M 
 
 A FEW THOUGHTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 • • • 
 
 Subject of Loyalty 
 
 '2-20 
 
 V XT* KB XT* XT* XT* 
 
'• • i 
 
 AN ESSAY SUBMITTED BY 
 
 MRS. WARWICK CHIPMAN 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PRIZE COMPETITION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MONTREAL LOCAL COUNCIL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN 
 
 MAY, 1896 
 
 K. A. CHIPMAN 
 
H ^ew Cbougbts ontbe 
 
 Subject of Xoi^alt^ 
 
 *'inalo mori quam fcedarl." 
 
 Any inquiry into the moral outfit of humanity soon brings What is Loyait 
 us to the conclusion that there are certain traits which must 
 have formed elemental parts of human nature from the first. 
 
 A comparision of different conditions amongst peoples 
 provokes investigation as to cause, whereupon, one after 
 another, actions stand ranged for our review, they give place 
 to sentiments, sentiments resolve to principles, and these sift 
 down to a few master motives at the back of which stand 
 what ? 
 
 Religion alone offers to view a likely source for these 
 original and innate principles of humanity. They are God- 
 endowed. 
 
 The word "ought" exists in every mind, a link binding it a natural 
 
 ° quality. 
 
 to Others. The idea of duty towards those with whom we are 
 in any sort connected, the greatmasterprincipleofloyalty,we find 
 to be an intrinsic part of our nature, and that not only in the 
 
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*Ses Parkman s 
 
 primitive ties, filial and tribal, but also in adoptive relations, 
 such as friendship. 
 
 It is an axiom of man's moral nature. The early history of 
 any people can furnish examples of loyalty as pure and mag- 
 nanimous as the annals of advanced civilization. 
 
 We have a double instance of devoted loyalty in the case 
 of Wawatam, an Ojibwa Chief, who, under stress of difficulties 
 and conflicting impulses, managed, at much risk and expense 
 to himself to save the life of his friend, an English trader, 
 while at the same time lireservin;.', unrevealed the tactics of 
 'Conspiracy *"of of li's tribe. (*) A loyalty the more striking because the 
 Massacre of 1763 friendship appears to have been wholly on the side of the 
 Indian, and in no wise owing to favor or kindness from the 
 white man. 
 
 (iratitude has been defined as " justice made beautiful." 
 Loyalty is duty (whether self-imposed or not) made lovely. 
 Mingled with the obligation implied in the root of the 
 word, over and above the exactions of the " /(?/," there is the 
 hint of fidelity, of obedience, of reverence, of trust, of love, of 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 A great quality §0 many brilliant examples have drawn it out to the 
 
 measure of their noblest self-surrender and most devoted 
 service, that it cannot easily contract to fit a bare discharge of 
 duty. Precedent leads us to expect with the quality large 
 perquisities to the credit of humanity. 
 
 No galled and sorry drudge is true loyalty, but so full 
 blooded aid gallant as fitly to bear against all odds the fiower 
 of chivalry, heroism, and generous emulation. 
 
 Of its value as a component of character there can be no 
 
 s value in moral '^ 
 
 equipment. question, and this is so universally recognized that any state- 
 
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ment of it is like saying that the sun is bright. What more 
 noble than the voluntary surrender of life for a country, a 
 cause? What more beautiful than the trust, devotion, self- 
 effacement of true friendship ? 
 
 We may say that we can conceive of no collection of 
 virtues which could in the absence of this one compose an 
 admirable character, and we can forgive many short comings, 
 if they be counterbalanced by the possession of this great 
 guarantee of worth. Without loyalty, expedience and impulse 
 control action, and principle goes to the wall. And as it is 
 the prop of private character, so is it the mainstay of the State. 
 To what else does England owe her greatness ? When 
 Nelson uttered the speech that words made not eloquent — 
 '* England expects every man this day to do his duty," he 
 knew that he appealed to the deepest rooted instinct of each 
 man in the service, whatever his rank. 
 
 And so it has always been throughout the brilliant length Dynamics of 
 
 Loyalty. 
 
 of British history from the dim dawn when the followers of 
 Caradoc, against terrible odds, strained to their utmost the 
 skill and resources of the well trained Romans, instances shine 
 thick as motes in a sunbeam, till the latest tribute to the 
 spirit that animated them hardly more than voices the common 
 thought of the people— 
 
 Who would not die for England ! 
 
