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25章 伍德罗·威尔逊第二次就职演讲(1917)(2)

More important,a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence,and an equally great number toil with little return.Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.

更重要的是,大批失业公民正面临严峻的生存问题,还有大批公民正以艰辛的劳动换取微薄的报酬。只有愚蠢的乐天派会否认当前这些阴暗的现实。

Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance.We are stricken by no plague of locusts.Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid,we have still much to be thankful for.Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it.Plenty is at our doorstep,but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply.Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankinds goods have failed,through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence,have admitted their failure,and abdicated.Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion,rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

但是,我们的苦恼决不是因为缺乏物资。我们没有遭到什么蝗虫灾害。我们的先辈曾以信念和无畏一次次转危为安,比起他们经历过的险阻,我们仍大可感到欣慰。大自然仍在给予我们恩惠,人类的努力已使之倍增。富足的情景近在咫尺,但就在我们见到这种情景的时候,宽裕的生活却悄然离去。这主要是因为主宰人类物资交换的统治者们失败了,他们固执己见而又无能为力,因而已经认定失败,并撒手不管了,贪得无厌的货币兑换商的种种行径,将受到舆论法庭的起诉,将受到人类心灵和理智的唾弃。

……

Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money;it lies in the joy of achievement,in the thrill of creative effort.The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits.These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.

幸福并不在于单纯地占有金钱;幸福还在于取得成就后的喜悦,在于创造性努力时的激情。务必不能再忘记劳动带来的喜悦和激励,而去疯狂地追逐那转瞬即逝的利润。如果这些暗淡的时日能使我们认识到,我们真正的天命不是要别人侍奉,而是为自己和同胞们服务,那么,我们付出的代价就完全是值得的。

Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit;and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing.Small wonder that confidence languishes,for it thrives only on honesty,on honor,on the sacredness of obligations,on faithful protection,on unselfish performance;without them it cannot live.

认识到把物质财富当作成功的标准是错误的,我们就会抛弃以地位尊严和个人收益为惟一标准,来衡量公职和高级政治地位的错误信念,我们必须制止银行界和企业界的一种行为,它常常使神圣的委托混同于无情和自私的不正当行为,难怪信心在减弱,因为增强信心只有靠诚实、荣誉感、神圣的责任感,忠实地加以维护和无私地履行职责,而没有这些,就不可能有信心。

Restoration calls,however,not for changes in ethics alone.This Nation asks for action,and action now.

但是,复兴不仅仅要求改变伦理观念。这个国家要求行动起来,现在就行动起来。

I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require.These measures,or such other measures as the Congress may build out of its experience and wisdom,I shall seek,within my constitutional authority,to bring to speedy adoption.

根据宪法赋予我的职责,我准备提出一些措施,而一个受灾世界上的受灾国家也许需要这些措施。对于这些措施,以及国会根据本身的经验和智慧可能制订的其他类似措施,我将在宪法赋予我的权限内,设法迅速地予以采纳。

But in the event that the Congress shall fail to take one of these two courses,and in the event that the national emergency is still critical,I shall not evade the clear course of duty that will then confront me.I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis—broad Executive power to wage a war against the emergency,as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.

但是,如果国会拒不采纳这两条路线中的一条,如果国家紧急情况依然如故,我将不回避我所面临的明确的尽责方向。我将要求国会准许我使用惟一剩下的手段来应付危机——向非常情况开战的广泛的行政权,就像我们真的遭到外敌入侵时授予我那样的广泛权力。

For the trust reposed in me I will return the courage and the devotion that befit the time.I can do no less.

对大家寄予我的信任,我一定报以时代所要求的勇气和献身精神,我会竭尽全力。

We face the arduous days that lie before us in the warm courage of the national unity;with the clear consciousness of seeking old and precious moral values;with the clean satisfaction that comes from the stem performance of duty by old and young alike.We aim at the assurance of a rounded and permanent national life.

让我们正视面前的严峻岁月,怀着举国一致给我们带来的热情和勇气,怀着寻求传统的、珍贵的道德观念的明确意识,怀着老老少少都能通过克尽职守而得到的问心无愧的满足。我们的目标是要保证国民生活的圆满和长治久安。

We do not distrust the future of essential democracy.The people of the United States have not failed.In their need they have registered a mandate that they want direct,vigorous action.They have asked for discipline and direction under leadership.They have made me the present instrument of their wishes.In the spirit of the gift I take it.

我们并不怀疑基本民主制度的未来。合众国人民并没有失败。他们在困难中表达了自己的要求,即要求采取直接而有力的行动。他们要求有领导的纪律和方向。他们现在选择了我作为实现愿望的工具。我接受这份厚赠。

In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God.May He protect each and every one of us.May He guide me in the days to come.

在此举国奉献之际,我们谦卑地请求上帝赐福。愿上帝保佑我们大家和每一个人,愿上帝在未来的日子里指引我。

人物小传:美国第32位总统(1933—1945)

姓名:富兰克林·德拉诺·罗斯福

绰号:fdr

出生:1882年1月30日,海德公园,纽约

卒于:1945年4月12日,佐治亚州

所属政党:民主党

资产来源:遗产继承

美国第32任总统富兰克林·德拉诺·罗斯福一直被视为美国历史上最伟大的总统之一,是20世纪美国最孚众望和最受爱戴的总统,也是美国历史上惟一连任4届总统的人,从1933年3月起,直到1945年4月去世时为止,任职长达12年。曾赢得美国民众长达7周的高支持率,创下历史记录。

富兰克林·德拉诺·罗斯福出生于纽约。父亲詹姆斯·罗斯福是一个百万富翁。母亲萨拉·德拉诺比父亲小26岁。罗斯福曾就读于哈佛大学和哥伦比亚大学。1910年任纽约州参议员。1913年任海军部副部长。1921年因患脊髓灰质炎致残。1928年任纽约州长。1932年竞选总统获胜。执政后,以“新政”对付经济危机,颇有成效,故获得1936年、1940年、1944年大选连任。第二次世界大战初,美国采取不介入政策,但对希特勒采取强硬手段,以“租借法”支持同盟国。1941年底,美国参战。罗斯福代表美国两次参加同盟国“三巨头”会议。罗斯福政府提出了轴心国必须无条件投降的原则并得到了实施。罗斯福提出了建立联合国的构想,也得到了实施。63岁时由于脑溢血去世。

Second Inaugural Address ofFranklin D.Roosevelt(1937)

Wednesday,January 20,1937