the evil. This can be illustrated. Patriotism in one way is national pride. And pride often causes trouble. But on the other hand, it often causes good. It may be said of national pride along with Zimmerman: “Virtues and vices are often put in motion by the same spring. It is the philosopher’s part to make known these springs, and the legislator to profit by them. Pride is the gem of so many talents and apparent virtues, that to destroy it is wrong, it should only be turned to good.

“Were men not proud what merit should we miss!”[208]

If patriotism were destroyed, it is likely that we should be forced to recreate it.

The literature on the subject of the details of reconstruction after the war proposes two main lines of approach. Some writers place the greatest stress upon the readjustment of the arrangements of national and international government. For instance, this school emphasizes the need for the international control of backward countries and the main highways upon the seas. Lippmann says, “... the supreme task of world politics is not the prevention of war, but a satisfactory organization of mankind. Peace will follow that.”[209] The idea seems to be that if the causes of friction are effectively removed, trouble will not arise. Another school of writers places its reliance upon broadening the vision of men. Powers represents this method of approach. He says, “The chief remedy—perhaps we may say the only remedy—for ills that flesh is heir to, is to be found in the increased intelligence and forbearance of men.”[210] These methods will have to be used in conjunction with each other. It is not safe in the near future to trust entirely to human nature as long as irritating causes of friction remain, and by removing the causes of friction we may allow the belligerent type of patriotism to fall into disuse. But neither will any merely external arrangements provide security so long as human nature finds its glory in a chauvinistic patriotism. Patriotism is the will to national individuality. It is a major task of mankind to see that that will is intellectualized and ethicized.

NOTES

Part I

[1] There is a widespread recognition among psychologists and students of character that the study of conduct should begin with these unreasoned impulses. For examples of such a recognition see the following: Jas. R. Angell, Chapters from Modern Psychology, pp. 24, 25; Wm. McDougall, An Introduction to Social Psychology, pp. 2, 3, 43; Gilbert Murray, Herd Instinct and the War, a lecture in The International Conflict by Murray and others, p. 23; Wilfred Trotter, The Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War, p. 15; Graham Wallas, The Great Society, p. 41; E. B. Holt, The Freudian Wish, p. 132; Walter Lippmann, The Stakes of Diplomacy, p. 50; A. F. Shand, The Foundations of Character, Introduction, pp. 1-9.

[2] Cf. Francis Galton: Inquiries Into Human Faculty and Its Development, p. 72.

[3] Wm. James: The Principles of Psychology, Vol. II, p. 430. Quoted by Wm. McDougall: Social Psychology, pp. 85, 86.