The national interest is merely a more coherent and ameliorating expression of the popular interest.

Its consistency, so far as it is consistent, is the reflection of a more humanized condition of human nature.

It increases with the increasing power of its citizens to deal fairly and to feel loyally towards their fellow-countrymen; and it cannot increase except through the overthrow of the obstacles to fair dealing and loyal feeling.
The responsibility and loyalty which the citizens of a democratic nation must feel one towards another is comprehensive and unmitigable; but the actual behavior which at any one time the national welfare demands must, of course, be specially and carefully discriminated.

National policies and acts will be welcome to some citizens and obnoxious to others, according to their special interests and opinions; and the citizens whose interests and ideas are prejudiced thereby have every right and should be permitted every opportunity to protest in the most vigorous and persistent manner.

The nation may, however, on its part demand that these protests, in order to be heeded and respected, must conform to certain conditions.