to it.
However poor or humble it may be, he feels bound to it by no ordinary
ties. He defends its interests. Above all other households, he loves
his own the best. The first duty of the citizen is of the same kind.
He loves his land; his own country is dearer to him than any other on
earth. He is ready to defend it even with his life. The words of Sir
Walter Scott, as of many another poet, express this patriotic feeling:

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land,
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned,
From wandering on a foreign strand.

Many have died for their country's sake, and in all ages this has been
thought a specially noble death. History records with affection the
names of such men as Wallace, Bruce, William Tell, and Garibaldi, who
sacrificed very much for the land they loved. And as "peace has its
victories no less renowned than those of war," it has been the pride of
others to serve their country by guarding its liberties, increasing its
happiness, diminishing its evils, reforming its laws. The _flag_ of a
country is the symbol, to those who belong to it, of their common
inheritance. Brave men will follow it through the shot and shell of
battle. Men have wrapt it round their breasts, and have dyed its folds
with their heart's blood to save it from the hands of the enemy; and
wherever it waves it calls forth feelings of loyalty and allegiance.

2. Another primary duty of citizenship is obedience to the law. Here
again we have the rule of the family extended to the state. The child
is bound to obey his parents unless they bid him do what his conscience
clearly tells him is wrong; so, a good citizen will obey the laws of
his country, unless these laws are so evidently unjust that the good of
all demands that they should be resisted. Whatever the law is, he will
endeavor to respect and obey it. If he believes it to be an unjust or
unrighteous law, he will do his best to get it amended or abolished.
It is only in an extreme case, though this opens a subject on which we
cannot enter, that he can be justified in refusing obedience. "Let
every soul," says Scripture, "be subject unto the higher powers. For
there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of
God; and they that resist shall receiv