美国学生历史 第71期:政府的组建(4)

 　　198. Ceremonies and Progresses. 198．接见仪式与过程

　　Washington liked a good deal of ceremony and was stiff and aristocratic. 华盛顿喜欢丰富多彩的庆典，他表情严厉而高贵，

　　He soon gave receptions or "levees"as they were called. 当人们被叫到见华盛顿时，华盛顿迅速给予接待，

　　To these only persons who had tickets were admitted.  但只有那些有接待券的人才被允许见他。

　　Washington stood on one side of the room and bowed stiffly to each guest as he was announced. 华盛顿站在房间的一边向每一个被叫到的人僵硬地鞠躬。

　　When all were assembled, the entrance doors were closed. 当所有的人都被召集过来以后，房间的门被关上，

　　The President then slowly walked around the room, saying something pleasant to each person. 总统随后慢慢地在房间里四处走动，向大家讲些令人高兴的事。

　　In 1789 he made a journey through New England. Everywhere he was received by guards of honor, and was splendidly entertained. 1789年华盛顿到新英格兰做了一次旅行，每到一处都有卫队迎接，并有盛大的款待。

　　At one place an old man greeted him with "God bless Your Majesty¹." 在一个地方一个老头用"上帝保佑陛下"来欢迎他，

　　This was all natural enough, for Washington was "first in the hearts of his countrymen." 这是最自然的表达，因为华盛顿"在他的同胞心中是第一位的"。

　　But many good men were afraid that the new government would really turn out to be a monarchy². 但是，许多有识之士担心新政府要变成一个君主国家。

　　199. First Tariff³ Act, 1789. 199．第一个关税法案（1789年）

　　The first important business that Congress took in hand was a bill for raising revenue, and a lively debate began. 国会着手处理的第一个重要的事务是一项提高关税的法案，并且展开了一场活跃的辩论。

　　Representatives from New England and the Middle states wanted protection for their commerce and their struggling manufactures. 来自新英格兰和中部各州的代表需要保护他们的贸易和奋进中的制造业，

　　Representatives from the Southern states opposed all protective duties as harmful to agriculture, which was the only important pursuit of the Southerners. 来自南部各州的代表反对所有保护性的关税，认为它们对农业有害，农业是南部各州人民的重要经济来源。

　　But the Southerners would have been glad to have a duty placed on hemp⁴. 但是，南部各州的代表愿意对大麻征税，

　　This the New Englanders opposed because it would increase the cost of rigging ships. 这一点是新英格兰所反对的，因为这样会提高装备轮船的费用。

　　The Pennsylvanians were eager for a duty on iron and steel. 宾夕法尼亚州急需对钢铁征收关税，

　　But the New Englanders opposed this duty because it would add to the cost of building a ship, 但新英格兰反对这样做，因为这样会增加造船的费用，

　　and the Southerners opposed it because it would increase the cost of agricultural tools. 南部各州的人也反对征收钢铁关税，因为这样会提高农业生产工具的价格。

　　And so it was as to nearly every duty that was proposed. 因此，几乎每一项关税都有其被反对的理由。

　　But duties must be laid, and the only thing that could be done was to compromise in every direction. 但是，必须要征收关税，而唯一能做的是在各个方面折中。

　　Each section got something that it wanted, gave up a great deal that it wanted, and agreed to something that it did not want at all. 每一个地区都放弃大量它所想要的东西才得到它最想要的东西，并且，这个地区还要接受它所根本不想要的东西，

　　And so it has been with every tariff act from that day to this. 从此以后每一件关税法案都要做如此的考虑。

1 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

2 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

3 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

4 hemp   

n.大麻；纤维

参考例句：

• The early Chinese built suspension bridges of hemp rope.古代的中国人建造过麻绳悬索桥。
• The blanket was woven from hemp and embroidered with wool.毯子是由亚麻编织，羊毛镶边的。