"
I was a little shocked to hear Thorwald, in his earnest manner, give
expression to these words, as though he looked upon such views in a very
serious light. I was therefore bold enough to interrupt him with:
"Excuse me, Thorwald, but would not these orators, when their attention
was called to their extreme language, acknowledge that love to God was a
still higher sentiment?"
"Perhaps they would, for with all the selfishness of the period there was
a deep-seated belief in a divine being. But even so, I still would not
allow them to be right."
"Why," I asked, "is there more than one motive higher than patriotism?"
"Yes, love is higher," answered Thorwald. "Let me explain. What did love
of country mean? At first one's country was a single family, then a tribe,
and later a city, when the measure of one's patriotism was the measure
also of his hatred for everything foreign. In time a state was formed from
many cities and towns, and its citizens were taught to look on all other
states as enemies.
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