American Independence

塞缪尔·亚当斯/Samuel Adams

塞缪尔·亚当斯（1722—1803），美国第二任总统的堂兄，美国独立战争时期领导人之一，生于波士顿城。毕业后投入革命，和其他革命者一道组织了“自由之子”。18世纪60年代中期，他积极参与并领导殖民地人民反抗英国殖民压迫的一系列革命活动。曾亲自策划并领导了震动全美的波士顿倾茶事件。在第一届和第二届大陆会议上始终坚持独立的主张，是《独立宣言》的签名者之一。1781年回到波士顿，先后任马萨诸塞副总督、总督等职。

今天，我们终于挺立于这片大陆上，300万同胞在共同的事业中团结在一起，这令全世界都感到震惊。我们庞大的军队拥有精良的装备、训练有素的士兵，以及军事技能一流、充满活力与热忱的指挥官；兵工厂和粮草库的储量超出了我们最乐观的估计；别的国家正用等着与我们结盟的方式来承认我们的胜利。我敢说，大量事实表明，上帝以一种几乎令人惊讶的方式支持着我们的事业；我们的胜利动摇了敌人，而且让几乎失去信心的人们重拾了信念；因此，我们可以准确地说，拯救我们的并非只是我们自己。

上帝之手似乎一直在指引我们，也许要把我们变成完成伟大神谕的谦卑工具。我们已经从政治炼狱中逃出，那么，我们切不可回首顾盼，以免遭遇大难，成为世人嘲笑的耻辱标志。我们的意见一致，我们的防御措施已经达到最佳状态；我们的敌人正争吵不休，毫无决断；我们的人民豪情万丈、英勇无畏，难道现在还不是我们最好的机会吗？这能够让我们获得解放的力量和抗争的勇气，同样也能够保障我们获得光荣的独立，并维护我们各州自由的尊严。我们很难设想，一个腐败堕落的国家会因为我们的反抗，就对美利坚变得友好起来，或是变得更加尊重人权。我们能够因此而希望他们会出于对权力的欲望，或者出于恐惧——而不是出于美德——重新给予我们权利、补偿我们所遭受的损失吗？协同一致以及英勇无畏会带给我们光荣的和平，同时也能让我们的将来不必再为自由而战斗。如果一个人有力量抓住恶狼，却不拔去尖牙利爪就把它放掉，那他一定是个疯子。

除了独立我们别无选择，不然，我们就会沦为可耻难堪的奴隶。敌人的大队人马布满了我们的平原，他们的血腥行径带给我们的是满目疮痍和遍地死尸；同胞们面目全非的尸体在向我们哭喊，这喊声仿佛发自上苍。

我们已经组成了联盟；我们已经起草、制订并通过了宪法；你们现在所保卫的是你们自己的自由。我们可以理直气壮地告诉你们——就像罗马执法官告诉罗马人那样——“没有你们的认可，我们不能制定任何法律。美利坚人民啊，做那些将保障你们幸福的法律的创作者吧！”

现在，我们拥有足以击败敌人所有军事力量——包括精锐部队和雇佣储备军——这些战士已经奔赴战场。他们因自由精神而情绪高涨；他们因正义的事业而活力焕发；而当他们举起刀剑时，上帝也会赐予他们力量。你们的敌人是一群卑鄙无耻的人，他们嘲笑人权，把宗教当成笑柄；为了高一点的奖赏，他们就会掉头把矛头转向自己的首领或祖国。因此，为了伟大的事业前进吧！感谢上帝曾经赐予我们的胜利，同时坚信他还会继续赐予我们新的胜利。对我来说，最大的幸事就是和你们共患磨难、共享光荣。把我的骨灰同沃伦以及蒙哥马利的骨灰混合在一起，是我的心愿；而比这更强烈的心愿，就是美利坚各州能够永远自由、独立！

We are now on this continent， to the astonishment of the world， three millions of souls united in one cause. We have large armies， well disciplined and appointed， with commanders inferior to none in military skill， and superior in activity and zeal.We are furnished with arsenals and stores beyond our most sanguine expectations， and foreign nations are waiting to crown our success by their alliances.There are instances of， I would say， an almost astonishing Providence in our favor；our success has staggered our enemies， and almost given faith to infidels；so we may truly say it is not our own arm， which has saved us.

The hand of Heaven appears to have led us on to be， perhaps， humble instruments and means in the great providential dispensation which is completing. We have fled from the political Sodom；let us not look back， lest we perish and become amonument of infamy and derision to the world.For can we ever expect more unanimity and a better preparation for defense；more infatuation of counsel among our enemies， and more valor and zeal among ourselves？The same force and resistance which are sufficient to procure us our liberties will secure us a glorious independence and support us in the dignity of free， imperial states.We cannot suppose that our opposition has made a corrupt and dissipated nation more friendly to America， or created in them a greater respect for the rights of mankind；we can therefore expect a restoration and establishment of our privileges， and a compensation for the injuries we have received， from their want of power， from their fears， and not from their virtues.The unanimity and valor which will affect an honorable peace can render a future contest for our liberties unnecessary.He who has strength to chain down the wolf is a madman if he let him loose without drawing his teeth and paring his nails.

We have no other alternative than independence， or the most ignominious and galling servitude. The legions of our enemies thicken on our plains；desolation and death mark their bloody career；whilst the mangled corpses of our countrymen seem to cry out to us as a voice from Heaven.

Our union is now complete；our constitution composed， established， and approved. You are now the guardians of your own liberties.We may justly address you， as the decemvir did theRomans， and say， "Nothing that we propose can pass into a law without your consent.Be yourselves， O Americans， the authors of those laws on which your happiness depends."

You have now in the field armies sufficient to repel the whole force of your enemies and their base and mercenary auxiliaries. The hearts of your soldiers beat high with the spirit of freedom；they are animated with the justice of their cause， and while they grasp their swords can look up to Heaven for assistance.Your adversaries are composed of wretches who laugh at the rights of humanity， who turn religion into derision， and would， for higher wages， direct their swords against their leaders or their country.Go on， then， in your generous enterprise， with gratitude to Heaven for past success， and confidence of it in the future.For my own part， I ask no greater blessing than to share with you the common danger and common glory.If I have a wish dearer to my soul than that my ashes may be mingled with those of a Warren and a Montgomery， it is that these American States may never cease to be free and independent.