A Diary in America Author:Frederick Marryat Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER XI. PATRIOTISM. This is a word of very doubtful meaning; and until we have the power to analyze the secret springs of action, it is impossible to s... more »ay who is or who is not a patriot. The Chartist, the White Boy, may really be patriots in their hearts, although they are attempting revolution, and are looked upon as the enemies of good order. Joseph Hume may be a patriot, so may O'Connell, so may ' ; but never mind ; I consider that if in most cases, in all countries the word egotism were substituted it would be more correct, and particularly so in America. M. Tocqueville says, " The inhabitants of the United States talk a great deal of their attachment to their country; but I confess that I do not rely upon that calculating patriotism which is founded upon interest, and which a change in the interests at stake may obliterate." The fact is, that the American is aware that what affects the general prosperity must affect the individual, and he therefore is anxious for the general prosperity ; he also considers that he assists to legislate for the country, and is therefore equally interested in such legislature being prosperous; if, therefore, you attack his country, you attack him personally—you wound his vanity and self-love. In America it is not our rulers who have done wrong or right; it is we (or rather I) who have done wrong or right, and the consequence is, that the American is rather irritable on the subject, as every attack is taken as personal. It is quite ridiculous to observe how some of the very best of the Americans are tickled when you praise their country and institutions ; how they will wince at any qualification in your praise, andactually writhe under any positive disparagement. They will put questions, even if they anticipate an unfavoura...« less