黄金十字架 Cross of Gold — William Jennings Bryan

Mr. Chairmann. /ˈtʃermən/ 主席 and Gentlemen of the Conventionn. /kənˈvenʃn/ 代表大会，全国大会:

I would be presumptuousadj. /prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/ 冒昧的，放肆的, indeed, to present myself against the distinguishedadj. /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/ 卓越的，尊贵的 gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons. The humblest citizen in all the land, when cladadj. /klæd/ 穿着…的，披挂着的 in the armorn. /ˈɑːrmər/ 盔甲 of a righteousadj. /ˈraɪtʃəs/ 正义的，正当的 cause, is stronger than all the hostsn. /hoʊsts/ 军队，大军 of error. I come to speak to you in defencen. /dɪˈfens/ 保卫，辩护 of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty—the cause of humanityn. /hjuːˈmænəti/ 人类；人道.

When this debate is concluded, a motionn. /ˈmoʊʃn/ 动议，提议 will be made to lay upon the table the resolution offered in commendationn. /ˌkɑːmenˈdeɪʃn/ 赞扬，表彰 of the administrationn. /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn/ 政府，行政当局, and also the resolution offered in condemnationn. /ˌkɑːndemˈneɪʃn/ 谴责，指责 of the administration. We object to bringing this question down to the level of persons. The individual is but an atomn. /ˈætəm/ 原子; he is born, he acts, he dies; but principlesn. /ˈprɪnsəplz/ 原则，原理 are eternaladj. /ɪˈtɜːrnl/ 永恒的，不朽的; and this has been a contest over a principlen. /ˈprɪnsəpl/ 原则，原理.

Never before in the history of this country has there been witnessed such a contest as that through which we have just passed. Never before in the history of American politics has a great issue been fought out as this issue has been, by the voters of a great party. On the fourth of March, 1895, a few Democrats, most of them members of Congress, issued an address to the Democrats of the nation, asserting that the money question was the paramountadj. /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ 至高无上的，首要的 issue of the hour; declaring that a majority of the Democratic party had the right to control the action of the party on this paramountadj. /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ 至高无上的，首要的 issue; and concluding with the request that the believers in the free coinagen. /ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/ 铸币，货币铸造 of silver in the Democratic party should organize, take charge of, and control the policy of the Democratic party. Three months later, at Memphis, an organization was perfected, and the silver Democrats went forth openly and courageously proclaiming their belief, and declaring that, if successful, they would crystallizev. /ˈkrɪstəlaɪz/ 使具体化，凝结为 into a platform the declaration which they had made. Then began the conflict. With a zealn. /ziːl/ 热情，热忱 approaching the zealn. /ziːl/ 热情，热忱 which inspired the crusadersn. /kruːˈseɪdərz/ 十字军 who followed Peter the Hermit, our silver Democrats went forth from victory unto victory until they are now assembled, not to discuss, not to debate, but to enter up the judgment already rendered by the plain people of this country. In this contest brother has been arrayedv. /əˈreɪd/ 使列阵，使对立 against brother, father against son. The warmest ties of love, acquaintance, and association have been disregardedv. /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/ 被忽视，被置之不顾; old leaders have been cast aside when they have refused to give expression to the sentiments of those whom they would lead, and new leaders have sprung up to give direction to this cause of truth. Thus has the contest been waged, and we have assembled here under as binding and solemnadj. /ˈsɑːləm/ 庄严的，郑重的 instructions as were ever imposed upon representatives of the people.

We do not come as individualsn. /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəlz/ 个人，个体. As individualsn. /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəlz/ 个人，个体 we might have been glad to complimentv. /ˈkɑːmplɪment/ 称赞，恭维 the gentleman from New York [Senator Hill], but we know that the people for whom we speak would never be willing to put him in a position where he could thwartv. /θwɔːrt/ 阻挠，挫败 the will of the Democratic party. I say it was not a question of persons; it was a question of principle, and it is not with gladnessn. /ˈɡlædnəs/ 高兴，喜悦, my friends, that we find ourselves brought into conflict with those who are now arrayedv. /əˈreɪd/ 使列阵，使对立 on the other side.

