The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-17
Bernie, swIrzEnLANp, Nov. 10, a

r. ,
4 majority THE Protestant Cantons Of this repnb-
lic-among which Berne and Geneva are the most
prominent-are resolved not only that Catholicism
shall have no footing in their territory, but that al
shall be expelled from the territories Of such sister
Cantons as still hold to its doctrines.
Ehey assume, and with truth, that the majority of
Swiss Cantons Of the Protestant faith They far
Their assume with less accuracy that the presence Of
the order Of jesuis in the Cathol& Cantons is nur
to the character and principles Of the inhabitants
and subvesiyc of the political interests of the
entire country. TheyIstillI farther assume, without
the shadow of utter truth or justice the right to say
to the Catholic States, "Your children, if educated
by esuts, will make bad citizens; and as the major
ity Of the Swiss people disapprove Of their being
educated we outvote you in the Diet and insist that
yon shall iorego your choice of teachers for your
children, and Danish the Jesuits from your country.
! The Catholic cantons, finding themselves in u mi
norty In the Federal Congress, formed among them
selves for their protection against the oppressive
edicts of the majority the League now well known
sanctioned by the form Of Law, they resoried to a
means OF defence warranablc in the abstract but d.
rcctly in opposition to the laws of the republic. They
meet tyranny by an illegality-and thus the matter
now stands We may wish that the right which the
Sonderdund is formed to Defend were identified with
the abstract principle Of religious freedom which they
maintain, and against which strange to say the free
Protestant, and hitherto tolerant people of SwZer-
land, eagled. The free party the radicals" are
debating religious creed to the Catholcs-these
Catholics being the present asserters Of religious lib
cry, and the immediate descendants OF William Tell
and his compatriots. M
The past history Of the present quarrel is doubt
less known to your readers. 1t is not very many
months since protestant army under the now Pres
ident of the Diet Mr.. Oschenbein, was ignonnious
y repulsed in attack upon Lucerne. After this the
Dict dissolved the various free corps forming their
my and called upon the Sunderland to do the same
but this the lcagued cantons declined do unless
insured against renewed attack upon their freedom
OF religion.
/ should lack candor did l not admit that very
different statement of the grounds of quarrel is made
by the parisans of the Diet and the friends Of the
Radical majority. And to certain extent true,
that other elements blend in the dispute. 1t is
only Professionalism against Catholicism, but country
against town, and people against arstocracy, tha
conplicae and embitter the quarrel. Switzerland,
although long republican, and for time Federal
in her form Of Government has never yet become
thoroughly Democratic and an indirect stimulus to
the present disagreement is furnished by the fer
nientaton Of ultra democratic leaven among the
Radical cantons
Another embarrassment arises from the iuct that
among the Radical cantons many of the Inhabitants
are not colored by the prevailing dye and among the
Protestant and Catholic cantons respectively are
many persons Of the opposite creed