哈里‧S‧杜魯門
(HARRY S. TRUMAN)

就職演說
Inaugural Address

    只有通過幫助人類大家庭中那些最不幸的成員自助，人類才能過上體面的、令人滿意的、人人有權享受的生活。

    哈里‧S‧杜魯門(1884－1972)1948年當選為總統是美國政治史上最大的怪事之一。杜魯門既戰勝了由紐約州州長托馬斯‧杜威領導的捲土重來的共和黨，又克服了他自己黨內的分裂。杜魯門鬥志旺盛，信奉平民主義。他擊敗了杜威、進步黨的亨利‧華萊士和南部與本黨持不同政見的民主黨人斯特隆‧瑟蒙德，使民意測驗工作者和權威評論員們大吃一驚。

     杜魯門出生於密蘇里州一個農場主家庭，他中學畢業，但因經濟問題沒上大學。他曾從事多種商業冒險事業，均以失敗告終。杜魯門在第一次世界大戰中入伍。表現出色，戰後在民主黨地方組織的支援下成為當地政治活動家。1934年杜魯門當選為美國參議員，1944年當選為弗蘭克林‧D‧羅斯福的副總統。羅斯福於1945年4月12日去世，杜魯門遂成為總統。

     在就職演說中，杜魯門提出一個大規模的國際方案，以給予拉丁美洲、亞洲、中東和非洲國家經濟和技術援助。隨著第四點計劃的實施，美國開始在國際事務中扮演一個新的角色。

    ……我國歷史上的每一時期都遇上其特定的挑戰。現在我們所面臨的挑戰與過去的挑戰同樣嚴重。今天這個日子不僅標誌著一個新政府的開始，而且標誌一個新時期的開端，這一時期對我們、對世界來說都將是重要的，也許是決定性的。

    我們可能有幸經歷，在很大程度上帶來漫長的人類歷史上一個重大轉捩點。本世紀前半期以人權遭受空前殘暴的踐踏及歷史上最可怕的兩次戰爭為特徵。我們時代的當務之急是讓人們學會在安寧和諧中共同生活。

    世界各國人民面對著一個難以預測的未來，它蘊藏著幾乎等量的巨大希望和巨大恐懼。在這疑惑不安的時刻，他們比以前更迫切地期待著從美國得到善意、力量和英明的領導。

    因此我們這樣做是恰當的：利用這一場合向世界闡明我們賴以生存的信仰所包含的基本原則，向各國人民宣佈我們的目標。

   美國人民堅持那始終激勵鼓舞這個國家的信仰。我們相信，人人享有在法律面前的平等權利，人人擁有分享公共利益的權利。我們相信，人人有思想和言論自由的權利。我們相信，人人生而平等，因為人都是按照上帝的形象創造出來的。

    我們抱這一信仰決不動搖。

    美國人民期望而且決心建立一個世界，在那個世界中─一切國家、一切民族可以自由地依照他們認為合適的方式自治，享受一種體面的、令人滿意的生活。首先。我們的人民期望而且決心建立世界和平──一種公正而持久的和平──建築在平等各方達成的真正協定基礎上的和平。

    自戰爭結束後，美國將它的人力物力投入偉大的具有積極意義的工作，以便在全世界恢復和平、穩定和自由。

    我們從沒有領土要求，也從不把自己的意志強加於人。凡我們不想給予他人的特權，我們從不索取。

   我們堅定不移地全力支援聯合國及有關機構、從而把民主原則運用於國際關係。我們一貫擁護和依靠以和平方式解決國家間的爭端。

    我們不遺餘力地爭取達成關於對我們最強有力的武器實行有效國際控制的協定，我們為限制和控制一切軍事力量作了不懈的努力。

    我們通過示範和規程鼓勵在合理和公正的基礎上發展世界貿易。

   差不多一年以前，我們與十六個歐洲自由國家一起提出了歷史上最大的經濟合作計劃。這一空前的嘗試目的在於鼓舞和加強歐洲的民主，以使歐洲大陸的自由人民能在文明的前線恢復他們應有的地位，為世界的安全和幸福再次作出貢獻。 

    我們的努力已給全人類帶來新的希望。我們已戰勝了絕望情緒和失敗主義。我們使一批國家免遭喪失自由的厄運。全出界億萬人民現在贊同我們的觀點：我們不需要戰爭──我們能享有和平。……

    在未來的歲月中，我們爭取和平與自由的計劃將突出四大行動步驟。

   第一，我們將繼續堅決支援聯合國及其有關機構，我們將繼續千方百計加強它們的權威，提高它們的效率。我們相信，由於在按照民主原則走向自治的地區裏面，新的國家紛紛建立，聯合國將得到加強。

