费城
1797年3月4日，星期六
……
What other form of government，indeed，can so well deserve our esteem and love？
确实，还有其他什么形式的政体，值得我们如此尊敬和热爱呢？
There may be little solidity in an ancient idea that congregations of men into cities and nations are the most pleasing objects in the sight of superior intelligences，but this is very certain，that to a benevolent human mind there can be no spectacle presented by any nation more pleasing，more noble，majestic，or august，than an assembly like that which has so often been seen in this and the other Chamber of Congress，of a Government in which the Executive authority，as well as that of all the branches of the Legislature，are exercised by citizens selected at regular periods by their neighbors to make and execute laws for the general good．Can anything essential，anything more than mere ornament and decoration，be added to this by robes and diamonds？Can authority be more amiable and respectable when it descends from accidents or institutions established in remote antiquity than when it springs fresh from the hearts and judgments of an honest and enlightened people？
古代有一种很不严密的观念认为，人类聚集而形成城市和国家，是最令具有卓越见识的人感到愉悦的目标，但无可置疑的是，在善良的人们看来，任何国家所显示的情景，都比不上这里和另一议院所经常见到的集会更令人喜悦，更高尚庄严，或者说更令人敬畏；政府的行政权和国会各个机构的立法权，是由同胞们定期选出的公民来行使的，其目的是为公众利益而制定和执行法律。难道官袍和钻石能为此增添实质性的东西吗？难道它们不就是一些装饰品吗？难道因运而生或通过远古制度而继承的权力，会比诚实而卓识的人民按自己的意愿和判断而产生的权力更可亲可敬吗？
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 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．
因为这样的政府惟一代表的是人民。它的各个合法机构，无论表现为何种形式，反映的都是人民的权利和尊严，并且只为人民谋利益。像我们这样的政府，不论其将存在多久，都是对知识和美德在全人类传播的充分证明。难道还有比这更令人喜悦的目标或构想能奉献给人类观念吗？如果说民族自豪感历来无可非议和情有可原，那么，这种自豪感必定不是来自权势和财富，不是来自豪华和荣耀，而是来自坚信民族的纯真、识见和仁爱。
In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free，fair，virtuous，and independent elections．If an election is to be determined by a majority of a single vote，and that can be procured by a party through artifice or corruption，the Government may be the choice of a party for its own ends，not of the nation for the national good．If that solitary suffrage can be obtained by foreign nations by flattery or menaces，by fraud or violence，by terror，intrigue，or venality，the Government may not be the choice of the American people，but of foreign nations．
当我们沉浸在这些愉快的想法时，如果任何片面或无关紧要的因素影响到自由、公平、高尚和独立的选举，使选举失去了纯洁性，使我们忽视自由所面临的危险，我们就会自欺欺人。如果选举需由一人一票的多数票来决定胜负，而一个政党可以通过欺骗和腐蚀来达到目的，那么这个政府就有可能是政党为自身目的而作出的选择，而不是国家为全国利益而作出的选择；如果其他国家有可能通过奉承或胁迫，欺诈或暴力，通过恐怖、阴谋或收买等伎俩控制了这次选举，那么这个政府就可能不是美国人民作出的选择，而是其他国家作出的选择。
It may be foreign nations who govern us，and not we，the people，who govern ourselves；and candid men will acknowledge that in such cases choice would have little advantage to boast of over lot or chance．
那样，就可能是外国统治我们，而不是我们——人民——来管理自己，那样，公正的人士就会认识到，选择较之命运或机遇就未必更有优越性而不值得夸耀了。
Such is the amiable and interesting system of government（and such are some of the abuses to which it may be exposed）which the people of America have exhibited to the admiration and anxiety of the wise and virtuous of all nations for eight years under the administration of a citizen who，by a long course of great actions，regulated by prudence，justice，temperance，and fortitude，conducting a people inspired with the same virtues and animated with the same ardent patriotism and love of liberty to independence and peace，to increasing wealth and unexampled prosperity，has merited the gratitude of his fellow－citizens，commanded the highest praises of foreign nations，and secured immortal glory with posterity．
这就是使人感到亲切和兴趣的政治体制（及其可能暴露的某些弊端）。八年来，美国人民在一位公民的领导下展现了这种政治体制，引起了各国贤达的赞赏或挂虑。这位公民为人谨慎、公正、节制、坚韧，长期以来，他以一系列伟大的行动，领导着一个为共同的美德所鼓舞、强烈的爱国心所激励的和热爱自由的民族，走向独立、和平、富强和空前繁荣。他值得同胞们感恩戴德，他博得了世界各国的最高赞扬，他必将名垂千古。
In that retirement which is his voluntary choice may he long live to enjoy the delicious recollection of his services，the gratitude of mankind，the happy fruits of them to himself and the world，which are daily increasing，and that splendid prospect of the future fortunes of this country which is opening from year to year．His name may be still a rampart，and the knowledge that he lives a bulwark，against all open or secret enemies of his countrys peace．This example has been recommended to the imitation of his successors by both Houses of Congress and by the voice of the legislatures and the people throughout the nation．
他自愿选择了隐退，愿他在隐退后长寿，愉快地回忆他供职时的情景，并享受人类对他的感激，享受他所作出的奉献给他本人和全世界带来的与日俱增的幸福果实，享受这个国家的未来命运决定的、正在逐年展开的光明前景。他的名字仍将是一道防线，他的长寿仍将是一座堡垒，抵御着一切危害国家安定的、公开的或暗藏的敌人。他的这一举动已得到国会两院、各州立法机构和全国人民的一致赞扬，并将成为继任者效法的榜样。
……
人物小传：美国第2位总统（1797—1801）
姓名：约翰·亚当斯
绰号：美国独立的巨人
出生：1735年10月30日，布伦特里（现在的昆西），马萨诸塞州
卒于：1826年7月4日，布伦特里（现在的昆西），马萨诸塞州
所属政党：民主共和党
第一夫人：阿比盖尔·史密斯（1744—1818）
总统年薪：25，000美元／年
约翰·亚当斯出生于马萨诸塞海湾殖民地，是一个受过哈佛教育的律师，这使他和一些爱国者达成了共识。1772年被选为马萨诸塞州众议员。1774年参加第一次大陆会议。1775年参加第二次大陆会议。1776年参加《独立宣言》五人起草委员会。1777年出使法国。1778年回国参加宪法起草工作，是由托马斯·杰斐逊组成的《独立宣言》起草委员会的成员之一，被誉为“美国独立的巨人”。
亚当斯是美国第一任副总统，后来又当选为总统（1797－1801）。由于他任职期间在内政、外交方面均无明显成就，1800年竞选总统时被托马斯·杰斐逊击败。他和杰斐逊都是在美国独立五十周年纪念日——1826年7月4日去世的。其子约翰·昆西·亚当斯是美国第六任总统。
First Inaugural Address ofThomas Jefferson（1801）
In the Washington，D．C．
Wednesday，March 4，1801