北美的危機
The American Crisis

(Library of Congress)

這是考驗人的靈魂的時代。

在美國獨立戰爭期間，潘恩寫了以《北美的危機》為題的系列文章，分為十六小冊，發表於1776－1783年之間。他給這些小冊子標題為《常識》。其中第一篇發表於1776年l 2月23日，以滿腔熱情號召人們為自由而戰。以下便是這篇文章的摘要。華盛頓將軍下令向他在福吉穀士氣低落的軍隊宣讀這篇振奮精神的檄文。

儘管潘恩的愛國著作賣出了千萬冊，潘恩卻依然身無分文，因為，為了使他的文章能夠被廣泛印發，讓人閱讀，他拒絕接受任何版稅。潘恩是世界上最偉大的政治宣傳家之一。1787年，他回到歐洲，希望能爭取人們對他在費城附近建一座橫跨斯凱基爾河的大橋的計劃感興趣。然而，他很快就被法國革命迷住了。1791年，他發表《人的權利》，捍衛法國革命，批判埃德蒙‧伯克寫的《對法國革命的反思》。伯克作了回答。1792年，潘恩發表《人的權利》第二部，批判君主政體，鼓吹消滅貧困、文盲和失業的政策。英國政府禁止潘恩的激進建議，並企圖逮捕他，但潘恩從英國逃到法國。在那兒他被選進國民議會。儘管他保衛過法國革命，但他還是批評恐怖時期，並設法救國王的性命。由於他這樣做，法國人把他關在牢裏近一年。潘恩寫的《理性時代》(兩部分，1794和1795年)使他遭到各處正統宗教狂者的刻骨仇恨。

1802年，潘恩回到美國。1809年，在紐約市去世。

這是考驗人的靈魂的時代。在當前的危機中，精壯的戰士和樂天的愛國者會在為國家服務的責任面前畏縮不前，但今天能堅持戰鬥的人應當得到全體男女的愛戴和感激。專制制度就像地獄一樣，是不容易被打破的，但是我們可以堪慰的是：鬥爭越是艱巨，勝利就越光榮。輕易獲得的東西，我們並不珍重；一切事物的價值在於它是來之不易的。上天知道怎樣給它的貨品定出適當的價碼。如果對自由這樣神聖的東西反而索價不高，那豈非咄咄怪事。憑軍隊來推行其專制制度的不列顛公開宣佈她有權利(不但課稅)而且「在一切情形下對我們進行全面約束」，如果那樣約束我們還不叫奴役的話，那世上就不存在奴役這回事了。其實他們這種說法本身也是褻瀆神明的，因為他們所說的那種無限權力只能屬於上帝……

我和任何人一樣，沒有什麼迷信。但我內心深處一向認為，而且現在還是這麼認為，一個曾殫思竭慮，想盡一切妥善的辦法，屢次真誠地尋求避免戰爭之災難的民族，萬能的上帝是不會聽任他們橫遭兵刃的洗劫的。我沒有那麼多異教徒的思想，還不至於認為上帝會放棄對世界的主宰，把我們交給魔鬼發落。既然我並無上述想法，我也就看不出不列顛國王將能以何種理由仰對上天求助以加害於我們：一個聲名狼藉的兇手、攔路搶劫的匪徒和破門而入的強盜都會找到一個跟他一樣堂皇的藉口。

然而有時驚惶失措竟會這麼快蔓延全國，看來真是令人吃驚。各個國家和各個時代都有過類似的例子：不列顛聽說法國平底船隊到達的消息時曾像打擺子一樣發抖。在十四世紀，英軍全體將士對法蘭西王國進行一番洗劫之後被趕回，竟嚇得目瞪口呆，而這番英雄業績只是由一位叫貞德的婦女率領拼湊的散兵遊勇所幹的。但願上天也啟發 新澤西的某個女子去鼓舞她的同胞奮起，拯救她受苦受難的同胞，使他們免遭蹂躪劫掠之苦……