   第二，我們將繼續實施爭取世界經濟復甦的計劃。這首先意味著我們必須繼續全力支援歐洲復興計劃。我們相信，這一宏大事業在世界復興的過程中必定取得成功。我們相信，同我們在這項工作中合作的國家將再次取得自立自強的國家地位。

    另外，我們必須實施自己的消除國際貿易壁壘和增加國際貿易的計劃。經濟復甦及和平本身有賴於國際貿易的增長。

    第三，我們將加強愛好自由的國家反對侵略威脅的力量。我們正與一批國家一起草擬一個旨在鞏固北大西洋地區安全的聯合協定。該協定將採取在聯合國憲章範圍內集體防務計劃的形式。……

    第四，我們必須開始實施一項大膽的新計劃以使我們的科學發展和工業進步成果造福於不發達地區的改良和發展。

    全球半數以上的人民生活相當困苦。他們食不果腹，疾病纏身。他們的經濟生活原始落後，停滯不前。他們的窮困不僅對他們自己，而且對較繁榮的地區是一種障礙和威脅。

    歷史上人類第一次有了把這些人從痛苦中解救出來的知識和技能。

   在工業和科學技術的發展方面美國走在各國的前列。我們可用於支援別國人民的物質資源有限，但我們在技術知識方面無法估量的資源正不斷增長，取之不盡用之不竭。

   我認為，我們應當讓我們豐富的技術知識造福於愛好和平的各國人民，以幫助他們實現改善生活的願望。而且，我們應當與其他國家合作，促進對需要發展的地區的投資。

   我們的目標是幫助世界自由的各國人民通過他們自己的努力去生產更多的食品、更多的衣服、更多的建築材料，以及更多的用以減輕他們勞累的機械力量。

    我們邀請其他國家在這項事業中投入並分享它們的技術資源。它們的貢獻將受到熱情歡迎。這應是一項合作的事業，所有國家通過聯合國及其特定機構在一切可行的地方共同工作。它應該是一種世界規模的為取得和平、富裕和自由的努力。……

    所有的國家，包括我們自己的國家，將從──更好地利用世界人力和自然資源的建設性計劃中得到很大的益處。經驗告訴人們，當其他國家在工業和經濟上取得進步時，我們與它們的貿易也就隨之擴展。 

   發展生產是繁榮與和平的關鍵。而發展生產的關鍵在於更廣泛、更積極地應用現代科技知識。

    只有通過幫助人類大家庭中那些最不幸的成員自助，人類才能過上體面的、令人滿意的、人人有權享受的生活。

    唯民主才能產生活力，推動世界各國人民採取行動，不僅去戰勝壓迫他們的人，而且去戰勝他們的宿敵──飢餓、苦難和絕望。

    在這四大行動步驟的基礎上，我們希望協力創造條件以最終實現全人類的個人自由和幸福。……

附註：

l      第四點計劃：    美國向不發達國家提供技術和經濟援助的政策，因杜魯門總統在1949年的就職演說中把它列為第四點，故名。

. . . .Each period of our national history has had its special challenges. Those that confront us now are as momentous as any in the past. Today marks the beginning not only of a new administration, but of a period that will be eventful, perhaps decisive, for us and for the world.

    It may be our lot to experience, and in large measure to bring about, a major turning point in the long history of the human race. The first half of this century, has been marked by unprecedented and brutal attacks on the rights of man, and by the two most frightful wars in history. The supreme need of our time is for men to learn to live together in peace and harmony.

    The peoples of the earth face the future with grave uncertainty, composed almost equally of great hopes and great fears. In this time of doubt, they look to the United States as never before for good will, strength, and wise leadership.

    It is fitting, therefore, that we take this occasion to proclaim to the world the essential principles of the faith by which we live, and to declare our aims to all peoples.

    The American people stand firm in the faith which has inspired this Nation from the beginning. We believe that all men have a right to equal justice under law and equal opportunity to share in the common good. We believe that all men have the right to freedom of thought and expression. We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God.

    From this faith we will not be moved.

    The American people desire, and are determined to work for, a world in which all nations and all peoples are free to govern themselves as they see fit and to achieve a decent and satisfying life. About all else, our people desire, and are determined to work for, peace on earth－a just and lasting peace－based on genuine agreement freely arrived at by equals.

    In the pursuit of these aims, the United States and other like-minded nations find themselves directly opposed by a regime with contrary aims and a totally different concept of life.

    That regime adheres to a false philosophy which purports to offer freedom, security, and greater opportunity to mankind. Misled by this philosophy, many peoples have sacrificed their liberties only to learn to their sorrow that deceit and mockery, poverty and tyranny, are their reward.

    That false philosophy is communism.

    Communism is based on the belief that man is so weak and inadequate that he is unable to govern himself, and therefore requires the rule of strong masters.

    Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice.

    Communism subjects the individual to arrest without lawful cause, punishment without trial, and forced labor as the chattel of the state. It decrees what information he shall receive, what art he shall produce, what leaders he shall follow, and what thoughts he shall think.

    Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights of the individual and his freedom in the exercise of his abilities.

    Communism maintains that social wrongs can be corrected only by violence.

    Democracy has proved that social justice can be achieved through peaceful change.

    Communism holds that the world is so deeply divided into opposing classes that war is inevitable.

    Democracy holds that free nations can settle differences justly and maintain lasting peace.

    These differences between communism and democracy do not concern the United States alone. People everywhere are coming to realize that what is involved is material well-being, human dignity, and the right to believe in and worship God.

     I state these differences, not to draw issues of belief as such, but because the actions resulting from the Communist philosophy are a threat to the efforts of free nations to bring about world recovery and lasting peace.

    Since the end of hostilities, the United States has invested its substance and its energy in a great constructive effort to restore peace, stability, and freedom in the world.

    We have sought no territory and we have imposed our will on none. We have asked for no privileges we would not extend to others.

    We have constantly and vigorously supported the United Nations and related agencies as a means of applying democratic principles to international relations. We have consistently advocated and relied upon peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.

    We have made every effort to secure agreement on effective international control of our most powerful weapon, and we have worked steadily for the limitation and control of all armaments.

    We have encouraged, by precept and example, the expansion of world trade on a sound and fair basis.

    Almost a year ago, in company with 16 free nations of Europe, we launched the greatest co-operative economic program in history. The purpose of that unprecedented effort is to invigorate and strengthen democracy in Europe, so that the free people of that continent can resume their rightful place in the forefront of civilization and can contribute once more to the security and welfare of the world.

    Our efforts have brought new hope to all mankind. We have beaten back despair and defeatism. We have saved a number of countries from losing their liberty. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world now agree with us, that we need not have war－that we can have peace....

    In the coming years, our program for peace and freedom will emphasize four major courses of action.

    First. We will continue to give unfaltering support to the United Nations and related agencies, and we will continue to search for ways to strengthen their authority and increase their effectiveness. We believe that the United Nations will be strengthened by the new nations which are being formed in lands now advancing toward self-government under democratic principles.

    Second. We will continue our programs for world economic recovery.

    This means, first of all, that we must keep our full weight behind the European recovery program. We are confident of the success of this major venture in world recovery. We believe that our partners in this effort will achieve the status of self-supporting nations once again.

    In addition, we must carry out our plans for reducing the barriers to world trade and increasing its volume. Economic recovery and peace itself depend on increased world trade.

    Third. We will strengthen freedom-loving nations against the dangers of aggression. We are now working out with a number of countries a joint agreement designed to strengthen the security of the North Atlantic area. Such an agreement would take the form of a collective defense arrangement within the terms of the United Nations Charter. . . .

    Fourth. We must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas.

    More than half the people of the world are living in conditions approaching misery. Their food is inadequate. They are victims of disease. Their economic life is primitive and stagnant. Their poverty is a handicap and a threat both to them and to more prosperous areas.

    For the first time in history humanity possesses the knowledge and the skill to relieve the suffering of these people.

    The United States is preeminent among nations in the development of industrial and scientific techniques. The material resources which we can afford to use for the assistance of other peoples are limited. But our imponderable resources in technical knowledge are constantly growing and are inexhaustible.

    I believe that we should make available to peace-loving peoples the benefits of our store of technical knowledge in order to help them realize their aspirations for a better life. And, in cooperation with other nations, we should foster capital investment in areas needing development.

    Our aim should be to help the free peoples of the world, through their own efforts, to produce more food, more clothing, more materials for housing, and more mechanical power to lighten their burdens.

    We invite other countries to pool their technological resources in this undertaking. Their contributions will be warmly welcomed. This should be a cooperative enterprise in which all nations work together through the United Nations and its specialized agencies wherever practicable. It must be a world-wide effort for the achievement of peace, plenty, and freedom. ...

   All countries, including our own, will greatly benefit from a constructive program for the better use of the world's human and natural resources. Experience shows that our commerce with other countries expands as they progress industrially and economically.

    Greater production is the key to prosperity and peace. And the key to greater production is a wider and more vigorous application of modern scientific and technical knowledge.

    Only by helping the least fortunate of its members to help themselves can the human family achieve the decent, satisfying life that is the right of all people.

    Democracy alone can supply the vitalizing force to stir the peoples of the world into triumphant action, not only against their human oppressors, but also against their ancient enemies－hunger, misery, and despair.

    On the basis of these four major courses of action we hope to help create the conditions that will lead eventually to personal freedom and happiness for all mankind. . . .