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May we not cherish this sentiment without presumption when we refect on the characters by which this war is distinguished?
难道只有在怀疑使得这场战争非同寻常的因素时，我们才能骄傲地将这份情感珍藏吗？
It was not declared on the part of the United States until it had been long made on them,in reality though not in name;
美国一直没有宣战，直到出现了以下情况——直到这场加于美国的战争在实际上，尽管不是在名义上已进行了很久；
until arguments and postulations had been exhausted;
直到再也没有争辩和规劝的余地；
until a positive declaration had been received that the wrongs provoking it would not be discontinued;
直到美国被明确地告知，无理挑衅不会中止；
nor until this last appeal could no longer be delayed without breaking down the spirit of the nation,
直到这最后的呼吁不可再施延，不然国家的精神就要崩溃，
destroying all confidence in itself and in its political institutions,
国家和政府机构的信心就要丧失，
and either perpetuating a state of disgraceful suffering or regaining by more costly sacrifices,and more severe struggles our lost rank and respect among independent powers.
那样，就得永远忍受屈辱，或者付出更高昂的代价和经过更严酷的斗争，才能恢复我国作为独立国家的地位和尊严。
On the issue of the war are staked our national sovereignty on the high seas and the security of an important class of citizens,
战争问题关系到我国在公海上的主权，关系到一个重要的公民阶层的安全，
whose occupations give the proper value to those of every other class,
而这个阶层所从事的职业，对于其他公民阶层具有重要的价值。
Not to contend for such a stake is to surrender our equality with other powers on the element common to all,
如果不为此而斗争，就是放弃我国在公海上与其他国家的同等地位，
and to violate the sacred title which every member of the society has to its protection,
就是侵犯每一个社会成员所拥有的、保护自己的神圣权利。
I need not call into view the unlawfulness of the practice by which our mariners are forced at the will of every cruising officer from their own vessels into foreign ones,
我不必强调指出，巡航官对我国水手为所欲为，迫使他们离开自己的船只而登上异国船只的不法行径，
nor paint the outrages inseparable from it.
也不必渲染其中免不了的暴行。
The proofs are in the records of each successive Administration of our Government,
我国历届政府的记录中都存有证据，
and the cruel sufferings of that portion of the American people have found their way to every bosom not dead to the sympathies of human nature.
凡是同情心尚未泯灭的人们，都会在心中记住这部分美国人所蒙受的苦难。
As the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects,
由于这场战争从根本上说是正义的，从目标上说是必要的和高尚的，
we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in carrying it on no principle of justice or honor,
所以，我们可以自豪而满意地表明，把这场战争继续下去，
no usage of civilized nations,no precept of courtesy or humanity,have been infringed.
并没有侵犯公正或道义原则，并没有违背文明国家的惯例，也没有触犯礼仪或人道法则。
The war has been waged on our part with scrupulous regard to all these obligations,and in a spirit of liberality which was never surpassed.
我们是以严格尊重所有上述义务的态度，和空前高昂的自由精神来进行这场战争的。
