評論
打印
Already they have attained a force in the more civilized portions of the globe sufficient to be felt by all governments, even the most absolute and despotic.
新聞媒體在最初的推波助瀾中發揮巨大影響。這些社會進步在世界上更文明的地區已經形成一種力量，足以被所有政府所認識，哪怕是最專制獨裁的政府也蓋莫例外。
But, as great as they now are, they have, as yet, attained nothing like their maximum force.
但是，盡管現在社會實現巨大飛躍，然而尚未發揮最大程度的影響力。
It is probable that not one of the causes which have contributed to their formation and influence, has yet produced its full effect;
也許沒有哪一種有助于它們形成和發揮影響的社會進步，能產生完美的結果。
while several of the most powerful have just begun to operate; and many others, probably of equal or even greater force, yet remain to be brought to light.
其中幾種最有影響力的社會進步剛剛開始應用，許多其他的社會進步，也許具有同樣甚至更大的影響力，尚不為世人所知。
When the causes now in operation have produced their full effect, and inventions and discoveries shall have been exhausted—if that may ever be—
當正在應用的社會進步開始產生完美的結果，而發現和發明將被耗盡時——如果在某個階段出現這種情形——
they will give a force to public opinion, and cause changes, political and social, difficult to be anticipated.
將會賦予公眾輿論一種力量，導致社會和政治變革，這些都是難以預料的。
What will be their final bearing, time only can decide with any certainty.
它們終極是什么，只有時間能給出確切的答案。
That they will, however, greatly improve the condition of man ultimately, it would be impious to doubt;
然而，這些社會進步終將極大改善人類的生存條件，對此加以懷疑是沒有信仰的表現。
it would be to suppose that the all-wise and beneficent Being, the Creator of all, had so constituted man as that the employment of the high intellectual faculties with which He has been pleased to endow him,
可以設想的所有睿智和仁慈的生命，萬物之主，欣然賦予人們充分運用高級智力的能力，
in order that he might develop the laws that control the great agents of the material world,
以便人們開發出能操控物資世界強大代理人的法則。
and make them subservient to his use, would prove to him the cause of permanent evil, and not of permanent good.
使得人們聽命于他，向他證明永恒的惡業，而不是永恒的善業。
