书城外语课外英语-美国总统演讲选萃(上)(双语版)
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第16章 本杰明·哈里森就职演讲(1889)

1889年3月4日,星期一

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My promise is spoken;yours unspoken,but not the less real and solemn.The people of every State have here their representatives.Surely I do not misinterpret the spirit of the occasion when I assume that the whole body of the people covenant with me and with each other to-day to support and defend the Constitution and the Union of the States,to yield willing obedience to all the laws and each to every other citizen his equal civil and political rights.Entering thus solemnly into covenant with each other,we may reverently invoke and confidently expect the favor and help of Almighty God—that He will give to me wisdom,strength,and fidelity,and to our people a spirit of fraternity and a love of righteousness and peace.

我已许下了我的诺言,你们的诺言虽未言明,但也同样真实与庄严。今天,这里有各州人民的代表。当我接受全体人民对我以及他们相互间的誓约的时候,这一典礼的精神在我看来是明确无误的:就是支持与保卫宪法和联邦,自愿服从全部法律,以及每个公民都应以平等的公民权和政治权对待其他公民。既然我们已经庄严地订立了誓约,我们便能虔诚地祈求,并信心百倍地期待全能的上帝给我们以帮助——赐给我力量、智慧与忠诚,赐给人民博爱精神和对正义与和平的热爱。

This occasion derives peculiar interest from the fact that the Presidential term which begins this day is the twenty-sixth under our Constitution.The first inauguration of President Washington took place in New York,where Congress was then sitting,on the 30th day of April,1789,having been deferred by reason of delays attending the organization of the Congress and the canvass of the electoral vote.Our people have already worthily observed the centennials of the Declaration of Independence,of the battle of Yorktown,and of the adoption of the Constitution,and will shortly celebrate in New York the institution of the second great department of our constitutional scheme of government.When the centennial of the institution of the judicial department,by the organization of the Supreme Court,shall have been suitably observed,as I trust it will be,our nation will have fully entered its second century.

这一时刻有其特殊的意义,因为从今天开始是根据宪法产生的第26届总统任期。华盛顿总统的首任就职典礼于1789年4月30日在国会的所在地纽约举行,这个日期由于出席国会及检查选票的耽搁已比原定日期有所推迟,今天,我们的人民已经经历了庆祝《独立宣言》、约克敦战役和正式通过宪法等一百周年纪念活动,不久又将在纽约庆祝宪法所规定的政府第二个重要部门的成立。我深信,在最高法院的组织下,司法部门成立一百周年的纪念活动将会适当地举行,这时候,我们的国家也就正式进入第二个世纪了。

I will not attempt to note the marvelous and in great part happy contrasts between our country as it steps over the threshold into its second century of organized existence under the Constitution and that weak but wisely ordered young nation that looked undauntedly down the first century,when all its years stretched out before it.

一方面,我们的国家已经进入根据宪法建立起来的第二个世纪;另一方面,这个虽然稚弱,但管理得法的年轻民族,回顾它在第一个世纪中经历的岁月后毫不感到气馁。这两个方面的奇妙而令人十分愉快的对照,我就不必特别指明了。

Our people will not fail at this time to recall the incidents which accompanied the institution of government under the Constitution,or to find inspiration and guidance in the teachings and example of Washington and his great associates,and hope and courage in the contrast which thirty-eight populous and prosperous States offer to the thirteen States,weak in everything except courage and the love of liberty,that then fringed our Atlantic seaboard.

在这一时刻,我们的人民不会忘记伴随着依据宪法成立政府机构所发生的事件;不会忘记从华盛顿和他那些伟大的同事的教诲和范例中获得鼓舞和指导,不会忘记从现在的人口众多、繁荣富庶的38个州同原来的13个州的对比中获得希望和勇气。这13个州当时分布在大西洋沿岸,它们除了勇气和对自由的热爱之外,原是一无所有的。

The Territory of Dakota has now a population greater than any of the original States(except Virginia)and greater than the aggregate of five of the smaller States in 1790.The center of population when our national capital was located was east of Baltimore,and it was argued by many well-informed persons that it would move eastward rather than westward;yet in 1880it was found to be near Cincinnati,and the new census about to be taken will show another stride to the westward.That which was the body has come to be only the rich fringe of the nations robe.But our growth has not been limited to territory,population and aggregate wealth,marvelous as it has been in each of those directions.The masses of our people are better fed,clothed,and housed than their fathers were.The facilities for popular education have been vastly enlarged and more generally diffused.

现在,达科他准州的人口已超过除弗吉尼亚州之外的原来的任何一州,而且多于1790年时的5个较小的州的总人口。当我们选定首都时,人口的中心是在巴尔的摩以东,许多有识之士曾议论过人口的中心将会东移而不是向西;1880年却发现人口中心已到了辛辛那提附近,而且即将进行的新的人口普查将会显示出这一中心又向西跨了一大步。过去的人口稠密地区已变成我们国家的富饶的边缘部分。但是,我们的成长并不限于土地;人口和财富的积累都有了惊人的成就,我们的人民比前辈有更好的饮食、衣着和住房。普及教育所需的各种设施已大量增加,遍及各地。

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人物小传:美国第23位总统(1889—1893)

姓名:本杰明·哈里森

绰号:“一百周年纪念”总统

出生:1833年8月20日,俄亥俄州

卒于:1901年3月13日,印第安那州

所属政党:共和党

本杰明·哈里森是美国第23任总统。他出身望族,父亲是国会议员;祖父威廉·亨利·哈里森是美国第九任总统;曾祖父也叫本杰明·哈里森,为美国开国元老之一,曾任大陆会议代表,在著名的《独立宣言》上签过字。

哈里森是约翰·斯科特·哈里森与伊丽莎白·拉姆西的第六个孩子,连他父亲与第一个妻子的三个孩子,哈里森共有兄妹九人。哈里森受到良好的教育,毕业于迈阿密大学,后操律师业。南北战争期间参加联邦军,获将军衔。1881年,他成为参议员。1888年,他被共和党提名总统候选人并在竞选中获胜。本杰明·哈里森于1889年就任总统时正值纪念华盛顿总统就职一百周年,因而人们称他为“一百周年纪念”总统。上台时,美国工业化臻于完成,经济结构发生了历史性变革。哈里森顺应潮流,制定了旨在稳定局势、防止社会动荡的《谢尔曼反托拉斯法》。对外,哈里森积极扩大美国影响,组织召开了第一届泛美会议,成立泛美联盟。哈里森政府还与许多国家签订了贸易互惠协定。

任期期满之后,他谋求连任失败,返回印第安那州重操律师业并开始写作。并且在1896年与寡居的玛莉·迪米克太太结婚。他是一位受尊敬的年长的政治家,于1901年逝世。

Second Inaugural Address ofGrover Cleveland(1893)

Saturday,March 4,1893