The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-10
THE JEWS IN SWITZERLAND.

accounts Of the struggle that the cantons
have maintained against foreign domina-
ton, We overlook the domestic tyranny
which still disf CURES their government.
In many parts Of Switzerland the people
are excessively bigotcd. Tho cantons arc
divided between Protestant and Catholic,
and one religion generally predominatcs III
each, without much adnlixture ofthe other.
In some Of the cantons those protesting the
form of religion held by tho minority arc
not eligible to office or allowed to vote.
have been fought between tue different
cantons solely OH religious grounds. Sep
;ratcl from each other by mountains that
are passable only by narrow paths, and in
the winter completely shut out from each
other, speaking different languages, and
divided into hostile churches, and having
scarcely anything in common but love of
Independence and a hatred of the lcspo-
tisms that surrounded them, and from
which their own territory had been torn
peccmeal and defended by the sword, the
Swiss were slow in arriving at a federal
government that contained the first elc-
mcnts of strength. 1t was not finally
accomplished without civil war, iii which
tho combatants were divided nearly by
religious lines, the minority and the defeated
party being the Catholics. They were en-
couragcd by France and Austria, which
looked with great concern upon the forma-
ton Of a consolidated government which
should give Il national character to Switzcr-
land, and place her among the powers of
Europe.
Cuder the new constitution, which is in
many respects similar TO our own, the
country is making rapid advances in ma
tional greatness. A common currency has
been adopted, tclcgraphs have been cstab
lshcd all over the confederation in conncc-
ton viii, the post office, and messages are
transmitted ut rates wonderfully low, in
comparison with those Of other parts Of
Europe. A railroad system has been plan.
ned, and some Of the lines have already
been opened. This will connect all parts
Of Switzerland, and will join the French
railways on one side and the German on
the other, and 10y tunne! through the
Alps will connect with the Italian. Will,
this increased communication came Also a
more liberal feeling, and greater common
interest. But good deal Of dissatisfaction
was caused by the irdisposition Of an i'll
dcmnity upon the defeated cantons for the
expense Of the civil war which broke out
against the plan Of the confederation.
These cantons were the least aDlc to bear
it, and its remission would have been IN
act of polite magnanimity. In many Of
the cantons the bitterness Of the religious
differences remains, and the prcjudiccs
against the Jews are very deep, and the
laws severely unjust. There was natural
disposition on the part Of tho Federal
Government to form a treaty with tho
United States, and one was negotiated
several years ago by Mr.. Fay, our Minister
resident at Bcrne. This treaty provided,
as usual with our treaties Of amily and
commerce, that the citizens of each nation
should have the right to enter and pcacca
bly remain i'll the territory Of the other.
This the Swiss Government was unable to
stipulate for some of tho cantons excluded
Jews from their territory, and the Federal
Government had no moro authority owe,
the cantonai laws than our Congress has
over the State governments. Mr.. Webster
who was Secretary of State at the time, re.
fused to modify the treaty to meet those
liberal laws, and thus, by implications, to
make our Government a party to the i'm
position Of a religious disability.
Subsequently new treaty was ncgotia-
ted, and the Objectionable clause was mod
flied rs folows:
"The citizens Of the United States OF
America and the citizens of Switzerland
shall be admitted and treated upon foot
ing of reciprocal equality in two countries,
where such submission and treatment shall
not conflict with the constitutional or legal
provisions, as well federal as State and
Cantonal, of the contracting parties" &c.
&c.
This treaty was accepted by Gen. Pierce
and ratified by the Senate. Although it is
clothed in very general terms, the clause
which we have copied is a practical consent
on our part to laws which arc unworthy of
the age and of christianity, and quite
against the spirit Of our institutions. An
American Jew is denied in Switzerland the
rights that we accord to every citizen of
that republic. In so far the treaty is not
equal, and although little practical evil
may arise under it, we hope our govern
ment will bear its testimony TO perfect reli.