The gentleman who precededv. /prɪˈsiːdɪd/ 在…之前（发言） me [ex-Governor Russell] spoke of the state of Massachusetts; let me assurev. /əˈʃʊr/ 向…保证，使确信 him that not one present in all this convention entertainsv. /ˌentərˈteɪnz/ 怀有（想法、情感） the least hostilityn. /hɑːˈstɪləti/ 敌意，敌视 to the people of the State of Massachusetts, but we stand here representing people who are the equals, before the law, of the greatest citizens in the State of Massachusetts. When you [turning to the gold delegates] come before us and tell us that we are about to disturbv. /dɪˈstɜːrb/ 扰乱，打扰 your business interests, we reply that you have disturbedv. /dɪˈstɜːrbd/ 扰乱了，打乱了 our business interests by your course.

We say to you that you have made the definitionn. /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/ 定义，界定 of a business man too limited in its application. The man who is employed for wagesn. /ˈweɪdʒɪz/ 工资，工钱 is as much a business man as his employer; the attorneyn. /əˈtɜːrni/ 律师 in a country town is as much a business man as the corporationn. /ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃn/ 公司，法人团体 counseln. /ˈkaʊnsl/ 法律顾问 in a great metropolisn. /məˈtrɑːpəlɪs/ 大都市，大都会; the merchant at the cross-roads store is as much a business man as the merchant of New York; the farmer who goes forth in the morning and toilsv. /tɔɪlz/ 辛勤劳作 all day—who begins in the spring and toilsv. /tɔɪlz/ 辛勤劳作 all summer—and who by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of the country creates wealth, is as much a business man as the man who goes upon the board of trade and bets upon the price of grain; the miners who go down a thousand feet into the earth, or climb two thousand feet upon the cliffs, and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured into the channels of trade are as much business men as the few financial magnatesn. /ˈmæɡneɪts/ 巨头，大亨 who, in a back room, corner the money of the world. We come to speak of this broader class of business men.

Ah, my friends, we say not one word against those who live upon the Atlantic coast, but the hardyadj. /ˈhɑːrdi/ 坚韧的，能吃苦耐劳的 pioneersn. /ˌpaɪəˈnɪrz/ 拓荒者，先驱 who have braved all the dangers of the wildernessn. /ˈwɪldərnəs/ 荒野，荒原, who have made the desert to blossom as the rose—the pioneersn. /ˌpaɪəˈnɪrz/ 拓荒者，先驱 away out there [pointing to the West], who rearv. /rɪr/ 抚养，养育 their children near to Nature's heart, where they can minglev. /ˈmɪŋɡl/ 混合，交融 their voices with the voices of the birds—out there where they have erected schoolhouses for the education of their young, churches where they praise their Creator, and cemeteries where rest the ashes of their dead—these people, we say, are as deserving of the consideration of our party as any people in this country. It is for these that we speak. We do not come as aggressors. Our war is not a war of conquest; we are fighting in the defence of our homes, our families, and posterityn. /pɑːˈsterəti/ 后代，子孙. We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamityn. /kəˈlæməti/ 灾难，灾祸 came. We beg no longer; we entreat no more; we petition no more. We defyv. /dɪˈfaɪ/ 公然反抗，挑战 them!

The gentleman from Wisconsin has said that he fears a Robespierre. My friends, in this land of the free you need not fear that a tyrantn. /ˈtaɪrənt/ 暴君，专制统治者 will spring up from among the people. What we need is an Andrew Jackson to stand, as Jackson stood, against the encroachmentsn. /ɪnˈkroʊtʃmənts/ 侵占，蚕食 of organizedadj. /ˈɔːrɡənaɪzd/ 有组织的 wealth.

They tell us that this platform was made to catch votes. We reply to them that changing conditions make new issues; that the principles upon which Democracy rests are as everlastingadj. /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/ 永恒的，永久的 as the hills, but that they must be applied to new conditions as they arise. Conditions have arisen, and we are here to meet those conditions. They tell us that the income tax ought not to be brought in here; that it is a new idea. They criticisev. /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/ 批评，指责 us for our criticism of the Supreme Court of the United States. My friends, we have not criticised; we have simply called attention to what you already know. If you want criticisms, read the dissentingadj. /dɪˈsentɪŋ/ 持异议的，反对的 opinions of the court. There you will find criticisms. They say that we passed an unconstitutionaladj. /ˌʌnkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənl/ 违宪的 law; we denyv. /dɪˈnaɪ/ 否认，拒绝承认 it. The income tax law was not unconstitutionaladj. /ˌʌnkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənl/ 违宪的 when it was passed; it was not unconstitutionaladj. /ˌʌnkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənl/ 违宪的 when it went before the Supreme Court for the first time; it did not become unconstitutionaladj. /ˌʌnkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənl/ 违宪的 until one of the judges changed his mind, and we cannot be expected to know when a judge will change his mind. The income tax is just. It simply intends to put the burdensn. /ˈbɜːrdnz/ 负担，重担 of government justlyadv. /ˈdʒʌstli/ 公正地，公平地 upon the backs of the people. I am in favor of an income tax. When I find a man who is not willing to bear his share of the burdensn. /ˈbɜːrdnz/ 负担，重担 of the government which protects him, I find a man who is unworthyadj. /ʌnˈwɜːrði/ 不配的，不值得的 to enjoy the blessings of a government like ours.

