总统就职演说精萃 :美国第二任总统约翰•亚当斯就职演讲

　　For it is the people only that are represented. It is their power and majesty that is reflected, and only for their good, in every legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear. The existence of such a government as ours for any length of time is a full proof of a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue 7 throughout the whole body of the people. And what object or consideration more pleasing than this can be presented to the human mind? If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence.

　　译文

　　对法规的忽视，对其可取之处的无睹，即使尊重其权威，但对个人及各州，也必须带来令人沮丧的后果。各州的意志消沉，妒嫉和反叛，航海与商业的衰落，必需品的减少，对外信誉与重要性的丧失，最终在不满，怨恨，偏见及反叛中，给国家带来巨大的灾难。在这场严重的危机中，美国人民继续保持着它的善意、镇定、刚毅和韧性，他们寻求制定计划以及形成一个更加和谐的联邦，建立司法体系，保证国内和平，维护商业，促进普遍的福利，保障自由，公开的论辩，讨论在当前良好的宪政之下得以发行。

　　在外艰辛漂泊十年之后，重新回到祖国的怀抱，即当选为总统，我始终认为维护宪法是最神圣的义务。它的实施是拥宪派最大的期盼，在对它的持续关注中，满意于它的实施，欣慰于它对和平、秩序、繁荣，及国家幸福的影响，我也已满怀喜爱之意，崇敬之情。确实，还有什么其他形式的政体，值得我们如此尊敬和热爱呢？

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