美国历届总统就职演说词(-Calvin-Coolidge)

InauguralAddressofCalvinCoolidgeWEDNESDAY,MARCH4,1925MyCountrymen:Noonecancontemplatecurrentconditionswithoutfindingmuchthatissatisfyingandstillmorethatisencouraging.Ourowncountryisleadingtheworldinthegeneralreadjustmenttotheresultsofthegreatconflict.Manyofitsburdenswillbearheavilyuponusforyears,andthesecondaryandindirecteffectswemustexpecttoexperienceforsometime.Butwearebeginningtocomprehendmoredefinitelywhatcourseshouldbepursued,whatremediesoughttobeapplied,whatactionsshouldbetakenforourdeliverance,andareclearlymanifestingadeterminedwillfaithfullyandconscientiouslytoadoptthesemethodsofrelief.Alreadywehavesufficientlyrearrangedourdomesticaffairssothatconfidencehasreturned,businesshasrevived,andweappeartobeenteringaneraofprosperitywhichisgraduallyreachingintoeverypartoftheNation.Realizingthatwecannotliveuntoourselvesalone,wehavecontributedofourresourcesandourcounseltothereliefofthesufferingandthesettlementofthedisputesamongtheEuropeannations.BecauseofwhatAmericaisandwhatAmericahasdone,afirmercourage,ahigherhope,inspirestheheartofallhumanity.Theseresultshavenotoccurredbymerechance.Theyhavebeensecuredbyaconstantandenlightenedeffortmarkedbymanysacrificesandextendingovermanygenerations.Wecannotcontinuethesebrilliantsuccessesinthefuture,unlesswecontinuetolearnfromthepast.Itisnecessarytokeeptheformerexperiencesofourcountrybothathomeandabroadcontinuallybeforeus,ifwearetohaveanyscienceofgovernment.Ifwewishtoerectnewstructures,wemusthaveadefiniteknowledgeoftheoldfoundations.Wemustrealizethathumannatureisaboutthemostconstantthingintheuniverseandthattheessentialsofhumanrelationshipdonotchange.Wemustfrequentlytakeourbearingsfromthesefixedstarsofourpoliticalfirmamentifweexpecttoholdatruecourse.Ifweexaminecarefullywhatwehavedone,wecandeterminethemoreaccuratelywhatwecando.Westandattheopeningoftheonehundredandfiftiethyearsinceournationalconsciousnessfirstasserteditselfbyunmistakableactionwithanarrayofforce.TheoldsentimentofdetachedanddependentcoloniesdisappearedinthenewsentimentofaunitedandindependentNation.Menbegantodiscardthenarrowconfinesofalocalcharterforthebroaderopportunitiesofanationalconstitution.UndertheeternalurgeoffreedomwebecameanindependentNation.Alittlelessthan50yearslaterthatfreedomandindependencewerereassertedinthefaceofalltheworld,andguarded,supported,andsecuredbytheMonroedoctrine.ThenarrowfringeofStatesalongtheAtlanticseaboardadvanceditsfrontiersacrossthehillsandplainsofaninterveningcontinentuntilitpasseddownthegoldenslopetothePacific.Wemadefreedomabirthright.Weextendedourdomainoverdistantislandsinordertosafeguardourowninterestsandacceptedtheconsequentobligationtobestowjusticeandlibertyuponlessfavoredpeoples.InthedefenseofourownidealsandinthegeneralcauseoflibertyweenteredtheGreatWar.Whenvictoryhadbeenfullysecured,wewithdrewtoourownshoresunrecompensedsaveintheconsciousnessofdutydone.Throughoutalltheseexperienceswehaveenlargedourfreedom,wehavestrengthenedourindependence.Wehavebeen,andproposetobe,moreandmoreAmerican.Webelievethatwecanbestserveourowncountryandmostsuccessfullydischargeourobligationstohumanitybycontinuingtobeopenlyandcandidly,intenselyandscrupulously,American.Ifwehaveanyheritage,ithasbeenthat.Ifwehaveanydestiny,wehavefounditinthatdirection.ButifwewishtocontinuetobedistinctivelyAmerican,wemustcontinuetomakethattermcomprehensiveenoughtoembracethelegitimatedesiresofacivilizedandenlightenedpeopledeterminedinalltheirrelationstopursueaconscientiousandreligiouslife.Wecannotpermitourselvestobenarrowedanddwarfedbyslogansandphrases.Itisnottheadjective,butthesubstantive,whichisofrealimportance