Loyal Opposition (3)

(Wendell WilIkie)
Nov.11,1940

And finally our government must change its punitive attitude towards both big and little business. Regulations there must be. We, of the opposition, have consistently recommended that, but the day of witch-hunting must be over. If this Administration has the unity of America within its heart, and I assume it has, it must consider, without prejudice, and with an open mind, such recommendations of the opposition. National unity can only be achieved by recognizing and giving serious weight to the viewpoint of the Opposition. Such a policy can come only from the Administration itself. It will be from the suppression of the Opposition that discord and disunity will arise, the Administration has the ultimate power to force us apart, or to bind us together.
And now a word about the most important, the immediate task that confronts this nation. On this, all Americans are at one purpose, there is no disagreement among us about the defense of America. We stand united behind the defense program, but here particularly as a minority party our role is an important one. It is to be constantly watchful, to see that American is effectively safeguarded and that the vast expenditure of funds which we have voted for that purpose is not wasted. And in so far as l have the privilege to speak for you, I express once more the hope that we have to maintain the ream of freedom in Britain and elsewhere by supplying those defenders with materials and equipment. This should be done to the limit of our ability but with due regard to our own defense. On this point, I think I can say without boast that never in the history of American Presidential campaigns has a candidate gone further than I did in attempting to create a united front. However, I believe that our age should be given by constitutional methods and with the approval, accord and ratification of Congress. Only thus can the people determine from time to time, the course they wish to take and the hazards they wish to run.
Mr. Roosevelt and I both promise the people in the course of the campaign that if we were elected, we would keep this country out of war unless attacked. Mr. Roosevelt was re-elected, and this solemn pledge for him, I know will be fulfilled, and I know the American people desire him to keep it sacred.
Since November 5, I have received thousands and thousands of letters, as a matter of fact, tens of thousands of them I have personally read a great portion of these messages. I am profoundly touched. They come from all parts of our country and from all kinds of people. They come from Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Christians, colored people and white people. They come from workers and farmers and clerks and businessmen; men and women of all the occupations that make up our American life. All of these letters and telegrams, almost without exception, urge that the cause that we have been fighting for be carried on. In your enthusiasm for our cause, you founded thousands of organizations, they are your own organizations, financed by you and directed by you. It is very appropriate for you to continue them if you feel so inclined. I hope you do continue them. It is not, however, appropriate to continue these organizations in my name. I do not want this great cause to be weakened by even a semblance of any personal advantage to any individual. I feel too deeply about it for that. 1944 will take care of itself.
It is of the very essence of my belief that democracy is fruitful of leadership. I want to see all of us dedicate ourselves to the principles for which we fought. My fight for those principles has just begun. I shall advocate them in the future as ardently and as confidently as I have in the past. As Woodrow Wilson once said, "I would rather lose in the cause that I know someday would triumph than to triumph in a cause that I know someday would fail."
Whatever I may undertake in the coming years, I should be working shoulder to shoulder with you for the defense of our free way of life, for the better understanding of our economic system, and for the development of that new America whose vision lies within everyone of us. Meanwhile, let us be proud, let us be happy in the fight that we have made. We have brought our cause to the attention of the world. Millions have welcomed it. As time goes on, millions more will find in it the hope that they are looking for. We can go on from here with the words of Abraham Lincoln in our hearts: with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right. Let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
Good night and God bless and keep everyone of you.

punitive 形容词 刑罚的，惩罚的。

witch-hunt 以莫须有罪名进行的政治迫害。

suppression 名词 镇压；抑制。

discord 名词 不一致，不调和。

ratification 名词 批准，认可；追认。

profoundly 副词 深深地, 衷心地

enthusiasm 名词 热心，热情，热诚 (for)；爱好的事物。

inclined 形容词 倾向于。

semblance 名词 外观；外貌，外表；样子。

dedicate 及物动词 献给，奉献，供奉，献上 (sth. to)。

ardently 副词 热心地, 热烈地

triumph 不及物动词 欢庆胜利，得胜而狂欢；得胜，战胜。

malice 名词 恶意，；怨恨，预谋。

charity 名词 慈爱；慈善机关（团体）。

忠实的反对党（3）
最后，政府必须改变对大小事务一律惩罚的态度。必须制定有关法规。我们反对党应该不断提醒，政治迫害必须结束。如果政府心中有美国整体——我假设是有的——就一定会不怀偏见地、胸怀坦荡地考虑反对党的这一建议。只有认识到反对党意见的重要性，并给予高度的重视，才能全国一盘棋，这取决于执政党自身。不和谐、不一致皆因压制反对党而起。执政党可以强迫我们解散，或将我们团结起来。
现在我要讲讲国家面临的最重要，最紧迫的任务。在这一点上，全体美国人民目标一致，没有分歧，那就是保卫祖国。作为反对党，尽管身处后方，但我们扮演着重要的角色。这就是始终保持警觉，确保美国人民得到有效的防卫，确保我们通过的用于此目的的庞大的开支不被浪费。就此我有权对你们说，我再一次重申：希望通过提供物资和装备，帮助英国以及其它国家维持国家的自由。我们应该在适当考虑自身防卫的同时，尽力给予他们帮助。对于这一点，我可以毫不自夸地说，在历届美国总统竞选中，没有任何一位候选人像我这样，不遗余力地促进统一战线的建立。但是，这一切应该通过宪法赋予，得到国会的认同和批准。只有这样，人民才能不时决定他们愿意采取的路线和做出的冒险尝试。
竞选时，罗斯福先生和我都承诺，如果我们当选，我们将避免美国卷入战争，除非遭人攻击。罗斯福先生再次当选，我知道他一定会兑现诺言，我也知道美国人民期望他信守这一庄严承诺。
11月5日以来，我收到了成千上万封信。我亲自拜读了其中的大部分，我深深为之感动。这些信来自各地、各种人，有天主教徒，有新教徒，有犹太教徒，也有基督教徒，有黑人，也有白人。这些信来自组成美国社会的各行各业、男男女女，有工人，有农民，有文员，也有商人。所有这些信和电报，无一例外地都强烈要求将我们为之奋斗的事业继续下去。出于对这一事业的热忱，你们成立了数以千计的组织。那是你们自己的组织，是你们自筹资金自己领导的组织，只要你们愿意，就请继续下去。我也希望你们能继续下去，但不宜以我的名义。我不愿意这一伟大的事业仅仅因为某个人表面上有着某些优于他人之处而被削弱，我对此深有感触。这样，1944年的大选自会平安无事。
我深信民主主义硕果累累，希望看到所有的人献身于我们为之奋斗的原则中去。我个人为此的奋斗才刚刚开始，我将一如既往地倡导它们。正如伍德罗•威尔逊曾经说的：“我宁愿在终将成功的事业中遭受失败，也不愿在必定失败的事业里享受成功。”
无论我来年从事什么，我都会与你们肩并肩，一起为保卫我们自由的生活，为更好地贯彻经济制度，为寄望于我们每一个人的新美国的发展而努力。同时，让我们在战斗中自豪和快乐吧。我们的事业已经引起了世界的关注，受到无数人的欢迎。当时光流逝，会有更多的人在其中找到他们一直找寻的希望。让我们用亚伯拉罕•林肯的一句名言继续下去：“对任何人不怀恶意，对任何人心存宽厚，按上帝的指引坚持正义。”让我们继续努力完成正在从事的事业，包扎好国家的创伤，去做能在我们自己中间和与一切国家之间缔造并保持公正持久和平的一切事情。”
晚安，愿上帝保佑并眷顾你们每一位。

Loyal Opposition (3) mp3