They say that we are opposing national bank currencyn. /ˈkɜːrənsi/ 货币，通货; it is true. If you will read what Thomas Benton said, you will find he said that, in searching history, he could find but one paralleln. /ˈpærəlel/ 可相比拟的人或事物 to Andrew Jackson; that was Cicero, who destroyed the conspiracyn. /kənˈspɪrəsi/ 阴谋，密谋 of Cataline and saved Rome. Benton said that Cicero only did for Rome what Jackson did for us when he destroyed the bank conspiracyn. /kənˈspɪrəsi/ 阴谋，密谋 and saved America. We say in our platform that we believe that the right to coin and issue money is a function of government. We believe it. We believe that it is a part of sovereigntyn. /ˈsɑːvrənti/ 主权，统治权, and can no more with safety be delegatedv. /ˈdelɪɡeɪtɪd/ 委派，授权给 to private individuals than we could afford to delegate to private individuals the power to make penaladj. /ˈpiːnl/ 刑罚的，刑事的 statutesn. /ˈstætʃuːts/ 法规，成文法 or levyv. /ˈlevi/ 征收，征缴 taxes. Mr. Jefferson, who was once regarded as good Democratic authority, seems to have differed in opinion from the gentleman who has addressed us on the part of the minority. Those who are opposed to this proposition tell us that the issue of paper money is a function of the bank, and that the government ought to go out of the banking business. I stand with Jefferson rather than with them, and tell them, as he did, that the issue of money is a function of government, and that the banks ought to go out of the governing business.

They complain about the plankn. /plæŋk/ （政纲的）条款，纲领要点 which declares against life tenuren. /ˈtenjər/ 任期，终身任职 in office. They have tried to strainv. /streɪn/ 曲解，牵强附会 it to mean that which it does not mean. What we oppose by that plankn. /plæŋk/ （政纲的）条款，纲领要点 is the life tenuren. /ˈtenjər/ 任期，终身任职 which is being built up in Washington, and which excludesv. /ɪkˈskluːdz/ 排除，把…排斥在外 from participationn. /pɑːrˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/ 参与，参加 in official benefits the humbleradj. /ˈhʌmblər/ 更卑微的，地位更低的 members of society.

Let me call your attention to two or three important things. The gentleman from New York says that he will propose an amendmentn. /əˈmendmənt/ 修正案，修改 to the platform providing that the proposed change in our monetaryadj. /ˈmɑːnɪteri/ 货币的，金融的 system shall not affect contractsn. /ˈkɑːntrækts/ 合同，契约 already made. Let me remind you that there is no intention of affecting those contractsn. /ˈkɑːntrækts/ 合同，契约 which according to present laws are made payableadj. /ˈpeɪəbl/ 应支付的，可支付的 in gold; but if he means to say that we cannot change our monetaryadj. /ˈmɑːnɪteri/ 货币的，金融的 system without protecting those who have loaned money before the change was made, I desire to ask him where, in law or in morals, he can find justificationn. /ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ 正当理由，辩护 for not protecting the debtorsn. /ˈdetərz/ 债务人，负债者 when the act of 1873 was passed, if he now insistsv. /ɪnˈsɪsts/ 坚持，坚决要求 that we must protect the creditorsn. /ˈkredɪtərz/ 债权人，债主.

