“I am far from being insensible to the generous confidence so often manifested towards me by the people of this state; and although the object indicated in the resolution, having particular reference to myself, be not one of desire on my part, the expression is not on that account less gratifying.
“Doubtless the spontaneous and just appreciation6 of an intelligent people is the best earthly reward for earnest and cheerful services rendered to one’s state and country; and while it is a matter of unfeigned regret that my life has been so barren of usefulness, I shall ever hold this and similar tributes among my most cherished recollections.
“To these, my sincere and grateful acknowledgments, I desire to add that the same motives8 which induced me, several years ago, to retire from public life, and which since that time controlled my judgment9 in this respect, now impel10 me to say that the use of my name in any event, before the democratic national convention at Baltimore, to which you are a delegate, would be utterly11 repugnant to my taste and wishes.”
The sentiments expressed in the above letter were genuine, and from his heart. He had looked long and closely at the effects of high public station on the character and happiness, and on what is the innermost and dearest part of a man’s possessions—his independence; and he had satisfied himself that office, however elevated, should be avoided for one’s own sake, or accepted only as a good citizen would make any other sacrifice, at the call and at the need of his country.
As the time for the assembling of the national convention drew near, there were other sufficient indications of his sincerity12 in declining a stake in the great game. A circular letter was addressed, by Major Scott, of Virginia, to the distinguished Democrats13 whose claims had heretofore been publicly discussed, requesting a statement of their opinions on several points, and inquiring what would be the course of each of these gentlemen, in certain contingencies14, in case of his attaining15 the presidency. These queries16, it may be presumed, were of such a nature that General Pierce might have answered them, had he seen fit to do so, to the satisfaction of Major Scott himself, or to that of the southern democratic party, whom it seemed his purpose to represent. With not more than one exception, the other statesmen and soldiers, to whom the circular had been sent, made a response. General Pierce preserved an unbroken silence. It was equivalent to the withdrawal17 of all claims which he might be supposed to possess, in reference to the contemplated18 office; and he thereby19 repeated, to the delegates of the national party, the same avowal20 of distaste for public life which he had already made known to the Democracy of his native state. He had thus done everything in his power, actively21 or passively,—everything that he could have done, without showing such an estimate of his position before the country as was inconsistent with the modesty22 of his character,—to avoid the perilous24 and burdensome honor of the candidacy.
The convention met, at the date above mentioned, and continued its sessions during four days. Thirty-five ballotings were held, with a continually decreasing prospect26 that the friends of any one of the gentlemen hitherto prominent before the people would succeed in obtaining the two-thirds vote that was requisite27 for a nomination28. Thus far, not a vote had been thrown for General Pierce; but, at the thirty-sixth ballot25, the delegation29 of old Virginia brought forward his name. In the course of several more trials, his strength increased, very gradually at first, but afterwards with a growing impetus30, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, the votes were for Franklin Pierce two hundred and eighty-two, and eleven for all other candidates. Thus Franklin Pierce became the nominee31 of the convention; and as quickly as the lightning flash could blazon32 it abroad his name was on every tongue, from end to end of this vast country. Within an hour he grew to be illustrious.
It would be a pretension33, which we do not mean to put forward, to assert that, whether considering the length and amount of his public services, or his prominence34 before the country, General Pierce stood on equal ground with several of the distinguished men whose claims, to use the customary phrase, had been rejected in favor of his own. But no man, be his public services or sacrifices what they might, ever did or ever could possess, in the slightest degree, what we may term a legitimate35 claim to be elevated to the rulership of a free people. The nation would degrade itself, and violate every principle upon which its institutions are founded, by offering its majestic36 obedience37 to one of its citizens as a reward for whatever splendor38 of achievement. The conqueror39 may assert a claim, such as it is, to the sovereignty of the people whom he subjugates40; but, with us Americans, when a statesman comes to the chief direction of affairs, it is at the summons of the nation, addressed to the servant whom it deems best fitted to spend his wisdom, his strength, and his life in its behalf. On this principle, which is obviously the correct one, a candidate’s previous services are entitled to consideration only as they indicate the qualities which may enable him to render higher services in the position which his countrymen choose that he shall occupy. What he has done is of no importance, except as proving what he can do. And it is on this score, because they see in his public course the irrefragable evidences of patriotism42, integrity, and courage, and because they recognize in him the noble gift of natural authority, and have a prescience of the stately endowment of administrative43 genius, that his fellow-citizens are about to summon Franklin Pierce to the presidency. To those who know him well, the event comes, not like accident, but as a consummation which might have been anticipated, from its innate44 fitness, and as the final step of a career which, all along, has tended thitherward.
