登陆注册
5242300000080

第80章 CHAPTER XXVIII. PATRIOTISM(3)

People over here did not understand. On the one side were the great armies of Russia,--men drawn, all of them, from the ranks of the peasant, men of low nerve force, men who were not many degrees better than animals. They came to fight against us because it was their business to fight, because for fighting they drew their scanty pay, their food, and their drink, and the clothes they wore. They fought because if they refused they faced the revolver bullets of their officers,--men like themselves, who also fought because it was their profession, because it was in the traditions of their family, but who would, I think, have very much preferred disporting themselves in the dancing halls of their cities, drinking champagne with the ladies of their choice, or gambling with cards. I do not say that these were not brave men, all of them. I myself saw them face death by the hundreds, but the lust of battle was in their veins then, the taste of blood upon their palates. We do not claim to be called world conquerors because we overcame these men. If one could have seen into the hearts of our own soldiers as they marched into battle, and seen also into the hearts of those others who lay there sullenly waiting, one would not have wondered then. There was, indeed, nothing to wonder at. What we cannot make you understand over here is that every Japanese soldier who crept across the bare plains or lay stretched in the trenches, who loaded his rifle and shot and killed and waited for death,--every man felt something beating in his heart which those others did not feel.

We have no great army, Mr. Haviland, but what we have is a great nation who have things beating in their heart the knowledge of which seems somehow to have grown cold amongst you Western people. The boy is born with it; it is there in his very soul, as dear to him as the little home where he lives, the blossoming trees under which he plays. It leads him to the rifle and the drill ground as naturally as the boys of your country turn to the cricket fields and the football ground. Over here you call that spirit patriotism. It was something which beat in the heart of every one of those hundreds of thousands of men, something which kept their eyes clear and bright as they marched into battle, which made them look Death itself in the face, and fight even while the blackness crept over them. You see, your own people have so many interests, so many excitements, so much to distract.

With us it is not so. In the heart of the Japanese comes the love of his parents, the love of his wife and children, and, deepest, perhaps, of all the emotions he knows, the strong magnificent background to his life, the love of the country which bore him, which shelters them. It is for his home he fights, for his simple joys amongst those who are dear to him, for the great mysterious love of the Motherland. Forgive me if I have expressed myself badly, have repeated myself often. It is a matter which I find it so hard to talk about, so hard here to make you understand.""But you must not think, Prince, that we over here are wholly lacking in that same instinct," the Duke said. "Remember our South African war, and the men who came to arms and rallied round the flag when their services were needed.""I do remember that," the Prince answered. "I wish that I could speak of it in other terms. Yet it seems to me that I must speak as I find things. You say that the men came to arms. They did, but how? Untrained, unskilled in carrying weapons, they rushed across the seas to be the sport of the farmers who cut them off or shot them down, to be a hindrance in the way of the mercenaries who fought for you. Yes, you say they rallied to the call! What brought them? Excitement, necessity, necessities of their social standing, bravado, cheap heroism--any one of these.

But I tell you that patriotism as we understand it is a deeper thing. In the land where it flourishes there is no great pre-eminence in what you call sports or games. It does not come like a whirlwind on the wings of disaster. It grows with the limbs and the heart of the boy, grows with his muscles and his brawn. It is part of his conscience, part of his religion. As he realizes that he has a country of his own to protect, a dear, precious heritage come down to him through countless ages, so he learns that it is his sacred duty to know how to do his share in defending it. The spare time of our youth, Mr. Haviland, is spent learning to shoot, to scout, to bear hardships, to acquire the arts of war. I tell you that there was not one general who went with our troops to Manchuria, but a hundred thousand. We have no great army. We are a nation of men whose religion it is to fight when their country's welfare is threatened."There was a short silence. The Prime Minister and Bransome exchanged rapid glances.

"These, then," Penelope said slowly, "were the things you left unsaid."The Prince raised his hand a little--a deprecatory gesture.

"Perhaps even now," he said, "it was scarcely courteous of me to say them, only I know that they come to you as no new thing.

There are many of your countrymen who are speaking to you now in the Press as I, a stranger, have spoken. Sometimes it is harder to believe one of your own family. That is why I have dared to say so much,--I, a foreigner, eager and anxious only to observe and to learn. I think, perhaps, that it is to such that the truth comes easiest."Of a purpose, the three men who were there said nothing. The Prince offered Penelope his arm.

"I will not be disappointed," he said. "You promised that you would show me the palm garden. I have talked too much."

