LESSON 67

POLITICAL TOLERATION

政治信仰自由

Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, the third President of the United States, and the author of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. He received most of his early education under private tutors, and at the age of seventeen entered William and Mary College, where he remained two years. At college, where he studied industriously, he formed the acquaintance of several distinguished men, among them was George Wythe, with whom he entered on the study of law. At the age of twenty-four he was admitted to the bar, and soon rose to high standing in his profession. In 1775 he entered the Colonial Congress, having previously served ably in the legislature of his native state. Although one of the youngest men in Congress, he soon took a foremost place in that body. He left Congress in the fall of 1776, and, as a member of the legislature, and later as Governor of Virginia, he was chiefly instrumental in effecting several important reforms in the laws of that state,—the most notable were the abolition of the law of primogeniture, and the passage of a law making all religious denominations equal. From 1785 to 1789 he was Minister to France. On his return to America he was made Secretary of State, in the first Cabinet. While in this office, he became the leader of the Republican or Anti-Federalist party, in opposition to the Federalist party led by Alexander Hamilton. From 1801 to 1809 he was President. On leaving his high office, he retired to his estate at “Monticello,” where he passed the closing years of his life, and died on the 4th of July, just fifty years after the passage of his famous Declaration. His compatriot, and sometimes bitter political opponent, John Adams, died on the same day.

Mr. Jefferson, who was never a ready public speaker, was a remarkably clear and forcible writer; his works fill several large volumes. In personal character, he was pure and simple, cheerful, and disposed to look on the bright side. His knowledge of life rendered his conversation highly attractive. The chief enterprise of his later years was the founding of the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville.

During the contest of opinion through which we have passed, the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers, unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good.

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that, though the will of the majority is, in all cases, to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression. Let us then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind.

Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection, without which liberty, and even life itself, are but dreary things; and let us reflect, that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions.

During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world; during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man, seeking, through blood and slaughter, his long-lost liberty; it was not wonderful that the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore; that this should be more felt and feared by some, and less by others, and should divide opinions as to measures of safety.

But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans; we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated when reason is left free to combat it.

I know, indeed, that some honest men fear that a republican government can not be strong; that this government is not strong enough. But would the honest patriot, in the full tide of successful experiment, abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm, on the theoretic and visionary fear that this government, the world’s best hope, may, by possibility, want energy to preserve itself? I trust not; I believe this, on the contrary, the strongest government on earth.

I believe it to be the only one where every man, at the call of the law, would fly to the standard of the law, and would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal concern. Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others, or have we found angels, in the form of kings, to govern him? Let history answer this question. Let us, then, with courage and confidence, pursue our own federal and republican principles; our attachment to union and representative government.

【中文阅读】

由于见解分歧而争辩期间，讨论和各显其能带来的活跃气氛有时会给陌生人留下一种强加给他们的印象，即不习惯自由思考，无法说出和表述自己的所思所想；但是，现在这要由国家的发言权来决定，按照宪法的规定来发表意见，按照法律的意志来安排，为了共同利益凝聚所有的努力。

所有人在心里也会支持这一神圣的原则，尽管在所有情况下多数人的意志占据优势地位，而合法的意志必定是合理的；少数人拥有同样的权利，同样的法律必定受到保护，而违反的则是受到压迫的。让我们，生活在同一城市同一国家的人，要万众一心。

让我们重新建立能带来和谐与爱的社会交往吧，没有自由甚至生活本身，这种社会交往不过是令人厌烦的事情而已。让我们思考一下，只要还有人流血和遭受苦难，我们被驱逐出自己的土地，为宗教所不容忍，如果我们将政治信仰自由视为专制、邪恶和充满仇恨与流血的迫害，那我们就一无所得。

在灾害和动乱频繁的古代，被激怒的人在极度痛苦的痉挛中，通过流血和屠杀追寻失去已久的自由；巨浪的翻滚搅动甚至会波及遥远而平静的海岸，这并不奇怪。有些人的感触更多，也更能引起他们的惊惧，而其他人则可能无动于衷，见解的分歧可以作为安全性的衡量尺度。

但是，意见相左并非原则上的分歧。我们用不同的称谓来命名同一原则。我们都是共和党人；我们都是联邦党人。倘若我们当中有人想瓦解这个合众国，或改变它的共和形式，那么当理性允许自由争辩时，就让他们为了安全这个具有历史价值的纪念碑，不受打扰的与或许可以忍受的错误见解共处吧。

诚然，我晓得有些诚实的人担心一个共和党政府不会牢固，这个政府不会足够强大。但是，倘若最真诚的爱国者会凭借充分的成功经验，抛弃一个到目前为止确保我们自由和坚强的政府，抱定理论和不切实际的担心，按照最美好的愿望和可能性，即这个政府也许缺乏维持下去的能力？我不相信。我认为正好相反，我们的政府是世界上最强大的政府。

我认为这个国家是世界上唯一一个就法律上的界定而言，每个人都诉诸法律规范，将对公共秩序的践踏看做是自己的关切。有时，有人说个人事情不能由他拥护的政府来管理。难道由别人拥护的政府管理，或者我们发现鹰按照国王的方式来管理他吗？还是让历史来回答这个问题吧。让我们以勇气和自信，致力于我们自己的联邦与共和原则；我们的原则是忠诚于联邦制与有代表性的政府。