PATRIOTISM AND LOYALTY 281 



interest, and we may learn from the marvellous 

 successes of the French revolutionary republic 

 that, when this is forthcoming, no feat of arms is 

 impossibly difficult. 



Loyalty to a general or a king may take the 

 place of patriotism indeed, has often been its 

 predecessor in time. We intuitively reverence 

 the leaders of the herd. The institution of 

 monarchy probably originated in conditions of 

 war, in which a nation is greatly advantaged if 

 its forces are directed by a single authority. For 

 this reason the Jews desired a king ; and within 

 recent years a curious illustration has come from 

 the experiences of some hill tribes across the 

 Assam frontier. They sought British assistance 

 against a small immigrant tribe which they were 

 unable to withstand because, amidst democratic 

 communities, it was governed by a raja. But 

 feelings of loyalty must be supported by ideas of 

 kingly attributes, which in these intelligent days 

 will not long irradiate a monarch who does not 

 possess these qualities. 



We need not insist upon the unifying effect of 

 religious beliefs. Their influence has been immense 

 in consolidating peoples and in disintegrating 

 them in raising the moral tone of a nation and 

 in hurling it blood thirstily against other nations. 

 Amidst the distractions of modern philosophy, 

 politics and pleasures, religion is losing its compel- 

 ling authority. But that it is still a living force may 

 not be doubted if we regard the present state of 

 Ireland, and of French Canada, the recent war in 

 the Balkans, the bitter animosities which occa- 

 sionally antagonize Mohammedans and Hindus. 



A feature of present day conditions is the remark- 

 able development of the spirit of nationality. From 

 Ireland and Wales to China sections of the popula- 

 tions of empires and kingdoms are asserting claims 



