The government is torn between principle and expediency.是什么意思？

The government is torn between principle and expediency.

政府在原则与权宜之间难于抉择。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

government

n. 政府，政体，治理的形式，管辖，治理；

例句
The government is to accelerate its privatisation programme.
政府将加快其私有化计划的进程。

is

vt.& vi. 是（be的三单形式；n. 存在；

例句
Bollinger 'RD' is a rare, highly prized wine.
博林格RD香槟是一种名贵的备受推崇的葡萄酒。

torn

v. 撕( tear的过去分词)，扯裂，破损；

例句
He was holding up a pound note that had been torn in half and stuck together with gum.
他举着一张被撕成两半后又用胶粘在一起的一英镑的钞票。

between

prep. 在…之间，私下，暗中，在…中任择其一，来往于…之间；adv. 当中，中间；

例句
How big is the abyss between what you think you are and what you actually are?
你对自己的认识和真实的你之间差别到底有多大？

principle

n. 原则，原理，准则，道义，道德标准，本能；

例句
Haig went on to elucidate his personal principle of war...
海格继续解释他个人的战争原则。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

expediency

n. 适宜，方便，合算，利己；