Don: That may be indeed be what Carl Schurz said in 1872, but the usual citation is to Henry Clay, and goes "My country, may she always be right, but my country, right or wrong." And I believe it dates from the 1820's, so that whatever Schurz said would be derivative.

And the one about "refuge of the scoundrel" is usually attributed to Samuel Johnson. Meaning, Boswell probably made it up.

On reflection, is the mark of a patriot really uncritical support of a "cause," or willingness to make a personal sacrifice for that cause? Can an individual who asks for a tax cut when ostensibly there is a war on be called a "patriot"? I don't know, just asking.