FirstInauguralAddress
托马斯·杰斐逊
ThomasJefferson
托马斯·杰斐逊(1743—1826),《独立宣言》和《弗吉尼亚宗教自由法案》的起草者、弗吉尼亚大学创建人,也是美国第三任总统。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle。
1。inauguraladj。就职的,就任的
2。animationn。兴奋;生气;活跃
3。exertionn。努力;费力
4。atriotn。爱国者;爱国主义者
Duringthecontestofoinionthroughwhichwehaveassedtheanimationofdiscussionsandofexertionshassometimeswornanasectwhichmightimoseonstrangersunusedtothinkfreelyandtoseakandtowritewhattheythink;butthisbeingnowdecidedbythevoiceofthenation,announcedaccordingtotherulesoftheConstitution,allwill,ofcourse,arrangethemselvesunderthewillofthelaw,anduniteincommoneffortsforthecommongood。All,too,willbearinmindthissacredrincile,thatthoughthewillofthemajorityisinallcasestorevail,thatwilltoberightfulmustbereasonable;thattheminorityossesstheirequalrights,whichequallawmustrotect,andtoviolatewouldbeoression。Letus,then,fellow-citizens,unitewithoneheartandonemind。Letusrestoretosocialintercoursethatharmonyandaffectionwithoutwhichlibertyandevenlifeitselfarebutdrearythings。Andletusreflectthat,havingbanishedfromourlandthatreligiousintoleranceunderwhichmankindsolongbledandsuffered,wehaveyetgainedlittleifwecountenanceaoliticalintoleranceasdesotic,aswicked,andcaableofasbitterandbloodyersecutions。Duringthethroesandconvulsionsoftheancientworld,duringtheagonizingsasmsofinfuriatedman,seekingthroughbloodandslaughterhislong-lostliberty,itwasnotwonderfulthattheagitationofthebillowsshouldreacheventhisdistantandeacefulshore;thatthisshouldbemorefeltandfearedbysomeandlessbyothers,andshoulddivideoinionsastomeasuresofsafety。Buteverydifferenceofoinionisnotadifferenceofrincile。Wehavecalledbydifferentnamesbrethrenofthesamerincile。WeareallReublicans,weareallFederalists。IftherebeanyamonguswhowouldwishtodissolvethisUnionortochangeitsreublicanform,letthemstandundisturbedasmonumentsofthesafetywithwhicherrorofoinionmaybetoleratedwherereasonisleftfreetocombatit。Iknow,indeed,thatsomehonestmenfearthatareublicangovernmentcannotbestrong,thatthisGovernmentisnotstrongenough;butwouldthehonestatriot,inthefulltideofsuccessfulexeriment,abandonagovernmentwhichhassofarketusfreeandfirmonthetheoreticandvisionaryfearthatthisGovernment,theworld’sbesthoe,maybyossibilitywantenergytoreserveitself?Itrustnot。Ibelievethis,onthecontrary,thestrongestGovernmentonearth。Ibelieveittheonlyonewhereeveryman,atthecallofthelaw,wouldflytothestandardofthelaw,andwouldmeetinvasionsoftheublicorderashisownersonalconcern。Sometimesitissaidthatmancannotbetrustedwiththegovernmentofhimself。Canhe,then,betrustedwiththegovernmentofothers?Orhavewefoundangelsintheformsofkingstogovernhim?Lethistoryanswerthisquestion。
Letus,then,withcourageandconfidenceursueourownFederalandReublicanrinciles,ourattachmenttounionandreresentativegovernment。Kindlysearatedbynatureandawideoceanfromtheexterminatinghavocofonequarteroftheglobe;toohigh-mindedtoendurethedegradationsoftheothers;ossessingachosencountry,withroomenoughforourdescendantstothethousandthandthousandthgeneration;entertainingaduesenseofourequalrighttotheuseofourownfaculties,totheacquisitionsofourownindustry,tohonorandconfidencefromourfellow-citizens,resultingnotfrombirth,butfromouractionsandtheirsenseofthem;enlightenedbyabenignreligion,rofessed,indeed,andracticedinvariousforms,yetalloftheminculcatinghonesty,truth,temerance,gratitudeandtheloveofman;acknowledgingandadoringanoverrulingProvidence,whichbyallitsdisensationsrovesthatitdelightsinthehainessofmanhereandhisgreaterhainesshereafter—withalltheseblessings,whatmoreisnecessarytomakeusahayandaroserouseole?Stillonethingmore,fellow-citizens—awiseandfrugalGovernment,whichshallrestrainmenfrominjuringoneanother,shallleavethemotherwisefreetoregulatetheirownursuitsofindustryandimrovement,andshallnottakefromthemouthoflaborthebreadithasearned。Thisisthesumofgoodgovernment,andthisisnecessarytoclosethecircleofourfelicities。