Produced by Kurt A. T. Bodling, Pennsylvania, USA
[Frontispiece caption:] "He cried out, in a fit of frenzy, 'Damn the
United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again!'"
The Man Without A Country
by
Edward E. Hale
Author of "In His Name," "Ten Times One," "How to Live," etc.
Boston
Little, Brown, and Company
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863,
By TICKNOR AND FIELDS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865,
BY TICKNOR AND FIELDS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865,
BY TICKNOR AND FIELDS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868,
BY TICKNOR AND FIELDS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the your 1888,BY J. STILMAN SMITH & COMPANYin the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
Copyright, 1891, 1897, 1900, 1904,
BY EDWARD E. HALE.
Copyright, 1898, 1905,
BY LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY.
All rights reserved.
Introduction
Love of country is a sentiment so universal that it is only on such rareoccasions as called this book into being that there is any need ofdiscussing it or justifying it. There is a perfectly absurd statement byCharles Kingsley, in the preface to one of his books, written fiftyyears ago, in which he says that, while there can be loyalty to a kingor a queen, there cannot be loyalty to one's country.
This story of Philip Nolan was written in the darkest period of theCivil War, to show what love of country is. There were persons then whothought that if their advice had been taken there need have been noCivil War. There were persons whose every-day pursuits were greatlyderanged by the Civil War. It proved that the lesson was a lesson gladlyreceived. I have had letters from seamen who read it as they were lyingin our blockade squadrons off the mouths of Southern harbors. I have hadletters from men who read it soon after the Vicksburg campaign. And inother ways I have had many illustrations of its having been of use inwhat I have a right to call the darkest period of the Republic.
To-day we are not in the darkest period of the Republic.
This nation never wishes to make war. Our whole policy is a policy ofpeace, and peace is the protection of the Christian civilization towhich we are pledged. It is always desirable to teach young men andyoung women, and old men and old women, and all sorts of people, tounderstand what the country is. It is a Being. The LORD, God of nations,has called it into existence, and has placed it here with certain dutiesin defence of the civilization of the world.
It was the intention of this parable, which describes the life of oneman who tried to separate himself from his country, to show how terriblewas his mistake.
It does not need now that a man should curse the United States, asPhilip Nolan did, or that he should say he hopes he may never hear hername again, to m