NATION (Lat.. natio. from natns, born), a word used in two distinct senses. 1. A state or independent society united by common political institutions; 2. An aggregaW Inass of bodnectea by ties Of bhiod and lineAge, and aormainies of language.
The modern dogma of nationalism, as maintained by a class of continental politicians, starts from an assumption that a nation in the latter sense ought necessarily to be also a nation in the former, and endeavors to assign limits to the several races of Europe, with the view of erecting each into a distinct state, separated front other states or national ities. The extreme politicians of the national school seem to consider the supposed rights of nationalities as paramount even to the obligations of treaties, and the political conjunction of one nationality with another is looked on by them as an adequate ground for a revolt or separation, apart altogether from the question whether the nationality is well or id governed. In point of fact, the different races in Europe are so commingled, that any reconstruction of the political map of Europe, on ethnological principles, would be impossible, even if desirable. The blood of nine-tenths of Europe has been
mixed within the historical period. The test of language, on which nationality has sometimes been based, is a deceptive one, in so far as it is indefinite and perpetually fluctuating. The people on the frontier between two races, as in the south Tyrol, gener ally speak two languages. Then we have dialects, like the Walloon, the Grrodnerisch of the Tyrol, and the Romansch of the Grisons—as also the Breton. Welsh, Gaelic and Irish languages, which could hardly be made the basis of independent communities. The well-being of the people governed is properly the end of all government, and it has practically not been always found that a state is better governed when it consists of one race only. than when it includes an aggregate of races. Highly diversified nationalities may be united in one political system, provided only that the government respects and consults the peculiarities of the several races and does not attempt to force the usages, habits, or language of one on the rest. See ETHNOLOGY.