The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-01-28

~HS 'h'S"'s-ShNo pioh5ut w tuO iuot oiedH.-
er is that war is imminent between Swilzer-
land and Prussia. The occasion is The refu.
sal of the former 10 release the royalst pris-
oners, incarrarated for attempting TO get up
a revolution in Nenfcha,sl. Ii is so much
of course for the absolu,is,s of Europe 10
hang or imprisCn republican disturbers of
society, that they cannot comprehend how
little Switzerland dares 10 mele out the
slightest punishmen: TO couspira,ors OF mon
archal tendencies. In the United States,
however, the sympathy will be all on the
side of Switzerland. The Mountain Repub-
lie is right, not only on the main question.
which is that concerning Neuichs.e, tu, on
the subordinate one, which concerns the
punishment of these royals: revolulionists.
She owed it 10 the cause Of justice, 10 resist,
not only the threats of Prussia, bit the insid-
ious efforts OF Louis Napoleon to induce he,
10 release the insurgents at his solicitation
1t is right and necessary, that if rabels of lib
eral principles are 10 be punished in Europe,
when unfortunate, rebels of despo,c tenden-
| cies should be made TO feel that they run
the same risk, when attempting 10 assail
Tree institutions, and we are glad TO see that
the only republic left abroad has the spirit
to assert her preroga,iye in this respecl.-
Switzerland cannot, with any regard 10 her
own dignity, pardon, under duress, these
prisoners.
Nor C,rt1ortanIIe nF
cess.ul resistance slight She occupies a
mountain region, which rises, like an en-.
bauled fort. in The centre of Europe. Her
population Of two millions, consequently,
enjoys the same advantages in defending it,
self which valiant garrison possesses, when
seconded by the almost impregnable works
OF an Antwerp, Lege, or Valcnciennes.
Nature has done for The Swiss what Nnpo.
leon sought, in all his campaigns, to do so
for himself by straiegy--she has placed them
in such position, that, in repelling inva.
sion, they are always able 10 manGuvre
from the centre instead of on the circumfer.
ence. In urea, Switzerland is not quite one
third as large as Pennsy lSania, but being
nearly as populous, is exceedingly well fit
led 10 defend herself. In great measure
also she is self-dependent her people live
trugally; and harder, braver race eau no.
where be found. Two millions of such peo .
pie as the Swiss, enWenched as they are,
within mountains, are quite capable of cue
cessiully coping with ten millions; and Pfus-
sia, therefore, will not find the reduction of
them so easy task as she snpposes, espe-
cially as there is lille national sympathy in
Prussia for the war.
The Swiss have always been more or less
free. Though julius Caesar conquered Hell.
vena, as Switzerland was then called. il was
a conquest only in name. During the mid
die ages, the House Of Hspsburg acquired an
ascendancy over the eastern portion; but its
eXactons led 10 an insurecton a confed-
eracy was formed between the canlons of
uri, Schwytz ana Un,erwalden; and at the
battle OF Morgarten, in 1915, the sovereignty
oil Austria was cast off forever. Since that
time The Swiss have had no foreign masters
Their armed force, in 1851, consisted of one
hundred and eight thousand; but every
Swiss is a soldier, and in contest for indie
pendence they will be doubly Efficient
Moreover, the government has the right, se
cured 10 it by treaty, of recalling, in the
even, of war; the Swiss regiments in the pay
OF The Pope and other powers, so that per-
sisience, on the part Of Prussia, may lead 10
a Roman, il not Italian rising, in consequence
of the absence of the Swiss guards from the
Vatican. The threatened storm may blow
over, Indeed; bn, from present appearances,
1t lie not likely 20 and when it bursts, ii may
disturb, far ard near, the political elements
Of Europe.-Phiia. Ledger.