It is not as a reward that he will take upon him the mighty45 burden of this office, of which the toil46 and awful responsibility whiten the statesman’s head, and in which, as in more than one instance we have seen, the warrior47 encounters a deadlier risk than in the battle-field. When General Pierce received the news of his nomination, it affected48 him with no thrill of joy, but a sadness, which, for many days, was perceptible in his deportment. It awoke in his heart the sense of religious dependence—a sentiment that has been growing continually stronger, through all the trials and experiences of his life; and there was nothing feigned7 in that passage of his beautiful letter, accepting the nomination, in which he expresses his reliance upon heavenly support.
The committee, appointed by the Baltimore convention, conveyed to him the intelligence of his nomination in the following terms:—
“A national convention of the democratic republican party, which met at Baltimore on the first Tuesday in June, unanimously nominated you as a candidate for the high trust of the President of the United States. We have been delegated to acquaint you with the nomination, and earnestly to request that you will accept it. Persuaded as we are that this office should never be pursued by an unchastened ambition, it cannot be refused by a dutiful patriotism.
“The circumstances under which you will be presented for the canvass of your countrymen seem to be propitious49 to the interests which the Constitution intrusts to our Federal union, and must be auspicious50 to your own name. You come before the people without the impulse of personal wishes, and free from selfish expectations. You are identified with none of the distractions51 which have recently disturbed our country, whilst you are known to be faithful to the Constitution—to all its guaranties and compromises. You will be free to exercise your tried abilities, within the path of duty, in protecting that repose52 we happily enjoy, and in giving efficacy and control to those cardinal53 principles that have already illustrated54 the party which has now selected you as its leader—principles that regard the security and prosperity of the whole country, and the paramount55 power of its laws, as indissolubly associated with the perpetuity of our civil and religious liberties.
“The convention did not pretermit the duty of reiterating56 those principles, and you will find them prominently set forth57 in the resolutions it adopted. To these we respectfully invite your attention.
“It is firmly believed that to your talents and patriotism the security of our holy union, with its expanded and expanding interests, may be wisely trusted, and that, amid all the perils58 which may assail59 the Constitution, you will have the heart to love and the arm to defend it.”
We quote likewise General Pierce’s reply:—
“I have the honor to acknowledge your personal kindness in presenting me, this day, your letter, officially informing me of my nomination, by the democratic national convention, as a candidate for the presidency of the United States. The surprise with which I received the intelligence of my nomination was not unmingled with painful solicitude60; and yet it is proper for me to say that the manner in which it was conferred was peculiarly gratifying.
“The delegation from New Hampshire, with all the glow of state pride, and with all the warmth of personal regard, would not have submitted my name to the convention, nor would they have cast a vote for me, under circumstances other than those which occurred.
“I shall always cherish with pride and gratitude61 the recollection of the fact that the voice which first pronounced, and pronounced alone, came from the Mother of States—a pride and gratitude rising above any consequences that can betide me personally. May I not regard it as a fact pointing to the overthrow62 of sectional jealousies63, and looking to the permanent life and vigor64 of the union, cemented by the blood of those who have passed to their reward?—a union wonderful in its formation, boundless65 in its hopes, amazing in its destiny.
“I accept the nomination, relying upon an abiding66 devotion to the interests, honor, and glory of the whole country, but, above and beyond all, upon a Power superior to all human might—a Power which, from the first gun of the Revolution, in every crisis through which we have passed, in every hour of acknowledged peril23, when the dark clouds had shut down over us, has interposed as if to baffle human wisdom, outmarch human forecast, and bring out of darkness the rainbow of promise. Weak myself, faith and hope repose there in security.
“I accept the nomination upon the platform adopted by the convention, not because this is expected of me as a candidate, but because the principles it embraces command the approbation67 of my judgment; and with them, I believe I can safely say, there has been no word or act of my life in conflict.”
The news of his nomination went abroad over the union, and, far and wide, there came a response, in which was distinguishable a truer appreciation of some of General Pierce’s leading traits than could have been anticipated, considering the unobtrusive tenor68 of his legislative69 life, and the lapse70 of time since he had entirely71 withdrawn72 himself from the nation’s eye. It was the marvellous and mystic influence of character, in regard to which the judgment of the people is so seldom found erroneous, and which conveys the perception of itself through some medium higher and deeper than the intellect. Everywhere the country knows that a man of steadfast73 will, true heart, and generous qualities has been brought forward, to receive the suffrages74 of his fellow-citizens.
He comes before the people of the United States at a remarkable75 era in the history of this country and of the world. The two great parties of the nation appear—at least to an observer somewhat removed from both—to have nearly merged76 into one another; for they preserve the attitude of political antagonism77 rather through the effect of their old organizations than because any great and radical78 principles are at present in dispute between them. The measures advocated by the one party, and resisted by the other, through a long series of years, have now ceased to be the pivots79 on which the election turns. The prominent statesmen, so long identified with those measures, will henceforth relinquish80 their controlling influence over public affairs. Both parties, it may likewise be said, are united in one common purpose,—that of preserving our sacred union, as the immovable basis from which the destinies, not of America alone, but of mankind at large, may be carried upward and consummated81. And thus men stand together, in unwonted quiet and harmony, awaiting the new movement in advance which all these tokens indicate.