He says he will also propose an amendment which will provide for the suspensionn. /səˈspenʃn/ 暂停，中止 of free coinage if we fail to maintain the parityn. /ˈpærəti/ 平价，等价 within a year. We reply that when we advocatev. /ˈædvəkeɪt/ 提倡，主张 a policy which we believe will be successful, we are not compelledv. /kəmˈpeld/ 被迫，不得不 to raise a doubt as to our own sincerityn. /sɪnˈserəti/ 真诚，诚意 by suggesting what we shall do if we fail. I ask him, if he would apply his logicn. /ˈlɑːdʒɪk/ 逻辑，推理 to us, why he does not apply it to himself. He says he wants this country to try to secure an international agreement. Why does he not tell us what he is going to do if he fails to secure an international agreement? There is more reason for him to do that than there is for us to provide against the failure to maintain the parityn. /ˈpærəti/ 平价，等价. Our opponentsn. /əˈpoʊnənts/ 对手，反对者 have tried for twenty years to secure an international agreement, and those are waiting for it most patientlyadv. /ˈpeɪʃntli/ 耐心地 who does not want it at all.

And now, my friends, let me come to the paramount issue. If they ask us why it is that we say more on the money question than we say upon the tariffn. /ˈtærɪf/ 关税，关税表 question, I reply that, if protection has slainv. /sleɪn/ 杀死（slay 的过去分词） its thousands, the gold standard has slainv. /sleɪn/ 杀死（slay 的过去分词） its tens of thousands. If they ask us why we do not embodyv. /ɪmˈbɑːdi/ 体现，纳入 in our platform all the things that we believe in, we reply that when we have restoredv. /rɪˈstɔːrd/ 恢复，复原 the money of the Constitution all other necessary reformsn. /rɪˈfɔːrmz/ 改革 will be possible; but that until this is done there is no other reformn. /rɪˈfɔːrm/ 改革 that can be accomplishedv. /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/ 完成，实现.

Why is it that within three months such a change has come over the country? Three months ago, when it was confidently assertedv. /əˈsɜːrtɪd/ 断言，声称 that those who believe in the gold standard would frame our platform and nominatev. /ˈnɑːmɪneɪt/ 提名，推举为候选人 our candidates, even the advocates of the gold standard did not think that we could elect a president. And they had good reason for their doubt, because there is scarcelyadv. /ˈskersli/ 几乎不，简直不 a State here today asking for the gold standard which is not in the absolute control of the Republican party. But note the change. Mr. McKinley was nominated at St. Louis upon a platform which declared for the maintenancen. /ˈmeɪntənəns/ 维持，保持 of the gold standard until it can be changed into bimetallismn. /baɪˈmetəlɪzəm/ （金银）复本位制 by international agreement. Mr. McKinley was the most popular man among the Republicans, and three months ago everybody in the Republican party prophesiedv. /ˈprɑːfəsaɪd/ 预言，预测 his election. How is today? Why, the man who was once pleased to think that he looked like Napoleon—that man shuddersv. /ˈʃʌdərz/ 战栗，发抖 today when he remembers that he was nominated on the anniversaryn. /ˌænɪˈvɜːrsəri/ 周年纪念日 of the battle of Waterloo. Not only that, but as he listens he can hear with ever-increasing distinctness the sound of the waves as they beat upon the lonely shores of St. Helena.

Why this change? Ah, my friends, is not the reason for the change evidentadj. /ˈevɪdənt/ 明显的，显而易见的 to any one who will look at the matter? No private character, however pure, no personal popularity, however great, can protect from the avengingadj. /əˈvendʒɪŋ/ 复仇的，报复的 wrathn. /ræθ/ 愤怒，盛怒 of an indignantadj. /ɪnˈdɪɡnənt/ 愤慨的，义愤的 people a man who will declare that he is in favor of fasteningv. /ˈfæsnɪŋ/ 把…强加于，固定 the gold standard upon this country, or who is willing to surrenderv. /səˈrendər/ 放弃，交出 the right of self-government and place the legislativeadj. /ˈledʒɪsleɪtɪv/ 立法的 control of our affairs in the hands of foreign potentatesn. /ˈpoʊtnteɪts/ 君主，统治者 and powers.

