The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-24

TMH MpRl1ND1NcR OF THE Swiss RESu1Lro-A
PoIIrIoAL LEssoN.-A correct judgment of the
real political position of any country or people.
is much better formed from few simple facts,
than it can be gathered out of many elaborate
comments We are about to state fact relating
to Switzerland, which will, we believe enable
our readers to form a more correct estimate OF
the state OF that republic than volume of COM
ments or speculations. Switzerland Is an inte
resting country, and claims the peculiar sympa-
thy of the people of the United States, from the
circumstances that it is country possessing in
stitutions, and form of government, identical
with those under which we ourselves now fou-
rish. The fact to which we call the attention o {
our readers Is the following
The civil war among the Cantons, or States, be
ing happily terminated, the Swiss Congress assem-
bled to deliberate upon the affairs and state of the
republic. Being thus assembled, Sir Stratford Can
ming, the British Minister, addressed, on the 10th
Of January last, memorandum to this Diet or
Congress, of the Swiss cantons. In this memo.
randum he reads them some lessons, and gives
them some advice. He gives them warning to
avoid triumphing over subjugated party. He
recommends them to decree and publish an am
nesty for the past, SC. In a word, he reasons,
argues, talks, dictates, and advises, like a father
to his child, or like governor to his pupil. We
find no fault with this. We do not dispute the wis
dom OF his remarks we even concur in the justice
OF his recommendations. But we say-what a
picture of humiliation Suppose, for one moment,
the English or French minister, or the Russian,
or any foreign ambassador, were to send mes
sage to eur Congress, advising them what to do,
nd thap ubo Of tbaw
to pursue We repeat it-this simple fact ex-
hibits more clearly the real situation of Switzer-
land, and its humiltatlng dependence upon
foreign powers, than volume of comments or
speeulations could do. England does not stand
alone in this diotatorial position with reference
to Switzerland. The other great powers of Eu-
rope assume, also, the same right to interfere with
her domestic affairs, and to counsel and advise.
But can such country be called free Can
nation SO situated be called independent
Let us now ask what useful lesson of political
wisdom may we draw from these things? We
put this question deliberately, because we read
history to very little proft-we make ourselves
acquainted with passing events to very little pur
pose-if we do not learn some lesson OF expe-
rience which may render us wiser, and enable
us to avoid tho same shoals and quicksands on
which 30 many, both among nations and indivi-
duas, have before made fearful shipwreck. The
world is much deceived by names. A people
may possess the name and forms of liberty with
out possessing the substance a nation may be
called republican without enjoying the liberty
of q republic. Witness Mexico. For twenty
five years past, that unhappy country, under the
name Of republic, has been grooming under the
most absolute despetism. Witness ancient
Rome. While absolute power Of life and
death resided in the emperors, who dispos-
ed of all offices at their pleasure, she still,
for ages, kept up the name and form of a re-
public-her consuls were elected every year as
usual her Senate met as formerly, and nothing,
in fact, was changed in name; while in stern
reality, she presented to the world picture OF
absolute power on the one hand, and unmitiga-
ted extinction of all her liberties on the
other hand. The same thing might happen with
US. We might retain all our forms of national
organization; but if the power and patronage of
one man should ever preponderate, we should
have the name only of republic, and nothing
but the empty boast of being free.
But to what are we, in tho main, to attribute
the dependent situation of Switzerland I? The
answer present it is owing to the vicinity Of
Reighbors more powerful than herself. Such be-
ing the fact, the wisdom of that policy which
would prevent the establishment of any Euro
pean power in our neighborhood, becomes appa-
rent. If we were to suffer foreign power to
obtain the control of Mexico, we should blindly
expose ourselves to a most imminent danger.
The political issue to which we have now come,
is this Either we must be masters of Mexico,
or some other power will take her under its
keeping. Those statemen, therefore, who ad-
wise to withdraw from that country, and leave
her to herself, betray most extraordinary, and
we may say, most culpable short-sightedness.