羨慕中國豬

我很少讀華爾街日報 (Wall Steet Journal) 會邊讀邊笑的。這一次，套句以前國民黨最愛用的說法，要感謝中國政府的德政 :

鐵血柔情

在 Team of Rivals 這本書中，有很多小故事。最讓我感動的，則是在林肯手下處理南北戰爭事務的戰爭部長 ( Secretary of War ) Stanton 的一段 :

(背景 : 美國在南北戰爭中死亡的人數超過其他所有戰爭死亡人數的總合，而當時美國的人口和現在的臺灣差不多。）

戰爭部的一位職員回憶，有一天夜晚，Stanton 在他的辦公室內， 一個被判處槍決的逃兵的母親、妻子、小孩跪在 Stanton 面前，為他們所愛的人求情。

Stanton 冷酷、安靜地站著聽完令人心碎的哭求。然後， 簡短地說這個人必須處死。

在這個希望破滅、哀傷絕望的小家庭離去之後，Stanton 轉身走向他私人房間，顯然完全不為所動。

這個職員本來認為 Stanton 是冷酷無情的暴君。但是，接下來他發現 Stanton 俯向桌子，雙手掩面，他沈重的身軀因為啜泣而顫抖。

「請神幫我完成我的職務 ; 請神幫我完成我的職務 ; 」他痛苦地重覆低聲飲泣。

A clerk recalled finding Stanton one night in his office, “the mother, wife and children of a soldier who had been condemned to be shot as a deserter, on their knees before him pleading for the life of their loved one. He listened standing, in cold and austere silence, and at the end of their heart-breaking sobs and prayers answered briefly that the man must die. The crushed and despairing little family left and Mr. Stanton turned, apparently unmoved, and walked into his private room.” The clerk thought Stanton an unfeeling tyrant, until he discovered him moments later, “leaning over a desk, his face buried in his hands and his heavy frame shaking with sobs. ‘God help me to do my duty; God help me to do my duty!’ he was repeating in a low wail of anguish.”