我不是對少數人，而是向全體呼籲；不是對這個州或那個州，而是向每一個州呼籲；呼籲你們迅速奮起，前來助戰，全力以赴，共襄大業，況且生死存亡，在此一舉，因而所聚兵力寧可太多，不可太少。讓我們昭告後世，在這只有希望和美德才能堅持下去的隆冬季節，我城鄉居民，為共同的危難而惶恐不安，紛紛挺身而出，聯合退敵。且莫道幾千人已經喪生，請拿出你的幾萬人來，不要把當前的負擔推給上帝，要「用實幹表現你的信心」，這樣上帝才會保佑你。地不分東西，人不分貴賤，是禍是福，總會降臨到你們每個人頭上的。不論是遠是近，是家鄉還是邊疆，是富人還是窮人，喜則同喜，憂則同憂。此時此刻無動於衷的心便是死的。他的孩子們將以血咒罵他的怯懦，因為他在只要付出一點便可拯救全體，使他們獲得幸福的緊要關頭退縮了。我愛能在危難中微笑的人；我愛能從痛苦中聚集力量的人；我愛能通過深思變得勇敢的人。臨陣逃脫是小人的行徑。而一位天性堅毅，行為不背良心的人，將會堅持原則。至死不渝。在我看來，我推理的思路像一線光一樣筆直透明。我相信即使把全世界的財富都給我，也無法誘使我去支援一場侵略戰爭，因為我認為這是屠殺。但是，假如一名盜賊破門闖入我的住宅，燒燬我的財物，殺死我或威脅要殺我，或屋子裏的其他人，並要我「在一切情況下受約束」於他的絕對意志，難道我要甘受其害嗎?不管幹這事的是國王還是平民，是我的同胞還是外國人，是單個暴徒還是一支軍隊，那對我有什麼差別?歸根到底一點差別都沒有，因為，對於這些罪行，我們在一種情況下要懲罰，而在另一種情況下又要赦免，那是不公正的。就讓他們把我叫作叛逆吧，非常歡迎，我毫不在乎。但是，我如果去向一個遲鈍的、頑固的、卑劣的、獸性的傢夥表示忠心，從而使我的靈魂淪為娼妓一樣骯髒，那就會使我遭受魔鬼一樣的痛苦。而當末日來臨時，這種人就會向荒山野嶺哀號，尋求托庇，驚恐萬狀地從北美的孤兒、寡婦、和被屠殺者面前逃走。要是我接受這種人的憐憫，我也同樣會感到可怕的。

有些情況無論用什麼言詞來描述都不會過份，這便是一個例子。有些人對威脅著他們的邪惡不能充份認識，他們希望敵人在勝利後會大發慈悲，且以此來安慰自己。期望那些不顧正義的人大發慈悲，真是愚蠢至極。而且在以征服為目的的地方，即便慈悲也只不過是戰爭的一種詭計。狐狸的狡猾跟豺狼的暴皮同樣兇殘。我們對兩者都應當保持同樣的警惕……

感謝上帝，我無所畏懼。我看不出有什麼真正值得畏懼的理由。我對目前的局勢一清二楚，對將來的出路瞭如指掌……只要我們堅持不懈，不屈不撓，我們就有希望得到光榮的結果。膽小伯事，屈膝投降，其結果只好悲慘地接受各種災禍──國家慘遭蹂躪，城市人口銳減，人民居無安所，備受奴役而無希望，我們的家園將變成黑森僱傭軍的營房和妓院，以後還得養活一大堆弄不清誰是他們父親的孩子。面對這樣一副情景，能不痛哭流涕!如果時至今日竟還有哪個沒有頭腦的劣種不相信這話，那就讓他去受罪，別為他悲傷……

Thomas Paine
The American Crisis

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, "we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there no such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. . . .

    I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to Heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a housebreaker, has as good a pretence as he.

     "Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them: Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat bottomed boats; and in the fourteenth century the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc. Would that heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen, and save her fair fellow sufferers from ravage and ravishment! ...

    . . . I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state; up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but "show your faith by your works, " that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now, is dead: the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever, " to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman: whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be as signed why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel, and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of America.

    There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons too who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them, they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if they succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf; and we ought to guard equally against both. . . .

    I thank God that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear. I know our situation well, and can see the way out of it. . . . By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils--a ravaged country--a depopulated city--habitations without safety, and slavery without hope--our homes turned into barracks and bawdy-houses for Hessians, and a future race to provide for, whose fathers we shall doubt of. Look on this picture and weep over it! and if there yet remains one thoughtless wretch who believes it not, let him suffer it unlamented. ...