.Itisnotthenameoftheaction,buttheresultoftheaction,whichisthechiefconcern.Itwillbewellnottobetoomuchdisturbedbythethoughtofeitherisolationorentanglementofpacifistsandmilitarists.ThephysicalconfigurationoftheearthhasseparatedusfromalloftheOldWorld,butthecommonbrotherhoodofman,thehighestlawofallourbeing,hasunitedusbyinseparablebondswithallhumanity.Ourcountryrepresentsnothingbutpeacefulintentionstowardalltheearth,butitoughtnottofailtomaintainsuchamilitaryforceascomportswiththedignityandsecurityofagreatpeople.Itoughttobeabalancedforce,intenselymodem,capableofdefensebyseaandland,beneaththesurfaceandintheair.Butitshouldbesoconductedthatalltheworldmayseeinit,notamenace,butaninstrumentofsecurityandpeace.ThisNationbelievesthoroughlyinanhonorablepeaceunderwhichtherightsofitscitizensaretobeeverywhereprotected.Ithasneverfoundthatthenecessaryenjoymentofsuchapeacecouldbemaintainedonlybyagreatandthreateningarrayofarms.Incommonwithothernations,itisnowmoredeterminedthanevertopromotepeacethroughfriendlinessandgoodwill,throughmutualunderstandingsandmutualforbearance.Wehaveneverpracticedthepolicyofcompetitivearmaments.Wehaverecentlycommittedourselvesbycovenantswiththeothergreatnationstoalimitationofourseapower.Asoneresultofthis,ourNavyrankslarger,incomparison,thaniteverdidbefore.Removingtheburdenofexpenseandjealousy,whichmustalwaysaccruefromakeenrivalry,isoneofthemosteffectivemethodsofdiminishingthatunreasonablehysteriaandmisunderstandingwhicharethemostpotentmeansoffomentingwar.Thispolicyrepresentsanewdepartureintheworld.Itisathought,anideal,whichhasledtoanentirelynewlineofaction.Itwillnotbeeasytomaintain.Somenevermovedfromtheiroldpositions,someareconstantlyslippingbacktotheoldwaysofthoughtandtheoldactionofseizingamusketandrelyingonforce.Americahastakentheleadinthisnewdirection,andthatleadAmericamustcontinuetohold.Ifweexpectotherstorelyonourfairnessandjusticewemustshowthatwerelyontheirfairnessandjustice.Ifwearetojudgebypastexperience,thereismuchtobehopedforininternationalrelationsfromfrequentconferencesandconsultations.WehavebeforeusthebeneficialresultsoftheWashingtonconferenceandthevariousconsultationsrecentlyhelduponEuropeanaffairs,someofwhichwereinresponsetooursuggestionsandinsomeofwhichwewereactiveparticipants.Eventhefailurescannotbutbeaccountedusefulandanimmeasurableadvanceoverthreatenedoractualwarfare.Iamstronglyinfavorofcontinuationofthispolicy,wheneverconditionsaresuchthatthereisevenapromisethatpracticalandfavorableresultsmightbesecured.Inconformitywiththeprinciplethatadisplayofreasonratherthanathreatofforceshouldbethedeterminingfactorintheintercourseamongnations,wehavelongadvocatedthepeacefulsettlementofdisputesbymethodsofarbitrationandhavenegotiatedmanytreatiestosecurethatresult.ThesameconsiderationsshouldleadtoouradherencetothePermanentCourtofInternationalJustice.Wheregreatprinciplesareinvolved,wheregreatmovementsareunderwaywhichpromisemuchforthewelfareofhumanitybyreasonoftheveryfactthatmanyothernationshavegivensuchmovementstheiractualsupport,weoughtnottowithholdourownsanctionbecauseofanysmallandinessentialdifference,butonlyuponthegroundofthemostimportantandcompellingfundamentalreasons.Wecannotbarterawayourindependenceoroursovereignty,butweoughttoengageinnorefinementsoflogic,nosophistries,andnosubterfuges,toargueawaytheundoubteddutyofthiscountrybyreasonofthemightofitsnumbers,thepowerofitsresources,anditspositionofleadershipintheworld,activelyandcomprehensivelytosignifyitsapprovalandtobearitsfullshareoftheresponsibilityofacandidanddisinterestedattemptattheestablishmentofatribunalfortheadministrationofeven-handedjusticebetweennationandnation.Theweightofourenormousinfluencemustbecastuponthesideofareignnotofforcebutoflawandtrial,notbybattlebutbyreason.Wehaveneveranywishtointerfereinthepoliticalconditionsofanyothercountries.EspeciallyarewedeterminednottobecomeimplicatedinthepoliticalcontroversiesoftheOldWorld.Withagreatdealofhesitation,wehaverespondedtoappealsforhelptomaintainorder,protectlifeandproperty,andestablishresponsiblegovernmentinsomeofthesmallcountriesoftheWesternHemisphere.OurprivatecitizenshaveadvancedlargesumsofmoneytoassistinthenecessaryfinancingandreliefoftheOldWorld.Wehavenotfailed,norshallwefailtorespond,whenevernecessarytomitigatehumansufferingandassistintherehabilitationofdistressednations.These,too,arerequirementswhichmustbemetbyreasonofourvastpowersandtheplaceweholdintheworld.Someofthebestthoughtofmankindhaslongbeenseekingforaformulaforpermanentpeace.Undoubtedlytheclarificationoftheprinciplesofinternationallawwouldbehelpful,andtheeffortsofscholarstopreparesuchaworkforadoptionbythevariousnationsshouldhaveoursympathyandsupport.Muchmaybehopedforfromtheearneststudiesofthosewhoadvocatetheoutlawingofaggressivewar.Butalltheseplansandpreparations,thesetreatiesandcovenants,willnotofthemselvesbeadequate.Oneofthegreatestdangerstopeaceliesintheeconomicpressuretowhichpeoplefindthemselvessubjected.Oneofthemostpracticalthingstobedoneintheworldistoseekarrangementsunderwhichsuchpressuremayberemoved,sothatopportunitymayberenewedandhopemayberevived.Theremustbesomeassurancethateffortandendeavorwillbefollowedbysuccessandprosperity.Inthemakingandfinancingofsuchadjustmentsthereisnotonlyanopportunity,butarealduty,forAmericatorespondwithhercounselandherresources.Conditionsmustbeprovidedunderwhichpeoplecanmakealivingandworkoutoftheirdifficulties.Butthereisanotherelement,moreimportantthanall,withoutwhichtherecannotbetheslightesthopeofapermanentpeace.Thatelementliesintheheartofhumanity.Unlessthedesireforpeacebecherishedthere,unlessthisfundamentalandonlynaturalsourceofbrotherlylovebecultivatedtoitshighestdegree,allartificialeffortswillbeinvain.Peacewillcomewhenthereisrealizationthatonlyunderareignoflaw,basedonrighteousnessandsupportedbythereligiousconvictionofthebrotherhoodofman,cantherebeanyhopeofacompleteandsatisfyinglife.Parchmentwillfail,theswordwillfail,itisonlythespiritualnatureofmanthatcanbetriumphant.Itseemsaltogetherprobablethatwecancontributemosttotheseimportantobjectsbymaintainingourpositionofpoliticaldetachmentandindependence.WearenotidentifiedwithanyOldWorldinterests.Thispositionshouldbemademoreandmoreclearinourrelationswithallforeigncountries.Weareatpeacewithallofthem.Ourprogramisnevertooppress,butalwaystoassist.Butwhilewedojusticetoothers,wemustrequirethatjusticebedonetous.Withusatreatyofpeacemeanspeace,andatreatyofamitymeansamity.WehavemadegreatcontributionstothesettlementofcontentiousdifferencesinbothEuropeandAsia.Butthereisaverydefinitepointbeyondwhichwecannotgo.Wecanonlyhelpthosewhohelpthemselves.Mindfuloftheselimitations,theonegreatdutythatstandsoutrequiresustouseourenormouspowerstotrimthebalanceoftheworld.Whilewecanlookwithagreatdealofpleasureuponwhatwehavedoneabroad,wemustrememberthatourcontinuedsuccessinthatdirectiondependsuponwhatwedoathome.Sinceitsveryoutset,ithasbeenfoundnecessarytoconductourGovernmentbymeansofpoliticalparties.Thatsystemwouldnothavesurvivedfromgenerationtogenerationifithadnotbeenfundamentallysoundandprovidedthebestinstrumentalitiesforthemostcompleteexpressionofthepopularwill.Itisnotnecessarytoclaimthatithasalwaysworkedperfectly.Itisenoughtoknowthatnothingbetterhasbeendevised.Noonewoulddenythatthereshouldbefullandfreeexpressionandanopportunityforindependenceofactionwithintheparty.Thereisnosalvationinanarrowandbigotedpartisanship.Butifthereistoberesponsiblepartygovernment,thepartylabelmustbesomethingmorethanameredeviceforsecuringoffice.Unlessthosewhoareelectedunderthesamepartydesignationarewillingtoassumesufficientresponsibilityandexhibitsufficientloyaltyandcoherence,sothattheycancooperatewitheachotherinthesupportofthebroadgeneralprinciples,ofthepartyplatform,theelectionismerelyamockery,nodecisionismadeatthepolls,andthereisnorepresentationofthepopularwill.Commonhonestyandgoodfaithwiththepeoplewhosupportapartyatthepollsrequirethatparty,whenitentersoffice,toassumethecontrolofthatportionoftheGovernmenttowhichithasbeenelected.Anyothercourseisbadfaithandaviolationofthepartypledges.WhenthecountryhasbestoweditsconfidenceuponapartybymakingitamajorityintheCongress,ithasarighttoexpectsuchunityofactionaswillmakethepartymajorityaneffectiveinstrumentofgovernment.ThisAdministrationhascomeintopowerwithaveryclearanddefinitemandatefromthepeople.Theexpressionofthepopularwillinfavorofmaintainingourconstitutionalguaranteeswasoverwhelminganddecisive.Therewasamanifestationofsuchfaithintheintegrityofthecourtsthatwecanconsiderthatissuerejectedforsometimetocome.Likewise,thepolicyofpublicownershipofrailroadsandcertainelectricutilitiesmetwithunmistakabledefeat.Thepeopledeclaredthattheywantedtheirrightstohavenotapoliticalbutajudicialdetermination,andtheirindependenceandfreedomcontinuedandsupportedbyhavingtheownershipandcontroloftheirproperty,notintheGovernment,butintheirownhands.Astheyalwaysdowhentheyhaveafairchance,thepeopledemonstratedthattheyaresoundandaredeterminedtohaveasoundgovernment.Whenweturnfromwhatwasrejectedtoinquirewhatwasaccepted,thepolicythatstandsoutwiththegreatestclearnessisthatofeconomyinpublicexpenditurewithreductionandreformoftaxation.Theprincipleinvolvedinthiseffortisthatofconservation.Theresourcesofthiscountryarealmostbeyondcomputation.Nomindcancomprehendthem.Butthecostofourcombinedgovernmentsislikewisealmostbeyonddefinition.Notonlythosewhoarenowmakingtheirtaxreturns,butthosewhomeettheenhancedcostofexistenceintheirmonthlybills,knowbyhardexperiencewhatthisgreatburdenisandwhatitdoes.Nomatterwhatothersmaywant,thesepeoplewantadrasticeconomy.Theyareopposedtowaste.Theyknowthatextravagancelengthensthehoursanddiminishestherewardsoftheirlabor.Ifavorthepolicyofeconomy,notbecauseIwishtosavemoney,butbecauseIwishtosavepeople.ThemenandwomenofthiscountrywhotoilaretheoneswhobearthecostoftheGovernment.Everydollarthatwecarelesslywastemeansthattheirlifewillbesomuchthemoremeager.Everydollarthatweprudentlysavemeansthattheirlifewillbesomuchthemoreabundant.Economyisidealisminitsmostpracticalform.Ifextravagancewerenotreflectedintaxation,andthroughtaxationbothdirectlyandindirectlyinjuriouslyaffectingthepeople,itwouldnotbeofsomuchconsequence.Thewisestandsoundestmethodofsolvingourtaxproblemisthrougheconomy.Fortunately,ofallthegreatnationsthiscountryisbestinapositiontoadoptthatsimpleremedy.Wedonotanylongerneedwartimerevenues.Thecollectionofanytaxeswhicharenotabsolutelyrequired,whichdonotbeyondreasonabledoubtcontributetothepublicwelfare,isonlyaspeciesoflegalizedlarceny.Underthisrepublictherewardsofindustrybelongtothosewhoearnthem.Theonlyconstitutionaltaxisthetaxwhichministerstopublicnecessity.Thepropertyofthecountrybelongstothepeopleofthecountry.Theirtitleisabsolute.Theydonotsupportanyprivilegedclass;theydonotneedtomaintaingreatmilitaryforces;theyoughtnottobeburdenedwithagreatarrayofpublicemployees.TheyarenotrequiredtomakeanycontributiontoGovernmentexpendituresexceptthatwhichtheyvoluntarilyassessuponthemselvesthroughtheactionoftheirownrepresentatives.Whenevertaxesbecomeburdensomearemedycanbeappliedbythepeople;butiftheydonotactforthemselves,noonecanbeverysuccessfulinactingforthem.Thetimeisarrivingwhenwecanhavefurthertaxreduction,when,unlesswewishtohamperthepeopleintheirrighttoearnaliving,wemusthavetaxreform.Themethodofraisingrevenueoughtnottoimpedethetransactionofbusiness;itoughttoencourageit.Iamopposedtoextremelyhighrates,becausetheyproducelittleornorevenue,becausetheyarebadforthecountry,and,finally,becausetheyarewrong.Wecannotfinancethecountry,wecannotimprovesocialconditions,throughanysystemofinjustice,evenifweattempttoinflictitupontherich.Thosewhosufferthemostharmwillbethepoor.Thiscountrybelievesinprosperity.Itisabsurdtosupposethatitisenviousofthosewhoarealreadyprosperous.Thewiseandcorrectcoursetofollowintaxationandallothereconomiclegislationisnottodestroythosewhohavealreadysecuredsuccessbuttocreateconditionsunderwhicheveryonewillhaveabetterchancetobesuccessful.Theverdictofthecountryhasbeengivenonthisquestion.Thatverdictstands.Weshalldowelltoheedit.Thesequestionsinvolvemoralissues.Weneednotconcernourselvesmuchabouttherightsofpropertyifwewillfaithfullyobservetherightsofpersons.Underourinstitutionstheirrightsaresupreme.Itisnotpropertybuttherighttoholdproperty,bothgreatandsmall,whichourConstitutionguarantees.Allownersofpropertyarechargedwithaservice.Theserightsanddutieshavebeenrevealed,throughtheconscienceofsociety,tohaveadivinesanction.Theverystabilityofoursocietyrestsuponproductionandconservation.Forindividualsorforgovernmentstowasteandsquandertheirresourcesistodenytheserightsanddisregardtheseobligations.Theresultofeconomicdissipationtoanationisalwaysmoraldecay.Thesepoliciesofbetterinternationalunderstandings,greatereconomy,andlowertaxeshavecontributedlargelytopeacefulandprosperousindustrialrelations.Underthehelpfulinfluencesofrestrictiveimmigrationandaprotectivetariff,employmentisplentiful,therateofpayishigh,andwageearnersareinastateofcontentmentseldombeforeseen.Ourtransportationsystemshavebeengraduallyrecoveringandhavebeenabletomeetalltherequirementsoftheservice.Agriculturehasbeenveryslowinreviving,butthepriceofcerealsatlastindicatesthatthedayofitsdeliveranceisathand.Wearenotwithoutourproblems,butourmostimportantproblemisnottosecurenewadvantagesbuttomaintainthosewhichwealreadypossess.Oursystemofgovernmentmadeupofthreeseparateandindependentdepartments,ourdividedsovereigntycomposedofNationandState,thematchlesswisdomthatisenshrinedinourConstitution,alltheseneedconstanteffortandtirelessvigilancefortheirprotectionandsupport.Inarepublicthefirstrulefortheguidanceofthecitizenisobediencetolaw.Underadespotismthelawmaybeimposeduponthesubject.Hehasnovoiceinitsmaking,noinfluenceinitsadministration,itdoesnotrepresenthim.Underafreegovernmentthecitizenmakeshisownlaws,chooseshisownadministrators,whichdorepresenthim.ThosewhowanttheirrightsrespectedundertheConstitutionandthelawoughttosettheexamplethemselvesofobservingtheConstitutionandthelaw.Whiletheremaybethoseofhighintelligencewhoviolatethelawattimes,thebarbarianandthedefectivealwaysviolateit.Thosewhodisregardtherulesofsocietyarenotexhibitingasuperiorintelligence,arenotpromotingfreedomandindependence,arenotfollowingthepathofcivilization,butaredisplayingthetraitsofignorance,ofservitude,ofsavagery,andtreadingthewaythatleadsbacktothejungle.Theessenceofarepublicisrepresentativegovernment.OurCongressrepresentsthepeopleandtheStates.InalllegislativeaffairsitisthenaturalcollaboratorwiththePresident.Inspiteofallthecriticismwhichoftenfallstoitslot,Idonothesitatetosaythatthereis