70 DISCOURSES OF FATHER HYACINTHE. 



cartli occupied by people foreign, and sometimes hostile 

 to each otlier, how could such a France as that Avakeu 

 in my heart one throb of enthusiasm ? The false pro- 

 phet of Italian revolution rejiroaches his country with 

 being materialist. He would have it religious; or 

 rather, he vrould have it a religion.^ And so do I, but 

 in a better sense, desire France to be a religion. 



I desire it for two reasons : because this religion of 

 patriotism will give us strength to sacrifice to it per- 

 sonal selfishness ; and because it will give us wisdom to 

 subordinate to it humanitarian sentiment. 



1. Personal Seljishness. 



An illustrious patriot has said, "Remember that love 

 of country is sacrifice, not enjoyment." AVhen love is 

 enjoyment, it is very easy ; but it is often, then, nothing 

 but selfishness. But when love costs one the persevering 

 sacrifice of everything, what need for it to rest on 

 faith — faith profound, enthusiastic! 



Such is love of country. We have to obey laws which 

 trammel us ; we have to give up, not our rights, indeed, 

 but the personal, independent way of exercising our 

 rights. Positive law says to us, "I shall not interfere 

 with your right ; but, tliat you may not encroach on 

 your neighbor's right, you must exercise your own under 

 such and such limitations and conditions." Then, after 

 the yoke of the law, there comes down on us the burden 

 of taxation, falling alike on the penury of the poor and 

 tlie superfiuity of tlie ricli. And then, after the taxa- 

 tion of property, the draft upon person and blood — 

 a necessary thing, but a cruel ; — cruel to the father, 

 from whom it snatches the companion of his labors; 



* The I{di;,'iou:^ Side of Uic Italian Question, by Joaeph î.Iazzini. Atlantio 

 MontMy, October, 1667. 



