美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx
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美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx
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美国总统演讲之JamesMonroe
FirstInauguralAddressofJamesMonroe
TUESDAY,MARCH4,1817
IshouldbedestituteoffeelingifIwasnotdeeplyaffectedbythestrongproofwhichmyfellow-citizenshavegivenmeoftheirconfidenceincallingmetothehighofficewhosefunctionsIamabouttoassume.Astheexpressionoftheirgoodopinionofmyconductinthepublicservice,Iderivefromitagratificationwhichthosewhoareconsciousofhavingdoneallthattheycouldtomerititcanalonefeel.MYsensibilityisincreasedbyajustestimateoftheimportanceofthetrustandofthenatureandextentofitsduties,withtheproperdischargeofwhichthehighestinterestsofagreatandfreepeopleareintimatelyconnected.Consciousofmyowndeficiency,Icannotenteronthesedutieswithoutgreatanxietyfortheresult.FromajustresponsibilityIwillnevershrink,calculatingwithconfidencethatinmybesteffortstopromotethepublicwelfaremymotiveswillalwaysbedulyappreciatedandmyconductbeviewedwiththatcandorandindulgencewhichIhaveexperiencedinotherstations.
IncommencingthedutiesofthechiefexecutiveofficeithasbeenthepracticeofthedistinguishedmenwhohavegonebeforemetoexplaintheprincipleswhichwouldgovernthemintheirrespectiveAdministrations.InfollowingtheirveneratedexamplemyattentionisnaturallydrawntothegreatcauseswhichhavecontributedinaprincipaldegreetoproducethepresenthappyconditionoftheUnitedStates.Theywillbestexplainthenatureofourdutiesandshedmuchlightonthepolicywhichoughttobepursuedinfuture.
FromthecommencementofourRevolutiontothepresentdayalmostfortyyearshaveelapsed,andfromtheestablishmentofthisConstitutiontwenty-eight.ThroughthiswholetermtheGovernmenthasbeenwhatmayemphaticallybecalledself-government.Andwhathasbeentheeffect?
Towhateverobjectweturnourattention,whetheritrelatestoourforeignordomesticconcerns,wefindabundantcausetofelicitateourselvesintheexcellenceofourinstitutions.DuringaperiodfraughtwithdifficultiesandmarkedbyveryextraordinaryeventstheUnitedStateshaveflourishedbeyondexample.Theircitizensindividuallyhavebeenhappyandthenationprosperous.
UnderthisConstitutionourcommercehasbeenwiselyregulatedwithforeignnationsandbetweentheStates;newStateshavebeenadmittedintoourUnion;ourterritoryhasbeenenlargedbyfairandhonorabletreaty,andwithgreatadvantagetotheoriginalStates;theStates,respectivelyprotectedbytheNationalGovernmentunderamild,parentalsystemagainstforeigndangers,andenjoyingwithintheirseparatespheres,byawisepartitionofpower,ajustproportionofthesovereignty,haveimprovedtheirpolice,extendedtheirsettlements,andattainedastrengthandmaturitywhicharethebestproofsofwholesomelawswelladministered.Andifwelooktotheconditionofindividualswhataproudspectacledoesitexhibit!
OnwhomhasoppressionfalleninanyquarterofourUnion?
Whohasbeendeprivedofanyrightofpersonorproperty?
WhorestrainedfromofferinghisvowsinthemodewhichhepreferstotheDivineAuthorofhisbeing?
Itiswellknownthatalltheseblessingshavebeenenjoyedintheirfullestextent;andIaddwithpeculiarsatisfactionthattherehasbeennoexampleofacapitalpunishmentbeinginflictedonanyoneforthecrimeofhightreason.
SomewhomightadmitthecompetencyofourGovernmenttothesebeneficentdutiesmightdoubtitintrialswhichputtothetestitsstrengthandefficiencyasamemberofthegreatcommunityofnations.Heretooexperiencehasaffordedusthemostsatisfactoryproofinitsfavor.JustasthisConstitutionwasputintoactionseveraloftheprincipalStatesofEuropehadbecomemuchagitatedandsomeofthemseriouslyconvulsed.Destructivewarsensued,whichhaveoflateonlybeenterminated.InthecourseoftheseconflictstheUnitedStatesreceivedgreatinjuryfromseveraloftheparties.Itwastheirinteresttostandalooffromthecontest,todemandjusticefromthepartycommittingtheinjury,andtocultivatebyafairandhonorableconductthefriendshipofall.Warbecameatlengthinevitable,andtheresulthasshownthatourGovernmentisequaltothat,thegreatestoftrials,underthemostunfavorablecircumstances.OfthevirtueofthepeopleandoftheheroicexploitsoftheArmy,theNavy,andthemilitiaIneednotspeak.
Such,then,isthehappyGovernmentunderwhichwelive--aGovernmentadequatetoeverypurposeforwhichthesocialcompactisformed;aGovernmentelectiveinallitsbranches,underwhicheverycitizenmaybyhismeritobtainthehighesttrustrecognizedbytheConstitution;whichcontainswithinitnocauseofdiscord,nonetoputatvarianceoneportionofthecommunitywithanother;aGovernmentwhichprotectseverycitizeninthefullenjoymentofhisrights,andisabletoprotectthenationagainstinjusticefromforeignpowers.
