The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-30 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

A kind of revolution has taken place at Geneva, if so
alarming a name can be given to a change which de-
stroys the exclusive influence of a score of rich and old
families, and opens the councils to the mass of respect-
able citizens. This is reform, not revolution. All the
Swiss cantons have undergone this reform during the last
ten years. Tessin began even before the Revolu-
tion of July ; and many have led to convulsions. The
Bernese farmers have been obliged to exile their aristo-
cracy. An attempt at reform in Basle, led to a separa-
tion of town and country into two cantons. In Schwitz
and Valais it produced bloodshed, as well as in Basle.
And the present unsettled state of things in Argau and
Lucerne, has been produced by the same changes. Lu-
cerne, after having made a Radical reform, made a
counter reform, and placed power in the hands of its
priesthood. Geneva could not escape.
Such are the remote causes of the revolution which
opens the borough of Geneva. The immediate cause,
however, is curious. It arose in the disputes respecting
the suppressed convents of Argau. In the votes of the
Diet one was surprised to find the deputies of Protestant
States embrace the cause of convents and hyper-Catho-
licism. They did so from a religious-aristocratic feeling,
akin to Puseyism ; the result of which was, to disgust
the religious-democratic and liberal party. The deputy
of Vaud was called to order, and received counter-
instructions. In Valais troubles are pending in con-
sequence. The deputy of Protestant Neufchatel cannot
be punished or displaced, the Prussian Government sup-
porting his conduct. But in Geneva the Government
itself has fallen in consequence of the conduct of its
Deputy. The zealous Calvinists of Geneva united in an
association on the 3d of March last, in consequence of
the vote of the Deputy Rigaud; and it is this Association,
by labouring, and preaching, and clamouring for poli-
tical reform, in order to the preservation of Protestant
doctrine, which has produced the revolution of the other
day. This revolution consists in the promise of the ex-
isting Council to call a General Council, especially elected
and charged with the task of reforming the Constitution.
(From the Journal de Geneve.)
It is to be feared that public discontent will break out
if the Council of State does not add to its programme
the reforms demanded. This is what we said in our
number of the 20th. Before that, on the 18th, we said
that " The authorities intended to have the Tewn-hall
guarded during the deliberations of the Representative
Government by a few companies of the National Militia.
This mark of diffidence on the part of Government
might produce unfortunate events." The events have
.verified our predictions. As soon as the projects of law
to be discussed were known, there was great agitation.
The necessity of a constituent assembly has become quite
popular, and the resolution of enforcing the recourse to
this mode of revision has been taken generally. On the
21st (Sunday), on account of the silence observed by
Government, the agitation increased. . Nevertheless, no
groupd formed in th streets, and no kind of disturbance
took place. The morning of the 22d was patiently
waited for, when of a sudden it was learned that Govern-
ment, frightened by rumours, no doubt exaggerated, had
called out the militia, and caused the Hotel de Ville to be
guarded by armed troops. At this news, immediately con-
firmed by the sight of some militia, a shout of indigna-
tion rose from all sides, and the detachment had scarcely
formed before the Town-hall than the people gathered
round them, and began to hoot and shout at them, even
through the night, in order to show their disapprobation
of this great,
that ' Finally, the was so' reat
that the doors
of the Town-hall
exasperation
wereoblig ed to be shut,
and even barricadoed. Nevertheless, Government had in
public dise6onten
peoroocv proclamation.—
" Citizens eveninr, comprehended the necessity of calming the
ing the followingt by
making some promises, and publish-
" Citizens of lamatio •
agitation has manifesteda,—Since the last few weeks a po-
litical Council of State had to seek the
itself among you ; the
oifet camusoedoififotahtiiso;ni believeditothe
that cause to be in the desiret
eadncl,o examine the
in-
stitutions which govern us ;
changes which were to take place first, prepared pro-
jects of reform upon which the Representative
is about to be called to deliberate. The most"iemCpoorutnacnitl
of these changes, the law of the organisation of the elec-
toral system, will be submitted to it in a very short time.
Taught by the twenty-seven years past, the Council of.
State counted upon the calmness and moderation of the
Genevese, which, in difficult times, has distinguished
them ; and now that sinister rumours are spread that
there are projects for hindering the deliberations of the
Council, it appeals to every citizen that he may use every
means to prevent disorders, which would tarnish the
honour which the nation has, until now, kept spotless.
In the name of the Council of State,
" DEROCHE, Secretary of State.

" Geneva, Nov. 21, 1841."
In reply to this proclamation of the Council of State,:
the Association of the 3d of March published another,
begging its adherents to remain calm and confident in'the
purity of their motives, notwithstanding the summons of
the armed force by the Council. They would remain
united, and continue to call for the rights of the Genevese
people.
At last Monday arrived. Some companies of rural
militia arrived, not very numerous. Those of the town
did not attend. Such force as did collect mustered be.
fore the Hotel de Ville, and endeavoured to keep back
the people, till, pressed on all hands without power of
resisting, they resohed to disband, to their own relief