 This great thought, 
 Through centuries of Glory handed down 
 By storied vault in monumental fane, 
 And homeless grave in lone barbaric lands, 
 Homeless, but not forgotten, so can thrill 
 With its imperious call the hearts of men, 
 That suddenly from dwarf ignoble lives 
 They rise to heights of nobleness and spurn 
 The languid couch of safety, to embrace 
 Duty and Death that evermore were twin. 
 
 Alfred Austin, 
 
 —5— 
 
When great national issues are at stake, it is the number 
 of fighting men, the capacity of the treasury, that is totted up 
 and taken into account by matter of fact common-sense. But 
 common-sense seesonly half the truth, and the facts of matter 
 are hardly more than indices to the great volume of realities 
 of human life and nature, which must receive consideration in 
 arriving at a fair estimate of probabilities. Russia has the 
 largest army in the world, but the loyalty of l]riti.sh soldiers 
 is the unknown quantity which make geography of no 
 account, and renders a safe pass to India problematic. 
 
 Age after age has produced philosophers that attribute 
 Self-interest not ^hc most Valuable moral qualities to self-interest, regardless of 
 loy.iUy. the natural tendency to virtue and still more of the frequent 
 
 conflict between the pursuit of self-interest and that of virtue. 
 What Matthew Arnold calls " the sense in us for conduct, 
 the sense in us for beanty " moves men strenuously and 
 constantly to exalt some point of honor, some grace of 
 character, far beyond any consideration of self-interest. 
 
 The element of self is necessarily a part of loyalty. One 
 can only hr said to be truly loyal to one's own Sovereign, 
 husband, friend. That it is not on that account a selfish 
 quality is easily proved, by carrying its manifestation to the 
 superlative degree in which the possessor is rendered capable 
 of complete self-sacrifice for loyalty's sake. This ingredient 
 of self, as opposed to self-rej^ard, affords sufficient clue to the 
 lack of loyalty amongst certain classes. There can be no 
 loyalty where the sense of responsibility is absent. 
 
 Conditions detri- That Community which is composed of a number of 
 menta to °y* 'v irresponsible persons, each working individually for the further- 
 ance of selfish gratification, must exhibit a low moral attain- 
 ment, and misery proportionate to its size. Loyalty is one of 
 
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the highest of social affections. The social affections are 
 weakest where private desires or selfishness are strongest. 
 St. Paul anticipated Butler in this matter when he speaks of 
 " men of corrupt minds, lovers of their own selves, 7vithout 
 natural affection^ traitors" (t). fa Tim. Hi. 3. 
 
 While, therefore, selfishness is destructive of the social 
 affections, self is an inseparable, a fundamental constituent in 
 them. And since it is certain that there are in our nature 
 perfectly disinterested passions which seek the well-being of 
 others as their object and end without looking beyond it to 
 self, or pleasure or happiness, (J) and since loyalty is ona of MacthuoTh. in 
 
 , Disserlaiioii on 
 
 these noble instincts, it would be wise to train and cultivate it I'rogressofKthic. 
 
 al Philosophy. 
 
 to its highest possibilties. 
 
 Paley defines the art of life "to be that of rightly 
 setting our habits." We know that habits are more strongly 
 formed during the first years of a man's existence ; therefore 
 to be a fundamental working principle of his life, the sentiments 
 or tenets and motives of loyalty must be deeply grounded in the 
 school boy. Some may argue that this will be subversive of 
 that spontaneity which should distinguish the genuine senti- 
 ment. But, to be serviceable, loyalty should be built of sterner 
 stuff. 
 
 In the days of chivalry with what sedulous care and Should be a part 
 
 ' ' of education. 
 
 constant monitions was the elaborate code of honor impressed 
 on young manhood, enforced by what aversions, repugnances, 
 and shames ! Were they the less inclined to avow " Honor 
 pricks me on " ? 
 
 Although far above considerations of interest even 
 indirect, yet may loyalty be inculcated, and the natural tendency 
 trained and strengthened, by study of the solid bases of 
 
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general welfare, the secrets of progress, the sources of degen- 
 eration and penalties of disloyalty. 
 
 True religion is love of God and goodness, but its teach- 
 ings are forwarded by consideration of consequences, the 
 lower motives of reward and punishment. We must concede 
 the efficacy of these in dealing with unformed minds and those 
 whose views are in a rudimentary condition. 
 
