分裂之家無可恃存-林肯參議員選舉演說(#7/28)

<從28篇經典演說學思考>第七篇「分裂之家無可恃存」。這是林肯1858年參加美國伊利諾州參議員提名演說，史稱「分裂之家演說」，他因這次演說在政壇嶄露頭角，成為全美知名人物。

美國不可分裂，但是任何一個民主國家的人民都會有不同的想法。舉例來說，有人贊成政府什麼都管、有些則認為不必管太多。外交政策方面，意見分岐也是當然的事。可是，如果意見分岐有地域徧見那就不妙了。

The House Divided Speech.   June 16, 1858

Abraham Lincoln

If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy that agitation has not only not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached an passed.

    “A house divided against itself can not stand.”

    I believe this Government can not endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—-I don not expect the house to fall —-but I  do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall come alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South.

延伸閱讀

# 從28篇經典演說學思考-李家同