It remains82 for the citizens of this great country to decide, within the next few weeks, whether they will retard83 the steps of human progress by placing at its head an illustrious soldier, indeed, a patriot41, and one indelibly stamped into the history of the past, but who has already done his work, and has not in him the spirit of the present or of the coming time; or whether they will put their trust in a new man, whom a life of energy and various activity has tested, but not worn out, and advance with him into the auspicious epoch84 upon which we are about to enter.
NOTE.
We have done far less than justice to Franklin Pierce’s college standing85, in our statement in Chapter I. Some circumstances connected with this matter are too characteristic not to be reported.
During the first two years, Pierce was extremely inattentive to his college duties, bestowing86 only such modicum87 of time upon them as was requisite to supply the merest superficial acquaintance with the course of study for the recitation room. The consequence was that when the relative standing of the members of the class was first authoritatively88 ascertained89, in the junior year, he found himself occupying precisely90 the lowest position in point of scholarship. In the first mortification91 of wounded pride, he resolved never to attend another recitation, and accordingly absented himself from college exercises of all kinds for several days, expecting and desiring that some form of punishment, such as suspension or expulsion, would be the result. The faculty92 of the college, however, with a wise lenity, took no notice of this behavior; and at last, having had time to grow cool, and moved by the grief of his friend Little and another classmate, Pierce determined93 to resume the routine of college duties. “But,” said he to his friends, “if I do so, you shall see a change!”
Accordingly, from that time forward, he devoted94 himself to study. His mind, having run wild for so long a period, could be reclaimed95 only by the severest efforts of an iron resolution; and for three months afterwards, he rose at four in the morning, toiled96 all day over his books, and retired97 only at midnight, allowing himself but four hours for sleep. With habit and exercise, he acquired command over his intellectual powers, and was no longer under the necessity of application so intense. But from the moment when he made his resolve until the close of his college life, he never incurred98 a censure99, never was absent (and then unavoidably) but from two college exercises, never went into the recitation room without a thorough acquaintance with the subject to be recited, and finally graduated as the third scholar of his class. Nothing save the low standard of his previous scholarship prevented his taking a yet higher rank.
The moral of this little story lies in the stern and continued exercise of self-controlling will, which redeemed100 him from indolence, completely changed the aspect of his character, and made this the turning point of his life.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
presidency
|
|
| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eminently
|
|
| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
canvass
|
|
| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
appreciation
|
|
| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
feigned
|
|
| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
impel
|
|
| v.推动；激励，迫使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
sincerity
|
|
| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
democrats
|
|
| n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
contingencies
|
|
| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
attaining
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
queries
|
|
| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
withdrawal
|
|
| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
avowal
|
|
| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
actively
|
|
| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
ballot
|
|
| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
requisite
|
|
| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
nomination
|
|
| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
delegation
|
|
| n.代表团；派遣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
impetus
|
|
| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
nominee
|
|
| n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
blazon
|
|
| n.纹章，装饰；精确描绘；v.广布；宣布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
pretension
|
|
| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
prominence
|
|
| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
conqueror
|
|
| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
subjugates
|
|
| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
patriot
|
|
| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
patriotism
|
|
| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
administrative
|
|
| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
innate
|
|
| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
propitious
|
|
| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
auspicious
|
|
| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
distractions
|
|
| n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
cardinal
|
|
| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
illustrated
|
|
| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
paramount
|
|
| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
reiterating
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
perils
|
|
| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
assail
|
|
| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
overthrow
|
|
| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
jealousies
|
|
| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
boundless
|
|
| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
abiding
|
|
| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
tenor
|
|
| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
legislative
|
|
| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
lapse
|
|
| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
steadfast
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
suffrages
|
|
| （政治性选举的）选举权，投票权( suffrage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
75
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
merged
|
|
| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
antagonism
|
|
| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
radical
|
|
| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
pivots
|
|
| n.枢( pivot的名词复数 )；最重要的人（或事物）；中心；核心v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的第三人称单数 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
relinquish
|
|
| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
consummated
|
|
| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
retard
|
|
| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
epoch
|
|
| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
bestowing
|
|
| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
modicum
|
|
| n.少量，一小份 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
authoritatively
|
|
| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
ascertained
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
mortification
|
|
| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
faculty
|
|
| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
reclaimed
|
|
| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
toiled
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
incurred
|
|
| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
censure
|
|
| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
redeemed
|
|
| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |