THE DRAMA IN RELATION TO TRUTH 369 
for some persons among his audience to face. But the truth 
should be “greeted with a cheer,” no matter in what shape 
it comes. The sooner this is realized and the remedy applied, 
then the sooner will the necessity to think on many of these 
unpleasant situations be over. 
This occasion will not permit of a fuller treatment of the 
subject. The purport of this brief sketch is to suggest that 
the drama may be used as a medium to elevate women and 
men, and to educate them equally to a knowledge of truth. 
From truth will all of the noblest sentiments radiate. Action 
in the name of patriotism, which includes love of self, State, 
or land, exclusive of other selves, states, or lands, partakes of 
an attribute not truly noble. The patriot who would be truly 
noble must work for the world. 
Ibsen, in a paragraph to which my attention has been called 
lately by a friend, remarks, “The State is the curse of the in¬ 
dividual. How has the national strength of Prussia been pur¬ 
chased? By the sinking of the individual in a political and 
geographical formula. The State must go. That will be a 
revolution which will find me on its side. Undermine the idea 
of the State, set up in its place spontaneous action and the idea 
that spiritual relationship is the only thing that makes for 
unity, and you will start the elements of a liberty which will 
be something worth possessing.” 
The spiritual relationship is the thing. 
