But  is  not  pride  the  backbone  of  a  nation  as  well  as  of
an  individual  ?    Our  determination  never  to  be  conquered


JAPAN    AND    THE    UNITED    STATES       357

certainly  need  not  displease  anybody.  Everything  is  in
a  small  scale  in  Japan — our  own  stature,  the  size  of  ani-
mals and  birds,  our  wealth  and  poverty,  even  our  vir-
tues and  vices.  If  we  have  anything  really  big,  alto-
gether out  of  proportion,  that  is  the  ambition  not  to  be
behind  any  nation  or  race  in  doing  what  is  just,  good,
and  noble  to  do.  Huge  indeed  is  our  own  opinion  of  our-
selves !  In  this  respect,  gentlemen,  I  confidently  believe
that  you  Americans  will  grudge  us  no  amount  of  sym-
pathy. Limitless  in  your  natural  resources  and  energy,
tall  in  your  person  and  buildings,  gigantic  in  your
scientific,  industrial,  and  commercial  schemes,  you  set
yourselves  a  yet  higher  and  mightier  standard,  that  is,  of
representing  and  embodying  in  your  national  conduct
the  cream  and  essence  of  Western  civilization.  The
Greco-Roman  culture,  ennobled  by  Christianity,  has  been
refined  and  crystallized,  in  its  westward  march,  and  its
noblest  expressions,  such  as  universal  brotherhood,  in-
ternational peace  and  justice,  chivalrous  magnanimity
toward  struggling  weaker  nations,  sympathy  with  the
oppressed  and  wronged  all  over  the  world — all  these
ideals  find  their  staunch  supporters  in  this  most  favored
and  most  favorable  land.