 Students of public welfare report that crime shows 
 
 decided increase especially amongst the adolescent 
 
 Blr\'rittHbu"tes P°P^^^*^°" whcn State education is merely secular. (§) 
 
 tbn o'"c'rVme7n By a parity of reasoning we cannot look for a high 
 
 r J^ifgious'* a n°d degree of loyalty from a generation whose training has never 
 
 moral instruction _ 
 
 in the public included the principle. It should be made basal in the 
 
 schools." 
 
 education of our youth and its just demands shewn clearly 
 and strongly. 
 
 Rome became mistress of the ancient world by force of 
 the devoted allegiance which formed three-fourths of the piety 
 of her sons. The same principle, according to Divine ordina- 
 tion in the model nation, is so slightly secondary to religion as 
 to seem a simultaneous duty. 
 
 MCMsary"'"^ " I" ^"Y ^^^^ teaching, training, and exercise, in the moral 
 
 " J"'"^ • virtues must result in the strong combination of reason with 
 
 right feeling, and so bring about a more intelligent following^ 
 
 a fuller spring of action. 
 
 The relations of the units to the whole, press for a first 
 place amongst the lessons to arouse the incipient sense of 
 responsibility, the development of which is to decide the 
 value of the individual. It stands to reason that loyalty, no 
 more than public spirit, can be expected of those who have 
 neither part nor lot in the affairs of a community. And, 
 
 —8— 
 
loyalty being a mental effort — a moral exercise — it makes 
 little difference whether the exemption be actual or imaginary 
 so long as it seem a reality. Therefore, the part necessary, 
 however small, which any unit in the state must take and hold 
 to the best of his ability, should be duly impressed on the 
 young — healthy stimulus, good practical sentiment of the 
 sort which nerves Dibdin's "Poor Jack" to unkind duty : — 
 
 " D'ye mind me, a sailor should be every inch 
 
 ' ' All as one as a piece of the ship 
 
 " And with her brave the world without offering to flinch, 
 
 " From the moment the anchor's atrip. 
 
 " As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides and ends, 
 
 " Naught's a trouble from duty that springs, 
 
 " For my heart is my Poll's and my rhino's my friend's, 
 
 " And as for my life 'tis the King's. 
 
 That member of a household does not as a rule yield 
 affectionate service to a family between whose interests and 
 his own no slightest relation exists — the same rule obtains in 
 larger circles. There must be some common bond, not 
 necessarily the ignoble one of mutual comfort. Some motive 
 bringing the higher nature into play, a call to enthusiasm, 
 devotion and gratuitous effort, will be a powerful lever for 
 valuable service. 
 
 Towards this naught so much conduces as a clear belief 
 in the special work appointed to the State, the nation to which 
 we belong. A high ideal of responsibility, a lofty aim for 
 conduct on the part of leaders, will surely evoke enthusiastic 
 fidelity from the best spirits among the people. 
 
 Character and circumstance provide each nation with a 
 mission. That of Greece was the moulding of a sense of beauty ; 
 of Rome, the perfection of martial and civic discipline. The 
 mission of Israel was surely the evolution and upholding of moral 
 
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As distinct from 
 patriotism. 
 
 On cultivation 
 of the spirit of 
 loyalty. 
 
 and physical cleanliness, in a world given over to insanitary 
 license. 
 
 History affords no loftier enterprise and Englishmen 
 need seek no higher work in the world than its entire inclusion 
 in Christendom. 
 
 Here it is we find that loyalty strikes a richer keynote 
 and occupies a place in respect to patriotism as much superior, 
 and more potent, as a principle to a sentiment. 
 
 Both have been powerful movers in the history of man- 
 kind. Both equally have strewn " Valour's crimson bed," 
 but while patriotism loves on a level, with eyes that scan the 
 horizon jealous of rights and privileges, loyalty looks upward 
 to the controlling power and lives and moves in obedience to 
 an ordered system — to push the metaphor, is content to be, 
 or not to be, to be a note or a rest so that the progressive 
 harmony of his sphere be sustained. 
 
 The loyalty of the Swiss soldiers in France and Holland 
 was not enough to prevent their enlisting as mercenaries to 
 any Power, and so little of the feeling existed towards those 
 who hired their allegiance, that it could not withstand the 
 appeal to patriotism made by the Ranz des Vaches. It was 
 found necessary to prohibit the playing of this air before 
 them, because it set them all deserting. 
 