We go forth confident that we shall win. Why? Because upon the paramount issue of this campaign there is not a spot of ground upon which the enemy will dare to challenge battle. If they tell us that the gold standard is a good thing, we shall point to their platform and tell them that their platform pledgesv. /ˈpledʒɪz/ 承诺，保证 the party to get rid of the gold standard and substitutev. /ˈsʌbstɪtuːt/ 用…替代，取代 bimetallism. If the gold standard is a good thing, why try to get rid of it? I call your attention to the fact that some of the very people who are in this convention today and who tell us that we ought to declare in favor of international bimetallism—thereby declaring that the gold standard is wrong and that the principle of bimetallism is better—these very people four months ago were open and avowedadj. /əˈvaʊd/ 公开承认的，明确宣称的 advocates of the gold standard, and were then telling us that we could not legislate two metals together, even with the aid of all the world. If the gold standard is a good thing, we ought to declare in favor of its retentionn. /rɪˈtenʃn/ 保留，维持 and not in favor of abandoningv. /əˈbændənɪŋ/ 放弃，抛弃 it; and if the gold standard is a bad thing why should we wait until other nations are willing to help us to let go? Here is the line of battle, and we care not upon which issue they force the fight; we are prepared to meet them on either issue or on both. If they tell us that the gold standard is the standard of civilizationn. /ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃn/ 文明, we reply to them that this, the most enlightenedadj. /ɪnˈlaɪtnd/ 开明的，文明的 of all the nations of the earth, has never declared for a gold standard and that both the great parties this year are declaring against it. If the gold standard is the standard of civilizationn. /ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃn/ 文明, why, my friends, should we not have it? If they come to meet us on that issue we can present the history of our nation. More than that; we can tell them that they will search the pages of history in vainn. /veɪn/ 徒劳（in vain 徒然） to find a single instance where the common people of any land have ever declared themselves in favor of the gold standard. They can find where the holders of fixed investmentsn. /ɪnˈvestmənts/ 投资，投资资产 have declared for a gold standard, but not where the masses have.

Mr. Carlisle said in 1878 that this was a struggle between "the idleadj. /ˈaɪdl/ 闲置的，游手好闲的 holders of idleadj. /ˈaɪdl/ 闲置的，游手好闲的 capitaln. /ˈkæpɪtl/ 资本，资金" and "the struggling masses, who produce the wealth and pay the taxes of the country"; and, my friends, the question we are to decide is: Upon which side will the Democratic party fight; upon the side of "the idleadj. /ˈaɪdl/ 闲置的，游手好闲的 holders of idleadj. /ˈaɪdl/ 闲置的，游手好闲的 capitaln. /ˈkæpɪtl/ 资本，资金" or upon the side of "the struggling masses"? That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafteradv. /ˌhɪrˈæftər/ 今后，此后. The sympathiesn. /ˈsɪmpəθiz/ 同情，同情心 of the Democratic party, as shown by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses who have ever been the foundationn. /faʊnˈdeɪʃn/ 基础，根基 of the Democratic party. There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that, if you will only legislatev. /ˈledʒɪsleɪt/ 立法，制定法律 to make the well-to-do prosperousadj. /ˈprɑːspərəs/ 繁荣的，富足的, their prosperityn. /prɑːˈsperəti/ 繁荣，兴旺 will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislatev. /ˈledʒɪsleɪt/ 立法，制定法律 to make the masses prosperousadj. /ˈprɑːspərəs/ 繁荣的，富足的, their prosperityn. /prɑːˈsperəti/ 繁荣，兴旺 will find its way up through every class which rests upon them.

You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard; we reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertileadj. /ˈfɜːrtl/ 肥沃的，富饶的 prairiesn. /ˈpreriz/ 大草原. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magicn. /ˈmædʒɪk/ 魔法，魔力; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.

My friends, we declare that this nation is able to legislate for its own people on every question, without waiting for the aid or consentn. /kənˈsent/ 同意，许可 of any other nation on earth; and upon that issue we expect to carry every State in the Union. I shall not slanderv. /ˈslændər/ 诽谤，中伤 the inhabitants of the fair State of Massachusetts nor the inhabitants of the State of New York by saying that, when they are confronted with the proposition, they will declare that this nation is not able to attend to its own business. It is the issue of 1776 over again. Our ancestorsn. /ˈænsestərz/ 祖先，先辈, when but three millions in number, had the courage to declare their political independence of every other nation; shall we, their descendantsn. /dɪˈsendənts/ 后代，子孙, when we have grown to seventy millions, declare that we are less independent than our forefathersn. /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/ 祖先，先辈? No, my friends, that will never be the verdictn. /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/ 裁决，结论 of our people. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. If they say bimetallism is good, but that we cannot have it until other nations help us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we will restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States has it. If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermostn. /ˈʌtərmoʊst/ 极限，最大限度. Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilersn. /ˈtɔɪlərz/ 辛劳者，劳作者 everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brown. /braʊ/ 额头，眉宇 of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucifyv. /ˈkruːsɪfaɪ/ 把…钉死在十字架上；残酷折磨 mankind upon a cross of gold.