同类推荐
  • 三宝太监西洋记

    三宝太监西洋记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 焦氏喉科枕秘

    焦氏喉科枕秘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鹦鹉洲

    鹦鹉洲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 济南纪政

    济南纪政

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 算山

    算山

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 错承君王宠

    错承君王宠

    她原是游戏“草丛”中,滴落不沾身的女大学生;他是愿为自由故一切皆可抛的皇子;她的离奇穿越,为救他舍身献吻;而为她的自由,他放弃游手好闲的自由日子,掀起了一朝的巨变。情节虚构,请勿模仿!
  • 600题让你精通心理学6

    600题让你精通心理学6

    面对现实,展望未来。尽管有诸多的压力,尽管有诸多的苦闷,生命的长河都是无止境的,用你的人生阅历,用你对人生的睿智感悟,来正确面对你处的任何一种困境。本书在于让人们认识抑郁和抑郁症的特质,了解其产生的原因,学会自我诊断,更重要的是掌握消除它的方法。
  • 修罗杀神

    修罗杀神

    千年前仙魔战争延续至今,大战起时,有狂魔乱舞仙人出洞。一本修罗诀隐入少年手中,承修罗一脉,筑杀神之路!菩提树下,许木望着她平静俏脸,流下了泪,“这一路走来我期待着不凡,可是,自己却总妄想着不可能的可能……”“也许你看清了道,但,你却是永久迷茫了心。”
  • 理气自我按摩七步功

    理气自我按摩七步功

    高寿老人讲述自我按摩、调和阴阳、平衡气血的养生之道;手推助行徐步走:饭后三百步,助消化而吃得香;睡前千步走,使气血通畅而睡得安逸;中间漫步行,盼多活几年,多享清福。俯撑踮脚功:壮肺气、健肾力的基本功。掐膝眼起落:健脾胃,增加营养来祛除邪毒,使气血顺畅,防患于未然的上上策略。
  • 外科启玄

    外科启玄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 爆宠:总裁的超模小甜心

    爆宠:总裁的超模小甜心

    白烨,白式企业唯一的继承人,他霸道,冷漠,权势惊人。罗筱雅,平凡的小职员,她美丽,纯真,不屑权贵。她遇到了他,本该隔山隔海,但为什么竟然成了死缠烂打?他爱上了她,本该唾手可得,但追了累了最后只是无可奈何?“白烨!你想干嘛!快把我放开!?”“想干什么你不知道?老婆,这辈子别想逃!”
  • 有间往去

    有间往去

    白家人有三条绝不可违的家规1,不可嫁娶陆姓之人;2,不可阅读外国书籍;3,不可忤逆长辈;白露从三岁起便已经熟背此三条。
  • 陛下的娇蛮弃妃

    陛下的娇蛮弃妃

    新文《穿书后我给反派当继母》已开,求各位小可爱支持~她是21世纪王牌特工杀手,一觉醒来,成为弃妃不说,眼前还有一只猛虎正张着血盆大口要吃她。然而她刚从虎口逃生,转身却落进这个暴君手里。他一逼再逼,她一退再退,退无可退之际,她决定跑。他却用一道圣旨给她玩起了囚禁play。“什么?侍寝?”她冷笑,指间寒光闪簇,眸底涌起嗜血寒光,“不怕被阉,就放马过来。”他一把握住她的手腕,将她压在床榻间,似笑非笑,“原来爱妃这样重口,非要见血?”一夜之后,他对她食髓知味,对她一宠再宠。”“暴君,你的节操呢?”“不好意思,它正处于离线状态!”(1v1,双洁,甜宠~)
  • 逆袭抢婚:神秘老婆欺上身

    逆袭抢婚:神秘老婆欺上身

    (欢迎加入傥棠书友群:478834908)婚礼上,她一袭红色长裙出现,霸道抢婚,只为抢到这个命中注定有着三世情缘的男人,前两世的悲剧,让她下定决心,这一世,无论如何,也要和他在一起,完成他们的三世宿命。闪婚是他这一辈子做过最疯狂的事情,闪婚后的生活却也是他人生中最丰富多彩的生活,日久生情,说的就是他们这样的人,一个只想完成三世宿命,一个却又贪念这样的温情,于是,两人都深陷这样的情爱中而无法自拔。
  • 大明王朝:洪武篇章

    大明王朝:洪武篇章

    康熙评价明朝“治隆唐宋”,清朝官修史书《明史》评价明朝“远迈汉唐”。明朝何以享有如此盛誉?且听长篇小说《明》娓娓道来。第一部《明1:洪武篇章》述写朱元璋艰苦卓绝的登顶之路。