bee stronger。 It became weaker。 The spirit of constitutional government flickered like a dying lamp； and within the last year or so； the light from that damp has disappeared entirely upon the continent of Europe。 We in America watch darkness fall upon Europe； and as we watch its approach； that important time for us； the national election of 1940。 In that election； and in our attitudes after that election； the rest of the world would see an example of democracy in action； an example of a great people； faithful to their constitution and to their elected representatives。 The campaign preceding this election stirred us deeply millions upon millions of us who had never been active in politics took part in it。 The people flocked to the polling places in greater numbers than ever before in history。 Nearly fifty millions peop1e exercised； on November 5； the right of the franchise； the precious right which we inherited from our forefathers and which we must cherish and pass on to future generations。 Thus it came about that although constitutional governments have been blotted out elsewhere； here in America； men and women kept it triumphantly alive。 No matter which side you were on on that day； remember that this great free expression of our faith in the free system of government must have given hope to millions upon millions of others on the heroic island of Britain； in the ruined cities of France and Belgium； yes； perhaps even to people in Germany and in Italy。 It has given hope wherever man hopes to be free。
In the campaign preceding this election； serious issues were at stake。 People became bitter；many things were said which in calmer moments might have been left unsaid； or might have been worded more thoughtfully。 But we Americans know that the bitterness is a distortion； not a true reflection of what is in our hearts。 I can truthfully say that there is no bitterness in mine； I hope there is none in yours。 We have elected Franklin Roosevelt President。 He is your President； he is my President。 We all of us owe him the respect due to his high office； we give him that respect。 We will support him with our best efforts for our country and we pray that God may guide his hand during the next four years in the supreme task of administering the affairs of the people。 It is a fundamental principle of the democratic system that the majority rules。 The function of the minority； however； is equally fundamental。 It is about the function of that minority twentytwo mil1ion people； nearly half of our electorate； that I wish to talk to you tonight。 电子书 分享网站
忠 诚 的 反 对 党（4）
A vital element in the balanced operation of democracy is a strong； alert and watchful opposition。 That is our task for the next four years。 We must constitute ourselves a vigorous； loyal and publicspirited opposition party。 It has been suggested that in order to present a united front to a threatening world； the minority should now surrender its convictions and join the majority。 This would mean that in the United States of America； there would be only one dominant party； only one economic philosophy； only one political philosophy of life。 This is a totalitarian idea； it is a slave idea； it must be rejected utterly。 The British people are unified with a unity almost unexampled in history for its endurance and its valor； yet that unity coexists with an unimpaired freedom of criticism and of suggestion。 In the continued debates of the House of mons； and the House of Lords； all of the government's policies； its taxation； its expenditure； its military and naval policies； its basic economic policies； are brought under steady friendly loyal； critical review。 Britain survives free。 Let us Americans choose no lesser freedom。
In Britain； some opposition party leaders are members of the government； and some say that a similar device should be adopted here。 That is a false conception of our government。 When the leader of the British Liberal party or a member of the British Labor party bees a member of the Churchill cabinet； he bees； from the British parliamentary point of view an equal of Mr。 Churchill's。 This is because the British cabinet is a mittee of the Houses of Parliament。 It is a mittee of equals wherein the Prime Minister is Chairman； a lofty Chairman indeed； and yet but a Chairman。 The other members are his colleagues。 With us； the situation as you well know is different。 Our executive branch is not a mittee of our legislative branch。 Our President is independent of our Congress。 The members of his cabinet are not his colleagues； they are his administrative subordinates。 They are subject to his orders。 An American President could fill his whole cabinet with leaders of the opposition party and still our Administration would not be a twoparty administration。 It would be an administration of a majority President giving orders to minority representatives of his own choosing。 These representatives must concur in the President's convictions。 If they do not； they have no alternatives except to resign。 Clearly no such device as this can give us in this country any self respecting agreement between majority and minority for a concerted effort toward the national welfare。 Such a plan for us would be but the shadow not the substance of unity。 Our American unity cannot be made with words； or with gestures。 It must be forged between the ideas of the Opposition and the practices and the policies of the Administration。 Ours is a government of the principles； and not one merely of men。 Any member of the minority party though willing to die for his country still retains the right to criticize the policies of the government。 This right is embedded in our constitutional system。 We who stand ready to serve our country behind our manderinChief； nevertheless retain the right； and I will say the duty； to debate the course of our government。 Ours is a twoparty system； should we ever permit one party to dominate our lives entirely democracy would collapse and we would have dictatorship。 To you； who have so sincerely given yourselves to this cause； which you chose me to lead； I say your function during the next four years is that of the loyal opposition。 You believe deeply in the principles that we stood for in the recent election； and principles are not like a football suit to be put on in order to play a game； and then taken off when the game is over。 It is your constitutional duty to debate the policies of this； or any other administration； and to express yourselves freely and openly to those who represent you in your state and national government。 Now let me however； raise a single warning； ours is a very powerful opposition。 On November 5； we were a minority by only a few million votes； but let us not therefore fall into the partisan error of opposing things just for the sake of opposition。 Ours must not be an opposition against； it must be an opposition for； an opposition for a strong America； a productive America； for only the productive can be strong； and only the strong can be free。 电子书 分享网站
忠 诚 的 反 对 党（5）
And finally our government must change its punitive attitude towards both big and little business。 Regulations there must be。 We； of th