Christianity and Patriotism
people before the Revolution rested on this patriotism; and the power of the Committee of Public Security after the Revolution rested on this patriotism. Napoleon (both as Consul and as Emperor) rose to power upon this patriotism; and on the overthrow of Napoleon the power of the Bourbons and then of the Republic, and then of Louis Philippe, and again of the Republic, and again of Bonaparte, and again of the Republic, were established on this patriotism, and the power of Monsieur Boulanger was very nearly established on this patriotism, too.
It is a terrible thing to say, but there is not, and there never has been, a combined act of violence by one set of people upon another set of people which has not been perpetrated in the name of patriotism. In the name of patriotism the Russians have waged war on the French and the French on the Russians. And in the name, too, of patriotism the Russians are now preparing with the French to make war on the Germans, and in the name of patriotism the Germans are preparing now to wage war on two fronts. But it is not only war-in the name of patriotism the Russians oppress the Poles and the Germans the Slavs; in the name of patriotism the Communards slaughtered the Versaillistes and the Versaillistes slaughtered the Communards.
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