The Thirty-Nine Articles of Patriotism.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 29, 22 September 1911, Page 16

The Thirty-Nine Articles of Patriotism.

Reprinted from "The Candlestick," 1901. I.—Of Faith in the Fatherland. There is but one true country or Fatherland, whereof the Patriot is the rightful son or citizen J of pre-eminent beauty and goodness; the Parent, Nurse, Teacher, and Sole Proprietor of every human creature bern within its boundaries. ll.—Of Loyalty to the Constitution. Of old and from time to time, the Fathers of the Country have, according to their wisdom and the necessity of the times, established Governments, Laws and Institutions, which things ■tike True Patriot accepteth without question: as his birthright, holding sac/red. any Constitution that hath endured the' storms of time upwards of a century, no matter how patently the same may, in the light of reason, oall for amendment. 111. —Of Government. The Government is that Person or Number of Persons— whether King, Emperor, President, Commander-in-Chief, Sultan, Oligarchy, Aristocracy, or Parliamentary Assembly—for the time being sitting in the seat of Absolute Authority, from whose judgment there is no ' appeal; and although no Patriot may seek to displace or oppose such Government without committing the sin of anti-patriotism, yet it hath always been held that the Success of the Anti-Patriot's Enterprise fully redeemeth such sin. (To be continued.)

The holder of a monopoly is a sinner and offender. The taker of interest and the giver pf it, and the writer of its papers and the witnesses of it, are all' equal in crime.—Mohammed: AI Koran.