Island peoples have more affinity for liberty than continental peoples. Islands are ordinarily relatively small1 ; part of the people cannot be so well employed oppressing the rest ; the sea separates them from the great empires, and one tyranny cannot come to the aid of another ; conquerors are halted by the sea, the islanders are not caught up in the conquest, and more easily preserve their laws.
Japan is an exception to this by virtue of its size and its servitude.