The Jingo and the Minstrel

An Argument for the Maintenance of Peace and Goodwill with the Japanese People     Glossary for the uninstructed and the hasty:    Jimmu Tenno, ancestor of all the Japanese Emperors; Nikko, Japan's loveliest shrine; Iyeyasu, her greatest statesman; Bushido, her code of knighthood; The Forty-seven Ronins, her classic heroes; Nogi, her latest hero; Fuji, her most beautiful mountain.                          # The minstrel speaks. #          "Now do you know of Avalon             That sailors call Japan?          She holds as rare a chivalry             As ever bled for man.          King Arthur sleeps at Nikko hill             Where Iyeyasu lies,          And there the broad Pendragon flag             In deathless splendor flies."                          # The jingo answers. #          "Nay, minstrel, but the great ships come             From out the sunset sea.          We cannot greet the souls they bring             With welcome high and free.          How can the Nippon nondescripts             That weird and dreadful band          Be aught but what we find them here: -             The blasters of the land?"                          # The minstrel replies. #          "First race, first men from anywhere             To face you, eye to eye.          For that do you curse Avalon             And raise a hue and cry?          These toilers cannot kiss your hand,             Or fawn with hearts bowed down.          Be glad for them, and Avalon,             And Arthur's ghostly crown.          "No doubt your guests, with sage debate             In grave things gentlemen          Will let your trade and farms alone             And turn them back again.          But why should brawling braggarts rise             With hasty words of shame          To drive them back like dogs and swine             Who in due honor came?"                          # The jingo answers. #          "We cannot give them honor, sir.             We give them scorn for scorn.          And Rumor steals around the world             All white-skinned men to warn          Against this sleek silk-merchant here             And viler coolie-man          And wrath within the courts of war             Brews on against Japan!"                          # The minstrel replies. #          "Must Avalon, with hope forlorn,             Her back against the wall,          Have lived her brilliant life in vain             While ruder tribes take all?          Must Arthur stand with Asian Celts,             A ghost with spear and crown,          Behind the great Pendragon flag             And be again cut down?          "Tho Europe's self shall move against             High Jimmu Tenno's throne          The Forty-seven Ronin Men             Will not be found alone.          For Percival and Bedivere             And Nogi side by side          Will stand, - with mourning Merlin there,             Tho all go down in pride.          "But has the world the envious dream -             Ah, such things cannot be, -          To tear their fairy-land like silk             And toss it in the sea?          Must venom rob the future day             The ultimate world-man          Of rare Bushido, code of codes,             The fair heart of Japan?          "Go, be the guest of Avalon.             Believe me, it lies there          Behind the mighty gray sea-wall             Where heathen bend in prayer:          Where peasants lift adoring eyes             To Fuji's crown of snow.          King Arthur's knights will be your hosts,             So cleanse your heart, and go.          "And you will find but gardens sweet             Prepared beyond the seas,          And you will find but gentlefolk             Beneath the cherry-trees.          So walk you worthy of your Christ             Tho church bells do not sound,          And weave the bands of brotherhood             On Jimmu Tenno's ground."