OtherconsiderationsofthehighestimportanceadmonishustocherishourUnionandtoclingtotheGovernmentwhichsupportsit.Fortunateasweareinourpoliticalinstitutions,wehavenotbeenlesssoinothercircumstancesonwhichourprosperityandhappinessessentiallydepend.Situatedwithinthetemperatezone,andextendingthroughmanydegreesoflatitudealongtheAtlantic,theUnitedStatesenjoyallthevarietiesofclimate,andeveryproductionincidenttothatportionoftheglobe.PenetratinginternallytotheGreatLakesandbeyondthesourcesofthegreatriverswhichcommunicatethroughourwholeinterior,nocountrywaseverhappierwithrespecttoitsdomain.Blessed,too,withafertilesoil,ourproducehasalwaysbeenveryabundant,leaving,eveninyearstheleastfavorable,asurplusforthewantsofourfellow-meninothercountries.SuchisourpeculiarfelicitythatthereisnotapartofourUnionthatisnotparticularlyinterestedinpreservingit.Thegreatagriculturalinterestofthenationprospersunderitsprotection.Localinterestsarenotlessfosteredbyit.Ourfellow-citizensoftheNorthengagedinnavigationfindgreatencouragementinbeingmadethefavoredcarriersofthevastproductionsoftheotherportionsoftheUnitedStates,whiletheinhabitantsoftheseareamplyrecompensed,intheirturn,bythenurseryforseamenandnavalforcethusformedandrearedupforthesupportofourcommonrights.Ourmanufacturesfindagenerousencouragementbythepolicywhichpatronizesdomesticindustry,andthesurplusofourproduceasteadyandprofitablemarketbylocalwantsinless-favoredpartsathome.
Such,then,beingthehighlyfavoredconditionofourcountry,itistheinterestofeverycitizentomaintainit.Whatarethedangerswhichmenaceus?
Ifanyexisttheyoughttobeascertainedandguardedagainst.
Inexplainingmysentimentsonthissubjectitmaybeasked,Whatraisedustothepresenthappystate?
HowdidweaccomplishtheRevolution?
HowremedythedefectsofthefirstinstrumentofourUnion,byinfusingintotheNationalGovernmentsufficientpowerfornationalpurposes,withoutimpairingthejustrightsoftheStatesoraffectingthoseofindividuals?
Howsustainandpasswithglorythroughthelatewar?
TheGovernmenthasbeeninthehandsofthepeople.Tothepeople,therefore,andtothefaithfulandabledepositariesoftheirtrustisthecreditdue.HadtheeopleoftheUnitedStatesbeeneducatedindifferentprincipleshadtheybeenlessintelligent,lessindependent,orlessvirtuouscanitbebelievedthatweshouldhavemaintainedthesamesteadyandconsistentcareerorbeenblessedwiththesamesuccess?
While,then,theconstituentbodyretainsitspresentsoundandhealthfulstateeverythingwillbesafe.Theywillchoosecompetentandfaithfulrepresentativesforeverydepartment.Itisonlywhenthepeoplebecomeignorantandcorrupt,whentheydegenerateintoapopulace,thattheyareincapableofexercisingthesovereignty.Usurpationisthenaneasyattainment,andanusurpersoonfound.Thepeoplethemselvesbecomethewillinginstrumentsoftheirowndebasementandruin.Letus,then,looktothegreatcause,andendeavortopreserveitinfullforce.Letusbyallwiseandconstitutionalmeasurespromoteintelligenceamongthepeopleasthebestmeansofpreservingourliberties.
Dangersfromabroadarenotlessdeservingofattention.Experiencingthefortuneofothernations,theUnitedStatesmaybeagaininvolvedinwar,anditmayinthateventbetheobjectoftheadversepartytooversetourGovernment,tobreakourUnion,anddemolishusasanation.OurdistancefromEuropeandthejust,moderate,andpacificpolicyofourGovernmentmayformsomesecurityagainstthesedangers,buttheyoughttobeanticipatedandguardedagainst.Manyofourcitizensareengagedincommerceandnavigation,andallofthemareinacertaindegreedependentontheirprosperousstate.Manyareengagedinthefisheries.Theseinterestsareexposedtoinvasioninthewarsbetweenotherpowers,andweshoulddisregardthefaithfuladmonitionofexperienceifwedidnotexpectit.Wemustsupportourrightsorloseourcharacter,andwithit,perhaps,ourliberties.Apeoplewhofailtodoitcanscarcelybesaidtoholdaplaceamongindependentnations.Nationalhonorisnationalpropertyofthehighestvalue.Thesentimentinthemindofeverycitizenisnationalstrength.Itoughtthereforetobecherished.
Tosecureusagainstthesedangersourcoastandinlandfrontiersshouldbefortified,ourArmyandNavy,regulateduponjustprinciplesastotheforceofeach,bekeptinperfectorder,andourmilitiabeplacedonthebestpracticablefooting.Toputourextensivecoastinsuchastateofdefenseas
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