On Woman's Right to Vote

好文共賞
V24 Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version
2012-08-23
On Woman's Right to Vote 女性應有選舉和參政權
美國女權運動家Susan B. Anthony在1873年號召國民支持女性有權參加選舉投票演說節錄

　 　I stand before you tonight under indictment ① for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's rights ② , beyond the power of any State to deny.

　　The preamble ③ of the Federal Constitution says: "We, the people of the United States establish justice ④ , insure domestic tranquility ⑤ , provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."

　　It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And it is a downright mockery ⑥ to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means ⑦ of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government─the ballot.

　　For any State to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement of one entire half of the people is to pass a bill of attainder ⑧ , and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. It is an oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon rules the African, might be endured.

　　Webster, Worcester and Bouvier all define a citizen to be a person in the United States, entitled to vote and hold office. The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe ⑨ any of our opponents will have the hardihood ⑩ to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens; and no State has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities.

馮強短評

好辭彙共賞:

① indictment =對Susan Anthony起訴。Indict Jo Jo for theft = 控告Jo Jo犯盜竊罪

② exercised my citizen's rights = 行使公民權

③ preamble =序。Without preamble = 開門見山地，直截了當地

④ establish justice = 制定公義

⑤ insure domestic tranquility = 保障國內穩定

⑥ a downright mockery =露骨的笑柄。Downright =徹底，完全，乾脆。Victor is downright angry = Victor憤怒已極。A downright no = 明確的否定

⑦ the only means = 唯一的方法，手段，工具。Means of production = 生產資料。A means to an end = 達到目的的手段。Victor is by no means a pleasant man to deal with = Victor絕不是一個好打交道的爽快人

⑧ a bill of attainder = 褫奪公民權的法律

⑨ I hardly believe=不能相信。Hardly =幾乎不，簡直不。It's hardly true =這不像是真的。I gain hardly anything = 我幾乎沒得到甚麼

⑩ hardihood = 狂妄，傲慢

短評共賞:

香港很民主。男女都可以投票選舉議員。但我們還沒有權去選出香港的特首。不過，這一天快到了。

馮強

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