 One essential of leal adherence is enthusiasm. We feel 
 no cordial admiration for the youth whose worldly wisdom 
 concedes other colleges to be as good as his own. Enthusiasm 
 is the family feature marking loyalty akin to love. Both by 
 virtue of it see farther than indiffererxe, see the high ideal 
 through the faulty performance, and so loyalty like true friend- 
 ship estimates its objects at their highest possibilities and, by 
 thus apprehending the future, proves its own immortality. 
 
 — lO — 
 
Since the generous emotions are significant components 
 in the great master principle of national life, we must respect 
 whatever tends to raise and encourage them. 
 
 Eoiblems and symbols in relation to Loyalty may at first 
 sight appear matters of but slight relevance, but, we in 
 Canada, with our large Celtic admixture, must see their 
 importance, especially in dealing with the masses. 
 
 Attention to the beginnings of great national events and 
 movements shows the symbol to occupy a prominent place. 
 As illustration, millinery, ecclesiastic, military or civic is found 
 practically necessary to render the machinery of the several 
 functions perfectly effective. Spontaneouo and involuntary 
 respect is yielded to persons whose dress (a mere symbol) 
 denotes their investiture with authority. Deference becomes 
 an instinct before a uniform. 
 
 Love of home and early associations has given us many 
 symbols. The Eastern fig tree, the English fireside, even the 
 American old oaken bucket, all are symbols to conjure sweet 
 thoughts of home. How much more does an emblem of 
 national interest appeal to the warm unreasoned enthusiasm 
 of a subject. 
 
 A cry to rally round the flag brings love, pride, fortitude, 
 and daring-do, in eager crowds to the front. The very tatters 
 of the fluttering emblem are several lashes to the torrent of 
 glorious memories, high emprise, and noble emulation, which 
 swell the tide of battle to full flood. 
 
 How heart-inspiring too is a national air, a symbol that 
 alike cheers the soldier on the field and fires with patriotic 
 zeal the civilian at home. A national anthem, like England's, 
 lifts the emotions beyond vulgar boast and lust of glory to the 
 region of religious duty and loyal piety. 
 
 — II — 
 
Advantages of If the doctnne of loyalty become part of our school 
 
 inculcation. 
 
 system, educationists well know the value of suitable emblems 
 and symbols, and the trained instincts of the growing genera- 
 tion will rise obedient to whatever call maple leaf or Union 
 Jack shall make, and the great bulk of the nation will yield 
 as ready a response to motto or national hymn as ever did 
 a select few, the Knights of old. The various school cadet corps, 
 and the setting up of a Canadian flag are a good start in the 
 right direction. 
 
 We would have our youth taught their relation to the 
 State, and its dependence on their faithful discharge of dutiful 
 service, for a happy condition of affairs. And since the hero's 
 part may be played by but few, the only outlet for the loyalty 
 of the vast majority lies in upholding the hands of authority, 
 in worthy citizenship, to the full capacity of each one. 
 
 The impulse, the spirit of this new individualism, h 
 abroad and ripe for guidance. 
 
 Communism, in the vulgar sense, is but its misdirected 
 energy pushed to insane use. But the ideals of Plato's Republic, 
 of Sir Thomas More's Utopia, of Primitive Christianity, held 
 the mutual interdependence of State and individual a first 
 essential to the common weal. 
 
 As it is, the myriad units in a nation too generally pursue 
 sedulously their own selfish interests, expecting, should a call 
 come, that some way or other, those who are paid for it, or 
 such as have neither talent nor chance to push private 
 concerns, will take up the cause of their country. 
 
 It is a happy-go-lucky faith and deserves the rebuke of 
 disaster. 
 
 12 — 
 
Uo Sum TUP : 
 
 This virtue of loyalty is of the highest ethical value to 
 the race : 
 
 As a factor in national success its presence is imperative : 
 To be perfectly effective it should be cultivated and 
 directed to the wisest use, by all practical means. 
 
 There is i.othing chimerical in the ideal of a community, 
 a province, a widely spreading nation, so deeply imbued with 
 a sense of duty and cordial service toward a State that is 
 administered with closest atttention to public welfare, as to 
 make loyalty the distinctive characteristic of that people. It 
 would be difficult to dare or daunt a people so equipped ; 
 well nigh impossible to bar the happy progress of a people 
 so conditioned. Life amid such circumstances must become 
 a gradation towards that existence 
 
 " Where loyal hearts and true, 
 Stand ever in the light." 
 
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