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OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY.

[Part II.

people of every country were soldiers. War was the mosthonorable calling in the community, and the profession of thesoldier naturally had the ascendency over every other. In sucha state of society, the spoils of victory were the most honorableof all acquisitions, and it was deemed unworthy of a man to ac-quire by labor what might be obtained by blood.*

As society advanced, the fierce spirit of war was softened,the arts of peace began to be cultivated ; knowledge, morals, andthe true religion, took the place of ignorance and superstition ;industry became honorable ; and life, blessed by the fruits oflabor and virtue, became gradually, at least in Christian coun-tries, comfortable, refined, and happy. The achievements ofwar have ever, by their brilliancy, struck the imagination moreforcibly than the mild pursuits of'peace; and, until civilizationwas far advanced, the martial spirit was the genuine spirit ofpatriotism, and took precedence over every thing else. Andwhile this spirit, as has before been said, has gradually givenway to the better order of things, with which we have long sincebecome familiar; still much of it has been transferred to ourtimes, and along with it the ancient estimate of the superior im-portance of the military profession. Hence it is, that even inour day, when the kingdom of the Prince of Peace is extensivelyestablished in the earth, the martial spirit, martial achievements,and martial renown, continue to be regarded by many, as thealmost exclusive test, measure, and evidence of patriotism.

•But assuredly, without wishing to condemn the military spiritwhen suitably tempered and disciplined, or to detract from thevalue of military services, this view and estimate of patriotismand of the patriotic spirit are unnatural, illiberal, and unreasonable.What is there in the martial spirit or in martial services, whichcan make them patriotic, to the exclusion of successful inventionin the arts and sciences, the diffusion of knowledge and reli-gion, and whatever other blessings the reign of morals, order,industry, and peace confer on mankind.

When analyzed, the spirit of patriotism consists of at leasttwo elements, — the love of country, and a willingness to employ

Tacitus, De Moribus Germanorum, c. 14.