The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-12 00:00:00

THE PEACE CONGRESS AT GENEVA.

The following is the opening address of M. J.
Berni, who presides over the deliberations of the congress:
We are assembled on the free soil of Switzerland to
discuss one of the most important practical questions
which can be studied by man—the elimination for ever
from civil society of that state of war, armed peace, the last
vestige of barbarous ages. We have to investigate the
means of arriving in the most direct way at the pacific ideal
which has become the object of man's aspirations.
Men's ideas have made great progress mince the time when
the Abbe de l'Rpie tint promulgated the words—universal
peace. If the idea of an amphictyonio confederation of the
peoples of Europe does not yet appear to be on
the eve of realisation, it is no longer regarded as
a purely chimerical conception. It is at the same
time true that an inverse and retrograde movement is
apparent in certain portions of Europe. Cseaarism, central-
isation, the theory of vast agglomerations, the system of
permanent armies, are its essential features. In this con-
dition of things peace is impossible, for despotism needs an
army, and an army needs war. Peace is as inseparable
from liberty as war is from despotism. The first thing,
therefore, to be done in order to attain the one is to do
away with the other once and for ever by realising every-
where republican institutions. Without the republic,
without the confederation of democracies, there is no
chance of reaching the end which the members of the con-
gress have at heart. For those who doubt of the realisa-
tion of this programme, it is enough to recal to memory
the progress effected between the middle ages and the re-
formation, and between the reformation and the French
revolution. The ideal is now before us, and nowhere will
its light shine more brilliantly than in this free country
in this " Rome of the mind" as Geneva was yesterday
called by the modest hero, the living incarnation of the
democracy, General Garibaldi. (Great and prolonged ap-
plause.) We do not forget what we owe to the neutrality
of Switzerland, but at the same time we must not lose
sight of the fact that without action words are but feeble
arms. We should therefore propagate by every means
in our power the ideas which we maintain.
M. Acoollas, of Paris, then addressed the congress. He
insisted at greater length than the president on the prin-
ciple of the combination of the democracies and the ne-
cessity of marching together to the conquest of justice and
liberty. The destruction of the papacy, which was to
crown the work of Garibaldi, should be amongst the first
of these conquests.
Two ►ddresses from the working men of Geneva and the
International Working Men's Congress of Lausanne were
read—the one by M. Perron and the other by)L Guillaume.
The latter insisted on a more equitable distribution of the
products of labour as the moat solid guarantee of peace.
The programme of questions submitted for discussion by
the committee gave rise to a somewhat stormy scene.

M. Schmidlin, of Bale, said—We thank the gentlemen
who h►ve taken the initiative of this assembly. We desire
peace, and we are labouring in its cause, but by pacific and
legal means. We make this reservation in the first instance
in the interest of Switzerland. Our confederation Is small
and weak, and we cannot export that our rights will be
respected if we do not respect the rights of other states.
We cannot, therefore, support anything that shows a
hostile tendency againstothergovernmenta. (Applause.) We
make this reservation, in the nomad place, in the interests

of peace itself. International ethics are based on the same
principle as private morals. Every aggression necessarily
brings about reprisal. It is not for us to change the ins►i-
tutions of other nations. It is the right and duty of the
people of those nations to redress what they deem wrong
and an obstacle to their freedom. People have always
more or lass the government which they deserve.
(This speech raised oonaidersble tumult, and it was put
to the vote whether M. Sahruidlin should not be called to
order. It was decided that he should be allowed to pro-
ceed.)
Schmidlin proceeded to observe that cru-
sades on behalf of liberty were often campaigns
of conquest, massacre, and oppression. The invasion
of Switzerland by the French republic in 1798, the
recant invasion of Denmark by the troops of the
German Confederation, proved that neither the republican
nor the federal form of government was sufficient to banish
war from the world. He pointed to the example of Eng-
land, where the doctrine of non-intervention had become
popular owing to the pacific teaching of Cobden.
M. Schmidlin was followed by M, J. Fary, who remarked
that legal means were not always the best, and that
Switzerland did not enjoy perfect tranquillity till after
her revolutions. He did not participate in the views of the
obligations which the last speaker said were imposed on
Switzerlandby her neutrality. He thought, however, th►t
it would be for the advantage of the Congress if it re.
striated the programme, and did not discuss general
principles upon which they were all agreed.
M. Albert Ferme, of Paris, rushed to the tribune
and demanded the removal of the Imperial flag,
that emblem of despotism, which defaced by its pre-
sence the Hall of Liberty. This proposal caused
renewed excitement. M. Clamsgeran remarked that the
imperial flag was still the flag of France, and on this
ground ought to be respected. Having at last decided on
the question to be discussed,
General Garibaldi rose in the midst of vociferous cheer-
ing and said :—I should not have risen to spe►k, citizens,
if I did not feel somewhat constrained to reply to
some of the speeches which have been delivered
here. The speakers will pardon me if I dissent
from some of their opinions. I may boast of
loving Switzerland as a Swiss. The principles which bear
sway in Switzerland are those which are dear to me, and
which I have always upheld. I feel here as if I were in
my own country. Far from me the idea of compromising
the neutrality of Switzerland. Still I cannot approve of
that somewhat grovelling and somewhat selfish prudence
which will risk nothing in order to comfort the woes of
others. We do not wish to overthrow monarchies in
order to found republics, but we wish to destroy despo-
tism in order to raise upon its ruins liberty and justice.
Despotism is a lie, and a lie must always be odious even
to those who have not directly experienced its effects
on their lives or their interests. The only remedy which
I know of against despotism is the universal brotherhood
I of free people. The General submitted to the Congress
i a programme in which he advocated the creation of
a general and permanent assembly in which all
nations should be represented to judge and decide upon
all national controversies ; the abolition of the papacy as
the moat pernicious of seats ; the founding of religion
of God—that was to ray, the religion of truth and

reason on earth and a priesthood of genius and intellect
instead of a priesthood of ignorance and revelatiou.
Moral propagandism and the spread of education, and war
in the only case in which war is lawful—tits defence of
the weak and the oppressed against tyrants—were the
WADS by which these objects were to be accomplished.
The thanks of the maembly were voted to the General,
and on the motion of M. Barad, the honorary presidency
of the day was conferred upon him. Es visited the Yob*
General Boma on Tuesday, and after a farewell &Urea
on the lame evening, he left on Um following morning for
Italy.