The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-01-15 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

On the closing of the Seesion of the National Council
on December 24, M. Dapples. the President, made •
a locech, of which the following are the principal
pausges
Two years ago Switzerland was in the enjoyment of
profound peace. On good tetras with her neighbours,
posseraed of the friendship of the most powerful of them.
she was looking to the future with confidenc, when an
event occurred which moved her to her inmost depths.
The Government on which we placed most reliance
followed on our south-eastern frontier • line of policy
which disregarded our moat undoubted rights; and
when France seized on territories comprised in our !
neutrality, and necessary to our extornal safety, we
were justified in considering it • diplomatic conquest as
dangerous as a *inquest by force of arms, since it leaves
the geld open to certain consequences which it facilitates
nod seems to prepare for. For a year we have struggled
for the maintenance of our right.. with alternatiohs of
hope and despair which you will retueuiter ; Ant our
efforts have only resulted in showing more clearly the
gravity of our present position. If we only looked at
the facts as they stand there would seem to be nothing
but deeeption and discouragement. But is it in reality
so ! Ido not hesitate to answer no. If the annexation
of Savoy has done us a great evil—if, after weakening
our frontiers, it tow surprised •nd troubled us, it has
not been without doing us • great service, for it has
clearly shown us the troth—truth with respect to
France. We know now that the friendship of the
powerful is of itself only a feeble guarantee ; truth
with respect ti Europe, throughout which we
have Peen our cause gain the sympathies of
of I:Get:m..Bla. and peoplea—sympathies which have
remained ts,rren as yet by the force of circumstances.
but which hone the lead imply • recogMtion of our
rights; truth with respect to ourselves-we now know
the dangers which may threaten us, and we know that,
without diwlaining tile friendship of any one. we C3ll
only rely on God and ourselves. We know henceforth
what are the rights which our neutrality gives us and
the duties which it imposes on ;we know that on it
depend our union, our independence, our liberties ; ond
we are ready to make for :bat neutrality all the sacri-
fices it inay rempire of us. Our task ma great, and the
responsibility which rests on on would he very heavy if
we had not at our backs a whole people that has never
made a commercial transaction of a lustier of national
honour and dignity, maul who know how to inspire us
vr,tla great resolution* if our own patriotism is inade-
quate to supply us with them. I will not then say
courage"—courage has never heen wanting in Switzer-
land ; hut I will say "cotitideime and perseverance."
If any differeoce of 01i 'on or interest have divided us
for a time, let them be forgotten. Let us silence our
quarrels; let Ul macrifice. if necessary, our personal
views; let as give the people an example of that union
which At strength ; let as join hands in a spirit of true
bnitlierhood and iiacrecl independence ; let every one of -
our districta—the most distant as well ae the most
menaced, whether Geneva. Itule, or Chiasi—feel itself
under the protecting shield of the Confederation.