Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-02-27
switzerl,nd.


The imminence Of the war between
Switzerland and Prussia eiicits much
speculation as to the ability of S@itzer-
land 70 resist. Its strength consists in its
natural ramparts. those huge mountains
which rise in the centre of Europe, and
bid defiance to an invader, and in the
stout hearts and strong arms OF two mill
lions of the most loving aud warlike peo-
pie in the world. The army of Switzer>.
land consists of hundred and eight thou
sand capital troBps but the whole nation
are more or less soldiers. Two millions
of such people would be a match for ten
millions which is not very far from the;
number of the whole population. of Prus.
, ,sia.y The Prussians. however, are also
military people, military power being
corner stone of the greatness and security
of that country, and even the civil gov
ernment is prevailed by military spirit,
being carried on by officers in regular
gradalions who execute the order receiv-
ed from their superiors. The:population
OF Prussia is about fifteen millions. The
army consists Of $50. 900 men two hun~
deed thousand Of which are regular
troops. The remainder are L0nda0ehr, a
national militia, composed, however, OF
men who have served in the standing ar>
my, aud can be made quite an efficient as
regular soldiers. Every Prussian is obi
ged to serve three years in the standing
army, between his seventeeth and twen>
ty-third year from that time to thirty,
in the FIRST class of Landw ehr, which is
frequently and thoroughly drilled from
that time to forty, in the second class OF
Landwebr, which is only called upon in
war, aud then for local or provincial SER
vice. Prussia is therefore great militia
ry power, and it may be said with literal
truth that every man in it is soldier
The discipline of the Prussian army is
admitted to be unsurpassed, if equalled,
. by that of any army of Europe.
But the Swiss have their mountains and
freedom has been their birthright for many
generations. The Romantic language Of a
portion Of Switzerland shows that the
fierce mastt rs of the old world once plan
ted their conquering eagles on the almost
inaccessible plnnacles Of that mountainous
land. The Northern and largest part Of
Switzerland was afterwards subiugated by
the Franks, and the whole country became
a portion OF the Frankish empire. After
its subsequent union to Germany, the
power which the house of Hapsburg &C
quired in Helvetia was SO abused by q
branch Of that house that the Swiss rose
in resistance, formed a confederacy OIL
Swiss cantons, and after a war of seven
teen years, achieved an independence
which they ever since, for near 600 years
preserved. Various attempts have been
made 10 conquer these sturdy mountain
GERS, but with uniform failure. On one
occasion, fighting in one of their strong
holds, 1900 Swiss withstood 10000
French. They have furnished soldiers to
all Europe, mercenaries it is true, but
mercenaries who earned their wages by
such yalor and devotion as the world has
never seen surpassed. The Swiss fur
nished for the French service alone, from
Louis XI, to Louis XV., 1,lIO,793 men
Switzerland will have the best sympa-
thies of America in any war which may
occur between Prussia and the Mountain
Republic ON such an issue as the former
has raised. She has the right to try and
; punish the monarchial conspirators OF
Neufchatel, and we trust she will assert il
in the teeth of all the despots of the old
world.-Richmord Dispatch.