They are patriotic to a degree; indeed to such a degree that anything which visibly touches the national prestige will readily afford a _casus belli_.

But it remains true that the popular temper among them is of the defensive order; perhaps of an unnecessarily enthusiastic defensive order, but after all in such a frame of mind as leaves them willing to let well enough alone, to live and let live.
And herein appears to lie the decisive difference between those peoples whose patriotic affections center about the fortunes of an impersonal commonwealth and those in whom is superadded a fervent aspiration for dynastic ascendency.

The latter may be counted on to break the peace when a promising opportunity offers.
The contrast may be illustrated, though not so sharply as might be desirable, in the different temper shown by the British people in the Boer war on the one hand, as compared with the popularity of the French-Prussian war among the German people on the other hand.

Both were aggressive wars, and both were substantially unprovoked.

Diplomatically speaking, of course, sufficient provocation was found in either case, as how should it not?
But in point of substantial provocation and of material inducement, both were about equally gratuitous.